Freedom Auto Wash, Longmont -- 1 Star
I've had terrible experiences at both Longmont locations (Terry St and Delaware Ave), and I want other car owners to understand exactly what can happen here before they pull in. I'm a paying wash club member (Amazing Wash package), not a one-time visitor with a grudge.
Their automatic wash has a timed dryer section at the end. The way it works is simple: after the wash cycle, you creep forward slowly while overhead blowers dry your car. You get about 50 seconds. The entire design assumes you'll move at a crawl. That's the only way the dryers can do anything useful.
I did exactly that. Moved at a slow, steady pace, never stopped. The exit gate came down onto the trunk and rear bumper of my Tesla Model 3, leaving visible scratches across the paint.
When I contacted the owner, his position was that I must have stopped, despite the fact that I was moving the entire time. When I pushed back, he didn't offer to review cameras, didn't offer to cover the damage, didn't take any responsibility. Instead, he told me to take him to court. That's his resolution process. A paying monthly member tells him his equipment damaged their car, and his answer is "sue me."
Think about what that means for you as a potential customer. If their gate comes down on your vehicle, and it will if you drive slowly enough to actually use the dryer you're paying for, you will be told it was your fault, and then told to get a lawyer. That's not a car wash with a customer service problem. That's a car wash that knows its equipment is miscalibrated and has decided it's cheaper to stonewall people than to fix it.
This fits a pattern I've experienced as a member. On a previous visit, soap didn't dispense during the wash. Every stage was just water. The dryers weren't functioning. I found a bolt embedded in my right rear tire after leaving. The bay smelled strongly of urine. I texted the owner in real time with photos and timestamps documenting everything. His responses followed the same script each time: express initial concern, send someone to check, report that nothing was found, offer a small wallet credit, and move on. When I brought up the bolt in my tire, his response was that it "looks incredibly worn down" and "doesn't look like any bolts that my machines have." When that script stopped working on the gate incident, he dropped the customer service act entirely and told me to take him to court.
I have photos of all damage and timestamped text messages showing the owner's responses to every incident.
I'm writing this because I wish someone had warned me. If you value your vehicle's paint, your tires, or your time, find a different car wash. And if you do come here, don't bother trying to actually use the dryer unless you're prepared to hear "sue me" when the gate leaves marks on your car. read more
