TL;DR Best auto-wash in Binghamton area for the money.
I was surprised that there aren't any reviews on this place, since it's been open for a while now. I'm bored, so this will probably be long-winded... I'm going to focus on customer service and the auto wash services in my review, since I haven't used the pet wash facility, and I can only be bothered to vacuum and detail my old car's interior twice a year. Except for the time a drunk friend booted all over the back seats...
Anyway, pulling into this place, it doesn't have that look so much of Broome County exudes; absent is the notion that dirt, grime, and time are slowly exerting their wills on the establishment, leading so many buildings to have a sort-of harrowed look. (FWIW I've grown up in this area and love it, but like a younger sibling, you're the only one who's permitted to knock the place. Just so you know I'm not unduly hating on the (Bing) Hamptons.) You really can't help but notice the results of the fastidious maintenance that gets put into the place by the staff. Debris and dirt is largely missing from the pavement; the grass is mowed with a precision that would be appropriate if applied to a baseball stadium's outfield; the building is clean; none of the machines display out of order signage; and during the temperate months, the landscaping looks pretty great. I mean it isn't the cherry blossoms in Washington, but you can tell the employees care that they do their job well. I can't help but notice that, in contrast to the gleaming, relatively new lot, my automobile holds the aura of a wizened old mule struggling to haul a load to the top of a hill just one more time.
Um, yeah, so the car wash. The worst part about the whole thing is the semi-grueling line on a nice day, but that's found in any full-service wash joint. The deals are generally very good as far as the unlimited monthly passes go; paying for individual trips through the wash is frankly foolish, since a) it's very overpriced compared to other washes in the area, and b) this is Binghamton. It's going to rain less than 72 hours after you wash your car. You can be as sure of that as you can of newcomers to the region mispronouncing spiedie as "spy-dees". Yes, this happens. And when it does, how smart do you feel knowing you don't have to fork over another few bucks to take your car on its own little amusement park ride? YOU'RE A SCIENTIST NOW.
The unlimited passes are billed to a credit card each month. I stick with the basic wash for $15/mo (for $18 in the winter, you get the salty undercarriage washed off too), while the top plan runs $30. I would spend more if I had a newer car, but $30 each month, for some vehicles, evokes the same feeling you get in your stomach when you see a rusted-out '84 Caprice with $2000 worth of rims. The washing works as you would expect: the layer of filth covering your car upon entrance is miraculously gone as you emerge from the wash bay, and you're reminded that your car looks pretty nice when it's cleaned up a bit. That said, the dryers tend to leave some droplets of water covering the car, and if you don't manage to blow them off by mildly disregarding the Vestal Parkway's posted speed limit, I've seen some residue on my ride after the Spot-free Rinse (never very noticeable or a big deal to me). All-in-all, I would have to say that the Rubber Ducky down the road does a better job, all things being equal (I mean, they towel off your car too), but the savings comparison with a monthly pass at Hoffman's makes it a no-brainer, as long as you're using it at least once a week. And ideally, you're running through on your way to every date and friend's house, and - screw it, it's free - each trip where you find yourself passing by.
Last, and without joking around, the customer service is great. I have never had a bad experience or a rude conversation with an attendant. Obviously it isn't their responsibility, but they seem to be very attentive when it comes to collapsing extended antennas and other components that would likely be savaged by the brushes during a wash. And I've always had whatever questions I've had about how monthly charges work or the differences between washes answered competently. Good customer service does make a difference, and let's be honest: I'd rather deal with the people who do their jobs well than the re-purposed ATM kiosk overseeing the laser washes... read more