I recently went online to Take 5 Car Wash and purchased a "basic wash" package for my senior citizen mother. Their website listed the different wash packages and explained what the more expensive ones included. I simply needed a basic wash to remove pollen and road dust. The deal was four washes for $40, plus one free. That seemed fine to me.
However, when I pulled up to the kiosk at Take 5 Sunbury, a pushy employee immediately tried to sell me a monthly membership. I told him that I had already purchased a package online. He then said, "That doesn't work here," before I even had a chance to show him the QR code. Once I held up the code, he insisted, "It's expired." I told him, "No, it isn't. I just purchased it, and it's good for five washes." Still, he argued that it was expired and that "it won't work." I suggested, "Why don't we try holding it up to the machine and see if it works?" He begrudgingly agreed, and it went through without issue.
As soon as he saw that I had purchased the basic package, he informed me, "The basic package at this location doesn't include brushes." What?! There was no mention of this anywhere on the website. Had I known that the basic package didn't include brushes, I wouldn't have purchased it. I assumed that even the most basic wash would include some kind of brush to remove dirt. I felt trapped--once you're in the queue, you have no choice but to continue. The wash itself was completely inadequate, and it didn't remove anything from the car. It was essentially just a squirt of soap and water as you move through the car wash. I could have done a better job with a garden hose from five yards away.
When I got home, I contacted customer service and began a back-and-forth that lasted several days. They insisted that they don't offer refunds for wash packages. Frustrated, I filed a dispute with my credit card company, citing false advertising and bait-and-switch tactics. Not only was I upset about the ineffective wash, but also about the poor treatment I received at the kiosk. I've heard similar stories from others in the area, particularly about women being pressured into memberships and how difficult it is to cancel them once you're enrolled. I urge everyone to be cautious when dealing with this chain and this location. read more