I used to be a member of Mister car wash but switched due to Tommy's being open later in the evenings-including Sundays. Overall, I would say, their actual wash effectiveness was similar in quality. I guess when I weigh having a mat washer instead of Mister's high-pressure air sprayer, I would say that the mat washer is a better choice.
BOTH establishments utilize mediocre vacuums when it comes to vacuum power. My opinion is if I can suck more air through a straw than these vacuums are able to provide then the vacuum variable is pretty much ruled out as a benefit. (Besides, I've got a shop vac at home, so I can live without a decent vacuum if these establishments care so little about this part of their offered service). The vacuums at the DIY car washes have better vacuums, proving that this is a doable thing!
My BIG beef with Tommy's on 1st avenue in Cedar Rapids, is their lack of loyalty when it comes to members of their Wash Club. There are three entrances to the car wash. Two for members and one for those who chose to pay for each wash at the window. Last week a wash member pulled into a member entrance just a few seconds before I arrived at the adjoining member entrance. The system could not read his rear license plate because he had neglected to brush the snow off before entering the wash (a rookie mistake!). Instead of allowing me to enter the wash as the other guy got out of his car to brush off the snow, the employees held up my access to the wash until the other member could follow the rules of the wash and prepare his vehicle for a safe entry.
Today, I went to the car wash and pulled into the second member entry alongside a member who was waiting to be allowed into the wash queue. There were 3 cars waiting to pay for a single wash and a fourth car at the window in the process of paying for their wash. The other member should have been allowed in freely after being recognized by the system, followed by the window customer that likely completed their payment about the time that I got in line and was verified by the system. The employees then made me wait until all pay-per-wash cars individually pulled up to the window and paid before allowing me in to get my car washed.
It seems that Tommy's unwritten policy is NOT to reward loyal customers, who are supposedly being given some perks for becoming a member, but instead they follow a first come, first serve policy that penalizes a member for keeping their business running.
Needless to say, I will be returning to Mister car wash as soon as my current membership expires since they still reward member loyalty with quick & efficient access to their car wash. read more
