I rarely leave negative reviews, but after this experience I feel it's important to share…read more
I've been coming to Simi Valley Car Wash for the Manager Special, which includes carpet cleaning. Unfortunately, I've had the exact same issue five separate times. Each visit, the carpets have been left excessively wet. Even after keeping the windows and doors open for nearly 48 hours, parts of the carpet are still damp and develop a musty, swamp-like odor. Every single time, I've had to return to have the work redone.
I want to be fair because the customer service from the young men writing the tickets, the young lady at the front office, and the manager has consistently been excellent. Every time, they have been polite, professional, and willing to make things right. They deserve recognition for how they've represented the company they work for.
The problem is that having to make a second trip after every carpet cleaning is simply unacceptable.
What finally convinced me not to return was my interaction with the owner on July 23, 2026. I pulled in intending to explain, as I had on previous visits, that the carpet was still overly wet and had developed the same musty odor. Instead of listening, the owner approached me in a confrontational manner, raised his voice, spoke over me, and immediately blamed me for the smell. He insisted that carpet cleaning couldn't cause odors and told me I needed to take better care of my vehicle. He also kept getting within arm's distance, trying to be intimidating.
I offered for him to sit in the vehicle, close the doors, and smell it for himself. I told him that when I turn on the AC, it gets even worse and smells like a swamp. He then said it was because I don't change my AC air filter. I explained that I change it almost every month or every other month because of my daughter's allergies. He refused to believe me and said I needed to change it again, even though the smell was clearly coming from the carpet in the rear of the vehicle where it was the worst. He then told me, "How about this: why don't you go change your filter again, and if it still smells, then we'll talk about doing it again."
I explained that I used to detail cars and that if too much water or cleaning solution is left in the carpet without proper extraction, it can absolutely create a mildew or musty smell. Rather than having a professional conversation, he told me I didn't know what I was talking about and dismissed everything I said before again blaming me for the condition of my car after it left his business.
Everyone can have a bad day, and mistakes happen. What matters is how a business responds when a loyal customer brings a recurring issue to their attention. Instead of listening and trying to understand why I'd had the same problem five consecutive times, the owner chose to argue, blame the customer, and be disrespectful.
Because of that interaction, I won't be returning. I hope the owner realizes that good customer service starts at the top. His employees have shown me more professionalism and respect than he did.