On 03/16/2024, I went to Windy City Auto Spa in Melrose Park for a quote on a full inside/out detail on my 2019 Mazda CX-3 that I had sold. I was provided a reasonably priced quote, and I agreed to drop my car off on 03/23/2024 for the service on 03/24/2024. I picked up my car in the afternoon of 03/24/2024 and took the car home to do a full inspection before delivering it to my buyer. After all, Issa (one of the owners) stated that the car would "look more than presentable" when it was done. Big mistake - I should have inspected it while I was still at the shop.
On both 03/16 and 03/23, I specifically stated to both owners/managers (Ramiz and Issa) that I did not want Armor All or any similar product used on my car. On 03/23, Issa told me they use a water-based conditioner that was "nothing" like Armor All, so against my better judgment, I trusted him and agreed. Unfortunately, this "water-based" product was exactly like Armor All and was placed on every surface of the interior of my car -- was it really worth the $10.00 upsell, when I was already spending $325 for the full detail? To make matters worse, it was applied unevenly, so I had to go back and wipe every surface of the interior to even it out. On top of that, it was done carelessly, and there was product on my odometer panel, on dials, and the projection screen that pops out of the top of the dash when the car is turned on.
On the exterior of the car, there were several black grease-like spots that I needed to clean off. And the spray used for the tire shine was splattered all over the black fenders and not wiped off, so I had oil spots that I needed to scrub off everywhere. Additionally, whatever cleaning product was used on the exterior of the car left a white crust on some of the exterior black surfaces - fenders, front bumper, etc., so I had to clean that off as well.
Next, I went to inspect the trunk. I then realized my trunk's cargo mat was never cleaned. I lifted it up, and it was not vacuumed underneath. Is that not included in a full detail? I began inspecting the interior floor mats that were shoved in my trunk, and that's when I realized that the clip for my driver's side Weather Tech floor mat was missing.
I immediately called Julio, the supervisor for the day, and let him know that my trunk was not clean and the clip for my floor mat was missing. He asked that I text him a picture of what it looked like. He apologized and offered me another car wash stating he doesn't usually work Saturday's and wasn't there when I dropped off my car (1. not sure when you work has to do with a subpar detail job, and 2. I would not want to go back there given this experience). About five minutes later, Julio texted me and said he had located the clip for the floor mat. I then turned around and came back to find that Julio was trying to give me the incorrect clip. It didn't even look the same, but clearly, it's a common occurrence at your shop because he had at least three different clips he tried to give me, none of which looked anything like the picture I sent. So, that was a complete waste of my time.
On top of everything, Julio was incredibly defensive and hostile in his responses - completely unprofessional. He would not take accountability for the business he was in charge of for the day. It's clear that he did not inspect the work that was completed on the car. I would've expected way more, and the customer service was pathetic. If you're in charge for the day, you need to troubleshoot with the customer. Julio is clearly not cut out for that role and has poor critical thinking and communication skills. He stated Issa would call me back the next day (Monday), which he did. I called back that same day during business hours and received no call back until Thursday 03/28/2024. The voicemail on Thursday stated he was "sorry it took him a day to call back." Last I checked, Monday and Thursday are not consecutive days. As one of the owners of the business, it was clear that Issa didn't care to promptly resolve the issues his business created or provide service recovery.
I've gotten regular in/out car washes that were better quality than what I received. Spending $415.00 (with a 20% cash tip and an absolutely ridiculous $10.00 credit card "convenience fee" that I was not informed about was completely out of line.) Had I been told about this ahead of time, I would've gladly brought cash.
Overall, I had a terrible experience at Windy City Auto Spa in Melrose Park and do not recommend anyone go there. For a full detail, there was absolutely no detail orientation whatsoever. When I dropped off the car, I stated that I wasn't in a hurry to get it back. If there wasn't a competent person to complete or inspect the job, it should have waited. read more