Car wash damage alerts and more

I thought it would be beneficial to add some of the latest car care alerts and news regarding the car care industry that I have found on the net from various sources. Click on the links to read the latest posts, articles and research in the car wash and auto detailing industry

Car Wash Damage Reports

Pontiac mirror damage
Damage to Dodge Ram PU's and Dodge Durango's
Prep or No Prep at the Express Exterior
GMC Envoy Bumper Damage
Volvo gas cap cover damage
Mercedes Gas Cap Covers
GM mirror coming apart
Ford Explorer hatch door trim falling off
Chrysler 300, new model, Roof problem
Ford Focus Mirror Damage
Chrysler-made mini van tailight damage
Jaguar Damage

More commercial car wash damage reports

In 2002, the ICA issued damage reports on several vehicle models by Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and Jeep.

Volvo. The Volvo sunroof is probably the damage issue that caused the biggest stir in the industry this year. Sunroofs on the new models have been shattering in the blow-off area of carwashes. This issue has been of particular concern to car-wash operators and the ICA because it involves safety.

Volvo is currently investigating the situation. In the meantime, the company has agreed to cover all sunroof failures under its new-car warranty. If a carwash operator experiences Volvo sunroof failure at his carwash, he should have the vehicle owner report the incident to his local Volvo retailer immediately.

As a precautionary measure, the ICA suggests operators have Volvo owners close the interior sunscreen before entering the carwash.

Mercedes Benz. Bumpers on the Mercedes ML 320 and ML430 SUVs are reportedly being damaged by carwash side wraps when plastic retainers at the vehicles' rear wheel openings are broken or missing. The company says there have not been enough instances to substantiate a change. Operators are therefore instructed to contact the company to report incidents of bumper damage.

Jeep. This is an example of a quality-control issue. The radio antenna mast on some Jeep Liberty vehicles will break just above the threaded section if not properly installed. DaimlerChrysler responded to the situation by issuing a technical service bulletin informing dealers of proper antenna tightening.

Cozzo says the ICA will typically contact the manufacturer after reports of two or three incidents of damage, but this is often not enough to warrant action. Manufacturers are more likely to start paying attention once 15 to 20 incidents have been identified. Ward was able to present Volvo with 44 incidents of damage, which were more than enough to get their interest. He adds that the company was quick to take action once the seriousness of the situation was realized.

"The Volvo sunroof was a great example of a working partnership to find a resolution that made both parties satisfied," Thorsby says.

Commercial car wash and retail wax lawsuit

Parties in lawsuit attacking the use of the word 'wax' agree to settlement.

by: James Gormley, News

The parties involved in a class-action lawsuit that challenged the use of the word “wax” on products made by three major car wash chemical manufacturers have reached a tentative settlement agreement.

A seven-count class-action lawsuit, known as Garner vs. Healy, accused carwash chemical manufacturers Turtle Wax, Inc., Blue Coral/Slick 50, Inc., and Simoniz USA, Inc., of selling car wash customers products that were “falsely marketed” as wax.

Plaintiffs John A. Garner of Racine, WI, and Steven G. Grant of Chicago represented all consumers who purchased Turtle Wax, Blue Coral, or Simoniz products at carwashes between 1993 and 1997. The two men, who are represented by the Chicago-based law firm Edelman, Combs, and Latturner, claim they have purchased Turtle Wax, Blue Coral and Simoniz products at automatic carwashes since the 1970s.

As part of the settlement, the two original plaintiffs will each receive $2,000 and their attorneys will get a total of $220,000 if the court approves the terms. Any member of the public who can prove they were part of this class — in other words, who can verify that they purchased these products at a carwash between 1993 and 1997 — is entitled to a rebate of $1.34.

More importantly, within six months from when the settlement is finalized, the three manufacturers must include a statement on their product packaging if the products do not actually contain carnauba wax.

Product claims - One of the major questions in the lawsuit, which was filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, was whether Turtle Wax, Blue Coral and Simoniz advertised any of their commercial carwash products as wax, when they, in fact, contained no natural “wax,” such as carnauba or bees wax.

“The products were falsely described as sealer waxes, foam waxes, polish waxes, foam polishes, and protectants,” according to the complaint. “They have the same basic ingredients, none of which is a ‘wax.’"

The complaint also said that Turtle Wax, Blue Coral, and Simoniz themselves have created a perception among consumers that car-care products claiming to be waxes contain some form of natural wax. The complaint says all three companies are “leading” manufacturers of car-care products that contain natural waxes, which are used by detailers and consumers.

“As a result of the widespread marketing of real wax automotive products by defendants and others, the terms ‘wax,’ ‘polish,’ and ‘protectant,’…came to signify products which contain wax and which function as polishes and protectants,” according to the complaint.

In their answers, all three companies deny creating the discrepancy. Some of the other specific charges against the carwash chemical manufacturers are:

• All three companies violated their states’ consumer fraud laws by advertising ineffective products as waxes, polishes, sealants or protectants.

• All three companies committed a breach of express warranty by advertising their products as having polishing and protecting characteristics that they do not have.

Negative publicity - The case of Garner vs. Healy is not the first time chemical manufacturers have been taken to court to defend their products as waxes. In July of 1999, Hot Wax, Inc., Racine, WI, won a federal lawsuit it filed against S/S Car Care Inc., North Canton, OH, manufacturer of Royal Sheen products. Hot Wax attorneys claimed that S/S advertised non-wax products as wax, and damaged Hot Wax’s ability to sell products containing actual carnauba wax.

But Hot Wax’s victory was short lived. On appeal, the jury’s original award of $300,000 was slashed to $52,000, as a judge ruled the company had not shown that it suffered damages. Another suit, filed by Hot Wax against Turtle Wax, was dismissed because it was filed too late. Hot Wax also lost a suit against Stone Soap Co. Inc., Sylvan Lake, MI.

But Garner vs. Healy was by far the most publicized ‘wax’ case and the carwash industry — operators, suppliers and manufacturers included — watched very closely because of the potential for widespread negative publicity. As it was, a number of local television news stations, most notably in the Philadelphia and Los Angeles markets, picked up on the story and have run “consumer awareness” or “consumer alert” segments on their news programs questioning the benefit of carwash wax. The Western Carwash Association (WCA) even felt compelled to issue a statement in response to recent inquiries by local news organizations into the ongoing carwash wax controversy. But for the most part, the car washing industry emerged from the lawsuit relatively unscathed. The manufacturers say they are looking forward to a conclusion. “We’re happy that the case is moving forward toward a settlement,” said Phil Zaidek, vice president and general counsel for Turtle Wax. “We’re hopeful that the court will approve this agreement.”

Pro's VS The Joe's

Well my latest blog Amateur poachers a disgrace to the auto detailing industry stirred up quite a buzz. I have received positive feedback from several people, but the one I want to talk about is the one titled pro's detailers vs the jo detailers 1-0. A detailer in Toronto just wanted to say that it was about time someone stood up to expose the truth and begin educating customers. He said the industry needs to be redefined to separate the amateurs from the pro's because all to many times he has seen shops sell themselves as professional detailers with 9 years experience but their workmanship is no more than that of amateur level. He added that time alone does not make you a professional and I must agree.

I too, have met many who think that the time factor alone makes them a professional. In fact, I spoke to one today who is local in the city. These guys took 3 month's training, bought a franchise and now they are pro's. This amazes me; these people who wash cars, do express details or have nothing more than amateur skills to offer, honestly believe they are professional detailers and sell themselves as such. What's worse is the customers buy into it and end up paying these amateurs to damage their cars. This is why consumer education is so important. Clients need to be aware of the potential risks they are taking when they contract unskilled car cleaners and be able to see the difference between what the pseudo pro and a real pro or master can do. Once customers have experienced the difference, see the financial rewards and the long-term outcome of having a real professional care for their car they will never turn back.

I also received other emails from people who just wanted to share their car detailing horror stories. Each one is important and unfortunate. I feel badly for these people but the stories they told are not unlike the ones I hear on a daily basis. Individuals sold them on a valued professional service, took their money only to deliver less than professional results and in many cases their prized possessions were marred.

I should add that some of these people wanted to know the who and where of it all but I'll tell you the same thing I told them - as much as I would like to put a stop to bad business practices I can't name names. It isn't my responsibility to tell you who to avoid. It is ultimately up to the consumer to figure out who is a pro auto detailer and who is a joe detailer. All I can do is recommend other professionals.

Amateur poachers a disgrace to the auto detailing industry

Back in autumn I received a phone call from a female at an express detail shop situated in Guelph. She claimed she had a customer who needed their car high speed polished and wanted to send him down to me but said she needed a price. I gave it to her and had what I thought was a nice conversation about the business. Shortly after, I learned that I had been duped into giving her my prices so she could offer services at prices that undercut me.

Then two weeks ago, my landlord told me he had just received the oddest call. A women commercial car wash that runs an express detailing center at a gas station called asking to rent your unit. I asked who it was and immediately I started to laugh. We figured she was just trying to cause some kind of chaos with me and my landlord. Within the hour her partner strolled into my shop. I was delivering cars back to the dealerships but my wife, who is very intuitive, went to the front and immediately knew who he was even before he announced himself. He said his name and told her he worked for this woman at the gas station as an express detailer. He went on to say he doesn't get into the big detailing end of it . I just do express detailing, wash, windows, vacuum - nothing like the professional stuff you do he said. My wife kinda nodded and laughed. Then he proceeded to tell her the little angel he works with highly recommended us for window tinting and he wanted a price on how much it was to tint his PT Cruiser. Well my wife knew what game he was playing and told him that I would have to see the car to be able to give him the quote. She took his phone number and I called him when I returned. This time he told me it was one of the dealerships we have done some tinting services for that recommended me. I told him I needed to see the vehicle to give a price. He said he would bring it by and never came around again.

Last week one of my contracted window tint installers called me to ask if I knew this woman. I said yes I know of her. He told me she had called him 2 days in a row to get quotes on what he would charge her to do tint jobs at her shop. Then she asked him if he tinted at one of the dealerships. He told her no. She said do you tint for Diamond Detailing he replied yes why. Her answer was I don't like him I think he is an asshole.

Well I guess the only thing worse than people talking bad about you is when no one talks at all. I still can't figure out why she would say that because I have talked to her once in my life and I wasn't the one slithering around misrepresenting myself to get prices and undercut anyone but hey each to their own.

If she had of come to me on the up and up to ask me what my prices were I would have happily given them to her. If she can sell her services for less money good for her - as long as she is informing her clients that her skills aren't at a professional level and what risks they are taking by paying an amateur to do a professionals job. I am sure that isn't the case though. Like so many others, the 2 of them became part of that detailing phenomenon - where the amateur detailer magically becomes a professional overnight.

The thing that the two of them fail to understand is that I do not cater to price shoppers . We cater to clients who understand the value and the financial rewards associated with Master detailing services. Our clients are educated about proper auto care and want to protect their investment. Our clients know a pro detail job when they see it. They aren't seeking low price - low quality workmanship. They know that damage can occur from having amateurs work on their cars and totally reject the idea of a detail shop running their vehicle through a commercial car wash for a quick soap , spray and wax before they do a second rate detail.

Are they that desperate for clients? If so they should have just told me me. I could have referred at least 30 people a day who are looking for cheap work and don't care about quality.
It's unfortunate that there are posers like this in the industry. I feel sickened by it. It is disrespectful to others that are real professionals and masters because they have earned their reputation through training, experience, time and skilled workmanship. But the greater evil is the disservice to the consumers who don't know any better. The misrepresentation of themselves and their services borders on being fraudulent.

I included this example today as an education about the type of car care available and the type of people who perform it. It's not that I think there shouldn't be express detailing services - I just believe that if this is what you offer, it is your responsibility to educate your clients on the long-term and negative effects of this type of service. In addition to this, the people who operate these services should not be trying to pass themselves or their services off for something they aren't. The idea that you can't lose contact with the leaders has cut more throats than it has saved.

When I encounter a true professional who has earned the right to the title I have no problem acknowledging it and do recommend them if I am unable to take on a project. Consumers have the right to be educated and with this lesson comes one final piece of information - shops offering substantially lower prices is an indication as to the level of skill they have achieved and will execute. A true professional charges premium prices because he the services he offers are like an extended warranty that helps to protect the value of a vehicle.

Word of wisdom for the day - "Don't just envy another's good name; to become a master; you must learn from a master all that he has learned, work as hard as the master has worked, put in your time just as the master did, and then you can emulate the work that helped earn him his title."