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Car Wash Vendor Broke Something On My Truck

K

KillyKillall

Diamond Member
My company brings in a car wash vendor every Thursday so that employees can purchase a car wash if you want. Keep in mind, this is a hand wash. Today, I had the vendor wash and wax my truck ($45.00).

When I went to pick up my truck in the parking lot, they showed me that they had broken the driver side wind guard. They informed me that if I called the owner, he would take care of it. I said "thank you" and did not tip based on the fact that they broke something.

I contacted the owner and he is offering to purchase new guards, but refusing to have them installed. He insists that I can do it myself or pay someone else to do it. I think that since the truck did not come back as I gave it to them, they should repair it to the way it was when they received it.

Am I being unresonable? Should I just accept the guards without the install?

Pic 1
Pic 2
 
You're being unreasonable for the fact that they are held on by double-sided tape and take 30 seconds to install.

However, if I were him I would have one of my lackeys install it FOR you.
 
I forgot to add (because I just thought of it).

You know, the most difficult thing will be REMOVING the current guard(s). If you have a heat gun it'll be easy but if you don't...getting all the residue off may be a bit of a bitch.
 
All,

I know that they are not hard to install, but I also know about customer service having worked in a family owned business and working in an industry that customer service is important.

I know that if I had done something like this to a customer, I would offer to pay for it and make it right. My question is not about "is it easy to install this?" It is more about "Am I being unresonable to think a small business should offer great customer service and correct what they did wrong?"
 
Originally posted by: Nutdotnet
I forgot to add (because I just thought of it).

You know, the most difficult thing will be REMOVING the current guard(s). If you have a heat gun it'll be easy but if you don't...getting all the residue off may be a bit of a bitch.
Click to expand...

Exactly. If you don't get all of the residue off, the new ones will not stick well at all and will fall off when driving at high speeds against wind. This would typically require cleaning it very well with alcohol.
 
The vendor should have someone install 1 (one) new guard, but instead he is offering you a new set. Take the new set and install it yourself.
 
Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
The vendor should have someone install 1 (one) new guard, but instead he is offering you a new set. Take the new set and install it yourself.
Click to expand...

You can only buy these in sets.
 
You aren't being unreasonable. You shouldn't have even had to ask for an install. However, not all businesses are run with great ethics and in this case I think you should just take what he is offering. Usually I'd fight on principle but they are very easy to install so the fight isn't really worth it.
 
I agree, you aren't being unreasonable. They delivered your vehicle back to you damaged, so they should do everything in their power to restore it to the condition it was in before they started...regardless of how "trivial" the install may be.
 
Originally posted by: KillyKillall
Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
The vendor should have someone install 1 (one) new guard, but instead he is offering you a new set. Take the new set and install it yourself.
Click to expand...

You can only buy these in sets.
Click to expand...

You are correct. He should install one on your vehicle and keep the other for another possible accident. This one new guard won't match the other side (not faded/scratched), but that isn't his concern. His concern is simply to right the wrong.

Instead, he is offering you a new set. Take the new set, install them both, and be happy they match.
 
yes you are being unreasonable. but to be honest i can't blame you. take the new set and install it.
 
I'm going to say that I don't think you were unreasonable. However, that's from a point of view that I think you didn't realize how easy they are to install.
 
Originally posted by: NFS4
I agree, you aren't being unreasonable. They delivered your vehicle back to you damaged, so they should do everything in their power to restore it to the condition it was in before they started...regardless of how "trivial" the install may be.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
 
In principle, you are not being unreasonable, but sometimes it is just easier to take what they give and do it yourself.
 
Originally posted by: isekii
Are you that inept, that you can't install it yourself ?
Click to expand...

that has nothing to do with it, the point is, they broke it and it's their responsibility to make it back to the way it was....
 
if you install them yourself, you know the job will be done right...

they may 'half-a$$' taking off the adhesive on the existing guards and you wouldn't find out for awhile...
 
Why did you even pay them the $45?

Did you pay before they washed and waxed? If so, you should have asked for your money back in addition to them replacing the broken wind guard.

And NOW that they've told you that they're not going to fix it themselves and if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, you should take it somewhere to have it done and give the car wash vendor the bill.

Oh, and I'd never let them touch my vehicle again if they acted like this. I'd also make sure I told everybody I could about them and their sorry ass customer service.
 
Originally posted by: KillyKillall
All,

I know that they are not hard to install, but I also know about customer service having worked in a family owned business and working in an industry that customer service is important.

I know that if I had done something like this to a customer, I would offer to pay for it and make it right. My question is not about "is it easy to install this?" It is more about "Am I being unresonable to think a small business should offer great customer service and correct what they did wrong?"
Click to expand...

Well, you're basically asking them to pay a minimum of a half hour labor @$70 an hour for something that takes about 30 seconds. There's no point to that. Have them remove the old one and clean the surface underneath it, and then you can take it from there I think.
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: KillyKillall
All,

I know that they are not hard to install, but I also know about customer service having worked in a family owned business and working in an industry that customer service is important.

I know that if I had done something like this to a customer, I would offer to pay for it and make it right. My question is not about "is it easy to install this?" It is more about "Am I being unresonable to think a small business should offer great customer service and correct what they did wrong?"
Click to expand...

Well, you're basically asking them to pay a minimum of a half hour labor @$70 an hour for something that takes about 30 seconds. There's no point to that. Have them remove the old one and clean the surface underneath it, and then you can take it from there I think.
Click to expand...

There has been a lot of good advice in this thread.

Mugs, I always look forward to your point of view. This actually sounds like the best idea so far. Then again, it could be that I've had 3 whiskeys since I've been home and anything sounds good.
 
Originally posted by: NFS4
I agree, you aren't being unreasonable. They delivered your vehicle back to you damaged, so they should do everything in their power to restore it to the condition it was in before they started...regardless of how "trivial" the install may be.
Click to expand...

Agreed. And hey, if it's a trivial thing to install, they should have no problem doing it, right? 🙂

It's the old adage, "you break it, you bought it." If a business damages a customer's posession, it's definitely in their interest to repair it. It's bad advertising when someone says, "That carwash damaged my vehicle, and won't repair it." Most people don't like risking having their cars damaged, much less needing to pay money for the privilege.
 
Originally posted by: Jeff7
Originally posted by: NFS4
I agree, you aren't being unreasonable. They delivered your vehicle back to you damaged, so they should do everything in their power to restore it to the condition it was in before they started...regardless of how "trivial" the install may be.
Click to expand...

Agreed. And hey, if it's a trivial thing to install, they should have no problem doing it, right? 🙂

It's the old adage, "you break it, you bought it." If a business damages a customer's posession, it's definitely in their interest to repair it. It's bad advertising when someone says, "That carwash damaged my vehicle, and won't repair it." Most people don't like risking having their cars damaged, much less needing to pay money for the privilege.
Click to expand...

Guess I'm not the only one that thinks this way. I assume he'll end up doing the right thing.
 
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