Kosovo Car Wash

[Bowler]

Despite my daily barge being 7 years old and having 136k on the clock, I do try to keep it as clean as possible and maintained to my available budget. However after the Siberian weather over the last 2 weeks, and having no real time to clean it this weekend, I opted to take it to my local bunch of Kosovans this afternoon.

Before: My black car was actually grey/white after being covered in salt and shi-ite from my 60-mile daily trek along the M6

After: My Black car is black again. Cleaned and dried, door jambs done (in and out) tyres coated with some shiny looking stuff, interior windows all cleaned.....

.... and I didn’t even have to step out of the car

The cost? £6 (yes, six)

Normally I’d not do this as I don’t like the thought of someone else’s road grit getting rubbed on my car, but needs must and after all a 7 year old daily driver isn’t pristine is it? (not mine anyway)

I get really angry about all these illegals swamping my country and probably claiming benefits and I’m sure that the exchequer won’t see any of the takings, but like I say on this occasion, needs must

[kentmotorcompany]

I think on the whole they do a good job.

Its hard work, and I'm sure there are not too many english unemployed people who would want to do it.

Before these guys came along, this service barely existed in the UK, the only option was the mechanical car wash at the petrol station.

For the same money, I know what one I would prefer to use.

[tezzer]

We have one near the office in Biggleswade, and they do a great job for a fiver.

[GSP]

There is one near me on Nottingham Road in Ravenheads... They do my car for £5. They do a good job of it too. I would put no more care into it than they do (which is actually a fair bit to be fair to them) so why not

[sklar]

I just don't know how they make any money. Mine is £5 for wash, chamois including door shuts and tyre gunk. Takes a good 20 minutes at least. Give them a tenner and get hoover, dash shine and magic tree too

[joebongo]

But don't they scrape up your paintwork with gritty sponges and cloths? Or is that an urban myth?

[Shuvi Tupya]

sklar said:

I just don't know how they make any money.

The staff get about £2.50 an hour.

[sklar]

Shuvi Tupya said:

sklar said:

I just don't know how they make any money.

The staff get about £2.50 an hour.

Well yes obviously. But after rent (mine pays rent to a reclamations yard it's located on), water on the meter, wages, and supplies you really do get a great deal, and all that with a smile on their face. Brill.

[miniman]

There's one near me, in Corsham. Sadly not a Kosovan, Pole or any other eastern-European in sight, just a rather rotund girl and a couple of helpers. Just five English pounds sees them blast nonchalantly over your vehicle with a Karcher (probably a cheapo B&Q version actually) before daubing randomly at the bodywork with a filthy sponge, then a quick rinse and a grit embedding process using a rancid chamois. A dab at the wheels with an old mop completes the process. It was tempting to ask them if they'd ever been to a proper hand wash place but they had a dag on a chain that looked a bit handy.

[EDLT]

joebongo said:

But don't they scrape up your paintwork with gritty sponges and cloths? Or is that an urban myth?

Some do, but unless you spend too much time on detailing world you won't notice it.

[Shuvi Tupya]

sklar said:

Shuvi Tupya said:

sklar said:

I just don't know how they make any money.

The staff get about £2.50 an hour.

Well yes obviously. But after rent (mine pays rent to a reclamations yard it's located on), water on the meter, wages, and supplies you really do get a great deal, and all that with a smile on their face. Brill.

Absolutely, knowing the staff get paid less than half of the national minimum wage does not stop me using my local one

[Bowler]

sklar said:

I just don't know how they make any money. Mine is £5 for wash, chamois including door shuts and tyre gunk. Takes a good 20 minutes at least.

Look at it this way: At the place I went to, there were 5 of them. They can probably turn 10-15 cars an hour.

Premises: Pittance rent (if they pay it) as no real businesses around to use the premises

Throughput: 80 cars/day, average = £400

Employees Cash in hand £50/day x 5 guys = £250

Materials Say £50/day (generous)

Water rates: Behave!

Profit (ie the boss man/enforcer) £2k/month - Tax Free!


Where there's muck, etc

[Cock Womble 7]

I regularly use an outfit who've set up shop in the car park of a local Tesco. A proper professional set up at that - there's the jet wash bit, then the "drying off and polishing bit" which is under canvas.

I guess the Caterham isn't the easiest car to jet wash, but I've educated them to do the bonnet from front to back (to stop water going through the louvres).

They are brilliant and for a tenner do a cracking job. Wash, wax, the shiny tyre stuff, all glass cleaned and wheels done.

And the boss loves moving the car. Always shakes my hand when I turn up and tries to fit me in as soon as he can (they are always busy).

[Blue Oval84]

M'eh, each to their own I suppose, but after having my car fully corrected earlier this year I don't go near these places, you don't know if they're any good until it's too late. Washing it myself takes ages but I'm happier knowing that I've done a perfect job and not inflicted any marks on my pristine paint.

And yes, I do spend too much time at Detailing World!

[Babu 01]

sklar said:

I just don't know how they make any money.

Perhaps they don't.

http://www.wisebread.com/how-to-launder-money

Edited by Babu 01 on Friday 10th December 17:41

[FRMATT]

I used one last week, needs must and all. Was looking for a petrol station where I could spray it off myself but appears no-one can be trusted with those anymore! lol

Not sure I'd go back in sure they did it in a dodgey order: Spray- pre wash- sponge- snow foam. I thought the idea of snow foam was it removed a lot of the dirt to stop you rubbing it in with the sponge. Anyway not too fussed now as I plan to wage war on swirl marks after winter

[GTIR]

That tyre stuff (cheap gear anyways) flings up into the arches and gets all over the alloys. Hate it.

I use one of those draggy through car washes, polish guys jet wash it and the car wash does the rest. Not perfect but if you're in a hurry (4 mins max if your at the front) and for £2.70 a bargain. (especially if you use them everyday)

[CooperD]

Got a very good handwashing place in Bury St Edmunds at the back of the Railway Station. I think they are Romanians but they do a very good job. Only charge £6-00 to do just the outside of a vehicle.

[ambuletz]

£6!! christ almighty.
I pay £5 at my local, and they give you a little loyalty card. after 5 washes you get your 6th one free.Anyone know what the stuff is that they use for the wheels? They seem to make the tyres look 'new' much longer then tire shine foam.
:P

[Steameh]

I always give them a little on top of the £5 they ask at my local place, just because they do a fantastic job.