Discussions

I recently visited a self wash car wash in the city. (not going to name names) I take the company vehicles there every weekend for a good wash usually spending $10-20 a week washing them. I have tried using the vacuum they have in the car wash and found it really has no suction and i end up spending alot of time and money trying to clean the mats/carpets. I decided to take a small shop vac we have to use really quickly after i'm done washing them out and i usually only spend around 2-3 minutes vacuuming, after maybe 15-20 minutes washing. I was asked to not bring my vacuum into the car was as this isn't the kind of place where they want me using my own vacuum. I tried to explain that it matters little to me if i use theirs or not but that they need to get theirs working better if they want me to use it as i spend twice or three times as much time vacuuming with their poor vacuum. I was told they didn't care how much i spend there or how horrible their vacuum is they don't want me bringing my own. I politley thanked them and said i would find another place to go then. The employee tried to placate me after saying that's not what they ment and would love to have me keep coming and spending money there. However i have a bad taste in my mouth now and i think i will go elsewhere. Anyway just wanted to see if anyone knows of a good wash that would either A) have a good vacuum in house. or B) allow me to do a quick once over after the wash with my vacuum.  
 
Thanks

Ever consider bringing a your own steak to a restaurant because you like yours better? But you still are willing to pay for their vegetables and bread because you like the atmosphere.  
 
Same thing.

Why would a car wash allow you to use their space to vacuum your car, when that is one of the services they offer to make money. Imagine if you went in and used the vacuum , and then brought your own soap/water to give your car “a quick wash”. Haha I think it’s ridiculous that you would expect a car wash to allow you to use their space, with your own vacuum. People are so entitled these days (insert eye roll here!!!)

There is a possibility that your vacuum might not have the proper certification/grounding features or electrical codes to use in a public facility. If something did go wrong there would be insurance issues.  
 
Have you suggested to the management prior to this that their vacuums aren't working well. They might not realize that they aren't working well.

IMO they were in the right to tell you not to use your personal vacuum in their place. I would have done the same thing if I was the owner.

There is one car wash (which I will not mention) , their central vac. vacuum doesn't suck up very good. Just vacuum your vehicle somewhere else like your business or home.

If it's the one I think it is you are on their clock while using your vacuum so you are paying for the time no matter whos vacuum you use.

Respectfully, calling a carwash a moneygrab when you bring your own vacuum along is misguided on your part. If you ran a sit down restaurant and people walked in with their own food or drink (that your place offers), there's no way that would be acceptable.  
 
You let them know your thoughts on their vacuums. You said you were polite about it. I'd leave it there and find a different place then which I realize you're asking about.  
 
If you spend a minimum 2-3 minutes (you must be going at high speed motion) after a wash using your own vacuum, it doesn't matter. That's 2-3 minutes that another vehicle may waiting in line for a stall. To use a similar comparison to a brick and mortar restaurant, they pay for their building, overhead, staff to service/maintain and everything else and they'd like to turn tables over just as a car wash also wants to maximize their business to turn stalls over and sell their products/services.  
 
What if someone lingers at their table after a meal at a sit down restaurant to finish their preferred other milkshake they brought themselves and walked in with (because your restaurant shakes suck to their personal standards), but they spend good money there on entrees every week? Not cool.  
 
Most car wash vacuums I've experienced in my lifetime have never been the greatest, but they do the job in general for many people. If there's zero suction, that's when I'd ask the staff to come over and check it in action and let them know. Everyones standards are different. Maybe a powerful, rechargeable hand vacuum might be a good investment.  
 
Can't offer any specific places as requested, but I believe you were maybe also looking to justify your opinion.

Try the car wash just off no 10 north of the city. I haven’t used the vacuum so can’t say how good it works but a car wash is $6.  
 
I do tend to agree with the others that bringing your own vacuum is in poor taste. It is something that you could easily do at home and even outside in cold temperatures as it won’t take you long if done regularly

I get your point about the vacuums not performing well. But if I was in line waiting to get into the car wash, and I saw someone using their own vacuum to clean out their car, I would be fuming! You can use that vacuum anywhere, now you are using up valuable time that someone could be washing their own car in that car wash or bay.

You're waiting in line fuming cause instead of using the car wash vacuum for 10+ minutes they're using their own for 3 minutes? You should he happy they are taking less time.