Self-Serve Carwashes.
 

i don't use them often as I usually wash my cars myself in my own driveway. But in extreme conditions I occasionally go to one to remove the excess salt during the winter. That's normally about once a year.

To my surprise the go-to place no longer have accommodations for quarters, which I had an abundance of, and had anticipated to use most of them.

To my surprise, the device that allowed the use of the car wash no longer had provisions for coins. You either have to submit a five dollar bill or swipe a credit or debit card to access function of the car wash.

Am I really THAT out of touch?

Progress.

Most people want nothing to do with coins anymore, loose change is a burden.

I’d rather swipe my credit card. People breaking into coin operated vending machines and parking meters has always been a problem.

Pretty soon pennies won’t be minted anymore, they cost taxpayers 3 cents each to produce.

So what about those people who don't either have a card to swipe or don't want to risk their card for a car wash? Yes, Elon Musk has already suggested that the penny should be eliminated, and I actually agree with him because as you mentioned, it cost more to produce than it is worth.

And I am not saying that I disagree, but it was a shock to me that a car wash had no provisions to accept coins, and that is a first in all my 66 years of life.

For me, it was just a convenient way to get the salt off my vehicle when it was too cold to do it at home. I will still do so except that I won't take quarters the next time.

Well it does still accept 5 dollar bills so it’s not impossible for those without plastic to use.

It’s also not that difficult to obtain a checking account tied to a debit card.

Life can be hard and you just have to deal with that.

Ain't that the truth.

If you've ever dealt with coin operated machines, harvesting the money counting it, and rolling it so the bank will accept it is a huge pain. It takes a lot of labor to get the fruits from the machine. multiply this by 365 days a year and it adds up to a lot of hours.

Soooo much easier to just get a printout and the money is likely already credited to your account, no muss no fuss.

Also since the huge inflation we've had in the last 4 years (estimated to be 20-25%) it takes a whole bunch of coins to buy anything from a vending machine. Car washes aren't the only vending business to make the change to electronic payment, many snack machine, pop machines, etc. accept plastic nowadays.

Electronic payments are more convenient for the vendor, but it also leaves a trail for the Gov't to prove you're under reporting your income, it's a double edged sword, and it isn't a coincidence either. They tell you it's for the business owner to save time, but the biggest reason any government wants electronic records of transactions is to be sure they're not being cut out of tax revenue, plus they're keeping an eye on your activities. George Orwell saw what was coming in the future of mankind.

Progress waits for no man.........;)

The powers that be are pushing for a cashless society. Now they will have full control of everything you do.. Not like they already don't. Tax, Tax and more Tax.

the carwashes around me usually take both cards and coins, some even take bills. i prefer to cash a 5 at the coin machine to use the car wash, then if i have any left over, i throw it in my 5 gallon water jug. the biggest i have is carwash owners afe quick to empty out their daily profits but slow to refill soap or fix broken vacuums....so much so that i dont even bother with the careashes in my own town...i just plan a trip to the nrxt town over, even thats a gamble

A few quarter-op self serve car washes in my area. Nearest, is besides a veteran owned 6 day a week auto repair biz, about a 3 mile drive. On the way i pass right by a new touchless $8.00 (beginning rate) car wash at the interstate exit. No use for the touchless, or a membership.
On the nearest coin-op, 2 years ago, the entry cost went from $1 to 1.50 for a 2 1/2 min wash. Usually takes me $2.00 on my 4Runner or wife's RAV4. In the Cummins, it's a big long truck, so more.

Things we appreciate about our local coin-ops, great pressure, never runs out of soap. Water softener always works, eliminating water spots. On nearest one, the only point to insert bills is at the change machine. Change machine is well reinforced inset into the brick wall/ riff raff cant break into to it. Each stall's coin box, is dumped everyday, sometimes twice a day, w many quarters often loaded into the change machine. The only complaint you'll ever hear by the fellow that checks on it, is if some idiot comes in with a mud covered truck. He or one his shop employees will usually run them off, which is good.

performerrpm,
know your east of me 2 hours, college town?

Jax $24 a month, unlimited car wash club, free vacs, this I’d fir my daily driver. Can’t beat it. Always clean. Go everyday if you want.

Never been to a car wash, never had my car detailed.

The day I can't clean and do my own maintenance is that day I'm selling all of my vehicles.

Car washes are for daily drivers. It’s below freezing outside, you can’t wash your car.
Heading to Jax in a few to get my free wash.
Classics, I haven’t washed either over in 20 years

I’d rather be playing with the GF and drinking wine that washing a bunch of cars.

nothing makes me madder than trying to wade around in mud after someone cleans their mud truck...one time i stepped in some kinda tar at the car wash and didnt realise it ..was an extra 2 hours trying to clean it off my carpet....

i try to avoid the mud in my truck but sometimes it gets muddy, when im done washing it ill wash the lil bit of mud that is on the ground to where it runs down the drain or is diluted enough to make it to end of lot etc

2 hours east? u in okc area

Quite a few of them around me only take tokens. That said, I rarely go (and my daily drivers look like it).

NE of Edmond, SE of Guthrie. Thought you might be near Tahlequah.

iam, im about 25 miles from tahlequah....theres another member here from tahlequah...has a blown 69

The prices for a wash have risen so much you’d be putting quarters in the machine for 20min to wash for 10min….

This guy in Ohio has purchased a few car washes and laundromats and has documented how going to a CC machine has helped his business but he also does tons of business in cash. It's not an exciting channel but educational.
https://www.youtube.com/@InvestmentJoy

Neither have I, but may have degreased/cleaned more than a few used engines/transmissions in the bed of my pickup at self-serve carwashes over the years.

This, to me, is the primary reason for the changes, and as others have said, the difficulty dealing with all those coins necessitated the change in payment forms. Like I said, I don't go to carwashes very often, only when it's too cold to wash in my own driveway. I simply cannot let the salt remnants remain on my vehicles for more than a day or two.

I can't say when, exactly my local carwash changed their methods of payment as I only go there when my car is covered in salt, and I have no means to remove that salt. So, it's been over a year since I've been there, and it was then that I realized that it took more than sixteen quarters just to get started.

I don't go to them often, but have seen the ones that also take cards in recent years. Most look like 40 years ago, just more expensive and they all have change machines. I'm sure the manager just empties the quarters from each bay, weighs them and dumps back into the change machine. Take the currency to the bank. Pretty good system.

Ours is bills or card.
Since i ceramic coated my bimmer i usual power rinse it off.
Then use a ceramic detailer wipe with micro fiber towel dry.
Ours is now owned by a Chinese couple that really keep the place spotless.
Also you can't wash a muddy truck.
The claws come out if you even try. lol
They have a great busy place year round.

I can't even imagine putting in six bucks of quarters which is the going rate around here for wand wash...that would be maddening

The BNL built one of those conveyer belt fancy car washes that does a better job that I would expect however I wouldn't take my T/A there...something would fall off lol