VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

For your information, I went to the Village Car Wash this afternoon to wash one of my cars. When I arrived, I noticed signs that stated that the place had a new owner.
When I went to the cashier to pay, I handed her my Village Car Wash Cash Debit Card which I purchased on October 30, 2007 for $179.36
After learning that I had a balance of $108.00, she called the new owner who is a young man named Brad Werlin, who informed me that he was not honoring the cash debit card.
After a heated discussion, he agreed to deduct $20.95 for a silver car wash but that I had two options on future car washes, to either pay 50% of the cost of the car wash in cash and the balance from the cash card or go to the former owner to get my money back.
He supplied me with the name and a phone number of the former owner who he claims is a Dr. Lucas. I called and after explaining that the Village Car Wash was refusing to accept his cash card, he hung up on me.
When I returned home, I called the Better Business Bureau in Longwood, FL who informed me that I could fax or mail a complaint about the incident that I had just experienced but that in Florida when someone buys a business, they buy the assets but not the liabilities.
Having run a successfull business for 40 years, I would assume that if a person expects to stay and run a successful business, they would not want to upset a steady customer by refusing to accomadate a situation like explained but people are really different today asbout business ethics and relationships with customers.
Be aware of this situation at the Village Car Wash and don't buy cash cards from them.

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

In response to this, I happen to know the new owner, Bradley Werlin. Unknown to him, the previous owner withheld information of the cards mentioned. Unfortunately, it was just not the writers card valued at $108 but a total of $7000 in cash cards. Mr. Werlin is trying to reestablish the business and working very hard to accomodate the public and honor the cards so both the customer and owner aren't loosing out completely. Let's give the young man a chance to prove himself to the public and gain the trust of the community by honestly providing a much needed service in The Villages.

[Edited by tony]

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

I am a holiday and summer only resident and used The Village Car Wash frequently when I was here. I loved the job they did and the prices were reasonable.

However, now that I know there is a new owner who is not accepting cards purchased with earnest money, I will rethink about returning.

In a town like The Villages where news travels fast and building a business on trust and reliability is important, a new owner needs to honor and sadly "eat" the $7000 liability he inherited from the previous owner...whether he knew about it or not before purchasing the business.

Seven thousand dollars is peanuts if you want to establish a positive relationship with residents, establish trust, and create a business people respect.

Eventually, the return will be money in the new owner's pocket.

Instead of a heated debate, the new owner should have appeased the customer. His unwillingness to make the customer happy has resulted in negative feedback in this forum that reaches thousands of Villagers. I will now pass on the negative feedback to friends.

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

Perhaps you misunderstood. He is honoring the cards. To be fair to the new owner and cardholder he is honoring them at a rate of 50% for each visit. The cardholder will not loose any of his/her money. Sounds fair to me. These are hard times. Let's give him a chance.

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

Marsh

Guess I'm not totally understanding. If the cards are honored at 50% explain how the card holder loses nothing. Am I having mathematical problems assuming 50% means a 50% loss?

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

Bright I think Marsh means it will take twice as long to use up the tickets. Instead of paying for the car wash with one ticket, the customer is being charged 1/2 in cash and 1/2 ticket. Doing it this way the new owner doesn't take a 100% hit up front. In the end the complete ticket gets honored. I may be wrong but I think that is the story.

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

Being a business owner for many years, I dont understand why Mr. Werlin can miss this opportunity to create a good name for his business at such a cheap price. But this is the instant rewards society and Mr. Werlin is in no mood of waiting.
Incidentally, I remember using the car wash when I was there in December 07 and notice a sign offering to polish the plastic lenses they use in the headlights for $???. I was cleaning my car this week and noticed how dull my lenses where, I happened to have a tube of Scratch Remover in hand and I decided to use it on the lenses. Wow!, terrific result, now they look light new, considering that the car is 7 years old.

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

I'm sorry Bright, but after reading gallinaro's post I have to rethink my position. Maybe 50% of the ticket will never be honored meaning their is definitely a loss to the consumer. Maybe Marsh needs to clarify her position.

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

TY Johnny...I think I understand now, if your analysis is right. ( I just read your most recent post, so we aren't for sure, are we?)

However, the new owner is going to eat the $7000 one way or another. I would think he would want to appease customers and have a good name in The Villages at the onset.

Sadly, Mr. Werlin has not created a good name for himself as a new owner. He may have put a foot in his grave because of his bad decision.

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

Bright I think you are right, no need for a heated argument with a long time customer. Not a good way to start a business. Marsh is still on line, maybe she will explain a little more after reading our posts.

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

what a pain in the butt to do the 50%-50% thing,
I spent a lot of years in customer service, and it's sadly lacking today,

I feel the new guy's pain in taking a $7K hit on a new business.. but.. .
those customers won't return otherwise

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

As I see it, the owner is not eating $7,000. I have no idea what a car wash costs but let's assume 10.00. How much of that is profit? He is only losing the actual cost to him of the wash.
It seems to me instead of claiming to be losing $7,000 and probably lose a good customer, it would be prudent for him to grin and bear it.
Had he done that the original poster here may have written a glowing letter praising the integrity of the owner.
A sign stating he would honor the prepay cards would have bought him tons of good will. Especially as it is known he took a hosing from the seller. Oh well, too late now.

DC

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

downeaster, well you're exactly right, I just didn't state it very well.

He'll lose $7K in revenue (because he's honoring cards he wasn't expecting too) and some part of that is cost and some part is profit. I don't know the mix, but it's 7K off his bottom revenue line.

Regardless, start up costs are not always known and you have to anticipate surprises.
I hope his business succeeds, just because I like to see successful businesses, but it's a poor start.

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

I hope he succeeds although I don't agree with the policy he has chosen as a new business owner.

It was so nice to drop my car off then walk across the parking lot to shop. Upon returning, my car would be washed and detailed and the cost was reasonable.

An added perk was the new clothes I would buy while waiting for my car to be serviced. So not only was the Car Wash benefiting but also the shopping center.

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

"After a heated discussion" .....Let's not forget that quote from gallinaro's original post. This guy needs to be taught a lesson in manners. Whether he eats the 7k or not is not his customers problems. It would behoove him to curb his tongue and treat people decently. IMHO..........

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

:agree: Johnny

Customer service can make or break a business.

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

That's why I always take reports of customer experiences submitted here or heard as rumors around TV with a great big grain of salt. The events may have happened exactly as reported. The customer could have been the epitome of good manners and common sense. And the clerk/manager/owner acted like an ass. Or the customer could have had a chip on his shoulder from the git-go and been belligerent to the clerk/owner. I don't mean that anyone is lying or even exaggerating. It's a matter of perspective. I do not know the facts. And with reports on TOTV and with rumors, we're hearing one side of the story. Not necessarily an excuse, but there can be extenuating circumstances. The guy might have just found out that his wife and girl friend were both pregnant. He might have spent the morning dealing with a series of items where the seller stuck it to him for a lot more money. The point is, we just don't know.

Which is why I try not to make a judgment on a place, be it the car wash or Dominic's, based solely on a rumor or a report in TOTV.

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

Muncle

Check on the 50/50 policy. If it's true, then customer service can make or break a business. It has nothing to do with attitude and very much to do with treating people decently.

My opinion is based on the new owner's 50/50 policy and nothing else.

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

If everything said in here about the situation is true, and there is no reason to doubt it, the new owner bought the place with no outstanding debts. Apparently the seller owes money to those who purchased the prepay coupons. The new owner legally owes these customers nothing. Do you accept that premise? If not, we might as well stop here.

Now, apparently after a rather rude awakening to find the seller has pulled a fast one, the new owner is trying to come up with a compromise that will limit his loss and regain some customer goodwill. (An aside -- if the previous owner had left unpaid bills for $50,000 for water, power, car wax, those little air fresheners, whatever, would you expect the new owner to pick up the tab since it would be the nice thing to do?) I don't know that the proposed 50/50 program has been explained fully, but I got the impression that customers will not lose money if they continue to use the service. Their alternative is to track down the previous owner and sue him.

You dismiss this $7,000 expenditure as peanuts to the new owner. I kinda doubt if his margins would treat it so lightly. If $7K is peanuts to him, them $100+ is chump change to any of the rich folks in TVs and they should gladly eat it because it's the nice thing to do for a new struggling business. Nah, didn't think you'd buy that.

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

I'm more or less with Muncle on this one. One of my neighbors has the card and also discussed the issue with the manager/owner. She said he was very polite AND apologetic, explaining that he just couldn't afford to completely cover the cards all at one time. She wasn't happy having to pay 50% but understood his dilemna.

I'd suggest that those who have the cards go in and see how they are treated before making about comments about bad customer service. I've found that one person's perception could be totally different from another's experience. A prime example happened to me last night -- went out to dinner, my drink arrived 15 minutes after everyone else's. The bread came after the salad, etc. Everyone else was very happy with the service. I was very unhappy. They tipped, I didn't. This board is another example -- someone may something in jest and it comes out sounding mean. It depends on the interpretation, the mood of both parties that day, etc.

My neighbor was pleased with the way Village Car Wash handled her displeasure. Gallinaro was not. You might find that while you may not like the 50/50 policy, you may like the way it is explained to you or you may come away feeling you were talked down to, the explanation was not satisfactory, you were treated rudely. However, you won't know unless you go and see for yourself.

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

:yikes: Actually I do buy that...good thought although I disagree about the "rich folks in TVs". I would just say the folks cause not everyone is rich here. Perhaps comfortable, but not rich.

I'm always open to changing my opinion and I give :bigthumbsup: to you and Red! (Red and I had a conversation about this yesterday morning and she got my wheels turning.)

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

I always clean my own car but I've been following this thread.
To me, when the new owner negotiated the purchase of the business he should have done his homework. The fact that there are liabilities or contracts that the seller didn't disclose, or the buyer failed to inquire about, seems like it's the buyers problem. I don't think the new owner is loosing the $7000 by honoring the prepaid cards. I'll explain my reasoning. Most of the owners expenses are consistant. His payroll for instance. I doubt employees are paid on a per car basis. They get the same pay if they wash 10 cars per day or 100. Same with something like insurance...the owner pays the same insurance no matter how many cars are washed. By law the water is recycled...the same water used over and over. Electric...the lights are on anyway. Mortgage or rent isn't dependant on custumer volume, it's the same every month. So to me the owner expenses are about the same if he washes cars or not. He just doesn't make any money on prepaid cards bought from the prior owner. It would seem that he should honor the card customer so they will return when it's time to buy another prepay card.

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

The main issue here is that in the State of Florida, there is no protection for the consumer as there are in other states.
I have brought the matter up to our local representatives in Florida because this same sort of problem has occurred with landscapers and other businesses operating in TV area. One of our representatives was quick to tell me this but never thought of adding it to his agenda of things to do in Tallahassee.
It was obvious to me in my discussions with the new owner of TV Car Wash that he was fully aware of the fact that he bought the assets of a business without it's liabilities because he was quick to inform me that his attorney told him that he was not responsible for the debit cards bought from the original owner.
The fact that he adopted a 50/50 program for his customers to use the debit card is what he offers. That is his prerogative but the real issue is that consumers are victims because they have no recourse to these types of situations. They are victims! I certainly was unaware of the not responsible for liabilities until I talked to the Better Business Bureau.
Our political friends in government talk a lot but mainly they spend most of their time reelecting themselves instead of helping the people they represent. They should have enacted a statue on consumer protection years ago like most other states in this country. Where are you representatives of the people?????

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

Didn't it occur to the new car wash owner (or his attorney) that there were profits on the books from these prepaid cards? How did he think this would be amortized (or did he care)? What kind of attorney did he have that didn't get a good accountant involved in looking closely at the books, as obviously the profit from these cards was a one-time source of revenue (which apparently made the business look more profitable to the buyer), but the obligation, if not legally enforceable, is still valid in the eyes of the consumers.
And is it really true that the purchaser takes on the assets but not the liabilities? That doesn't seem consumer-friendly.
Ultimately I would tell the new owner caveat emptor - he'll have to deal with it. And get a better attorney. The 'letter of the law" is not always the right thing to do. Again, back to the values discussion...

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

I agree with muncle and redwitch the new owner IS honoring the card he will not get hurt the consumer will not get hurt.Are there a lot of lawyers commenting on this subject :super:

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

I think it is great that the new owner is honoring any part of the prepaid cards. If I understand correctly he is allowing 50% off on each visit. In other words he is honoring the total amount on the cards but is only allowing 50% at one time. If I understand correctly it will just take twice as many visits for the customer to get the full amount invested in the card. In my opinion this is 100% better than just saying "Sorry, you will have to take this up with the former owner". At least he is making an attempt to honor what the prior owner walked away with when he sold out.

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

Just to be clear to all of you on this matter, I reported a very factual incident initially. At the time, the issue was not that the owner of the car wash was not honoring the debit card but the fact that as an unsuspecting consumer you become a victim of not knowing that as a business is sold in Florida that the new owner is not responsible for the liabilities or in this incident, the outstanding value of the debit cards that the prior owner had sold. The new owner has no obligation to accept these cards other than to keep his customer base and good will.
As indicated earlier, our representative from our district indicated that this is also happening to consumers in TV who pay up front for landscape service or other such services and do not get the service they paid for or the service provider leaves town or some other such situation.
To prevent this from happening, the state of Florida needs a consumer protection statue as exists in many states especially in the northeast.
As stated the owner of the car wash has made his judgement on how owners of the debit card can use their card. NOT THE ISSUE.
With many of us coming to TV from other states where the law is definitely different than Florida especially on protecting the consumer, one can easily be fooled.
The purpose of reporting the incident initially was to alert TOTT members of a situation, advising them not to purchase debit cards like I did.
I trust you now get the point and I'm not a lawyer.

Re: VILLAGE CAR WASH - 970 Bichara Blvd. TV
 

There is no question Florida is not consumer friendly. It likes businesses -- large and small -- and it is definitely a state of buyer beware.

Sorry that we went on a tangent and missed the point about caveat emptor.