site manager

customer service representative

customer service attendant

area manager

sales associate

Zips Car Wash

All throughout 2018 and 2019, the job was much easier to handle, and there was a greater sense of comradery. Everyone got along well with each other, there was plenty of manpower, and we just simply had fun while completing our work for the day. A typical work day primarily consisted of thorough daily opening procedures, guiding on cars safely and correctly through the tunnel, addressing some (usually) simple customer concerns/FAQ's, some daily and/or weekly cleaning tasks with both the interior and the exterior of the store, and finally some simple closing procedures. Sometimes we would even stay after-hours; either performing preventative maintenance, or cleaning out the trench, both of which had the potential to be fun if you get along well with your coworkers and get the job done.

Those were the simple times, but it's regrettably much different today.

With respect for company confidentiality, all I am really at liberty to disclose is that there is new upper management up on our corporate ladder that we've had since about late May/early June this year, and ever since they took over and started running the show it has been a complete disaster. Every position seat on the site level is now being converted towards prioritizing sales. This essentially requires you to neglect, or even forsake, everything you've ever known previously about your job duties, and stand next to the pay terminals for the majority of your shift and pitch a sale for signing up for the unlimited wash club. And as someone else had also already stated, there was a massive labor cut to compensate for receiving commission payouts on membership sign-ups, which generally speaking means you are either working alone, or only with 1 other associate. If you are alone, it is essentially impossible to run back&forth pitching sales and guiding cars, so you are on cars all day. If you have one other person, you could cycle out every 30-60 minutes or so swapping out the roles for cars and pay terminals. Before, it was without question MUCH easier to complete everything. There was usually a midshift window during peak operating hours that would allow 4, or sometimes even 5 people, clocked in simultaneously. Today, you're extremely lucky to have 3, and it's very short-lived when that happens. 1 or 2 is more common.

Given this constraint, and a couple others as well that I can't mention, here is what you are tasked with -  If you fail to meet a certain metric with your sales, you are reprimanded. If you fail to have your store in perfect condition daily, you are reprimanded.

With that being said, if that sounds like something right up your alley that would be appealing to you or geared more towards your personal skillset, then by all means more power to you and you really lucked out, but me personally and several others can attest that this is not what we signed up for. Ironically enough, we used to have a position seat for employees specifically tailored for this aspect of the job, aptly named "Membership Sales Associates"... but they did away with that early 2019, again for reasons I'm unable to disclose.

In conclusion, you are gravely mistaken if you thought you would spend the majority of your time learning about operating and maintaining an express car wash. The newfound bottom line is that you must mandatorily up the numbers from the reports, but you are simultaneously reprimanded if you neglect the other job duties, however considering both the labor cut and the timeframes required to have the terminal lanes covered by at minimum 1 employee, good luck getting everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, completed either by yourself or with 1 other associate. The pressure and the stress with this company expecting absolute daily perfection with the bare minimum manpower is incredibly demoralizing and relentlessly unforgiving, and I'll be pleasantly shocked if things ever come close to reverting back to the way things used to be around here. You have to perform with robot-like efficiency in order to meet all of these unrealistic expectations, and if you're willing to perform that kind of work for the starting wages that they offer you, then you're either desperate or foolish. Upper management always claims we're having unfathomable amounts of "fun" with all of this, but the sad reality is that nobody is having any fun at all.

Most of the time working at the company wasn't terrible, in fact I enjoyed it most of the time. However, management is terrible. The company cares more about sales and money than anything else. If anything would break (which it did often) the company would be contacted, but that didn't mean anything. We would have pieces in our wash down for months and customers would ask about it, as well as ask when it would be fixed, and we had no answer. Some chemical arches would be down, Customers would notice and be upset bc they aren't getting what they paid for. You are left to deal with the fallout of a company who doesn't care about the wash and only looks at profit. Many items had to be rigged up to work, or pulled out of the way of the track. Customers notice, especially when they come in everyday with the unlimited wash club. They also promise raises advancement. This is something that doesn't happen. In fact advancement actually does happen since the turnover rate is so high, and no one gets trained on the position you're are expected to know how to do it. I've had management get mad at me when I ask a question because I wasn't trained to do something and needed help. You get told you get a raise at 6 months instead you don't, you continue to ask for months and then around 10 months to a year you might see a few cents raise. MIGHT! If you expect a raise because of a position change don't expect it for like 6 months but you'll still be doing all the work that your advanced position entails. Not to mention all the management above me was unprofessional and disrespectful beyond what words can explain. Often times their emotions were laid out on you. You were yelled at (for things you didn't even do or weren't your fault) and talked to very terribly to the point you wondered if you would even come back. I had many instances where the managers would lie to my employees or other people about something I've said or done and try to get people to turn against me. I cannot explain the pettiness and ridiculousness this company holds. Immature bipolar people have been able to get in a high position. They treated their employees like garbage and sometimes customers the same way. They consistently say "if you need anything let us know" but that's pointless because you can beg for help and get none at all. Sometimes they would even come to you and ask you what you needed and then when you told them they would tell you YOU are wrong and not do anything so that was cool too. You're left alone to deal with most things that happen at your sight and majority of the time, no matter how bad, you are expected to leave the sight open and continue taking customers. Also as a carwash I don't expect this to be a take home job. We are not therapists, we are not on standby or call. We should not have to spend every waking moment on our days off (which was rare) to stare at our phones and respond to the 5 group chats expected to constantly send photos to cooperate that were active and blowing up all day. I understand if someone at the wash needs help, or needs someone to come fix something, that's different. I honestly don't feel like we should get in trouble because on our day off we didn't respond to something that didn't need a response to begin with. This job is unrealistic with some expectations and in my opinion abusive to some employees and it always happens to be the employees that put in the most for the company. Like I said I enjoyed the job itself, the environment and management however was too toxic and stressful for no reason. This company needs to step up their game with keeping their washes running to actually keep their customers happy and managers need to learn how to treat employees the right way and give respect and acknowledgement where it is due. I do not approve of they way this company is run or the way the management treats their staff. I made sure to keep my employees happy the best I could and take the punches from upper management over ridiculous things. This company literally dragged me down to the point I had no self esteem because I thought I was doing good and them would get yelled at or talked down to. It was not worth it in the end for me so I left.

What is the best part of working at the company?
There was so much negative when I worked for them that it's hard to identify the positive qualities. The pay was decent so that's the only redeeming quality

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The fact that the work load you have trying to manage 9 locations around the metro. These sites are not new by any stretch of the imagination. There is more broken or incorrectly installed equipment than working. Your working every single day because your always on call if a wash goes down (this was basically a constant) and you have to stop whatever your doing to go fix it. I get that's part of the job but no amount of work during the week or even months will get you to a point you can actually relax and have a moment of time off let alone a weekend.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment was terrible. There were so many things out of code for things that would fall under an OSHA violation that it would be easier to list things that weren't wrong. There could be things that would require more than one person to do and management would say well figure it out because it has to get done. And even though you have a workload that would require two technicians because the company is terrible at managing money will refuse to give you or any other location that has this many sites more than one technician hence the ridiculous turnover rate. They say they're people come first but keep in mind safety policies only get enacted after the fact anytime before a person gets hurt or killed (feel free to Google it) they shrug it off especially if it affects their bottom line. Only after major incidents do they begin to make changes but those changes still aren't willing it's basically just to save their own hide from lawsuits. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Wake up and be out the door at dawn. Go between 3 to 5 sites per day trying to fix or investigate issues. You start a repair you actually manage to get the parts for and a wash down happens that the site team can fix so you drive 30-45 minutes one way to fix something that usually takes 5 minutes. Then on your way to the original site you were at that you had parts for you get another call because of another site having issues that require your attention. Rinse and repeat everyday. You never make positive progress because even if you manage to fix 2-3 things the same if not more things break do you can never get ahead of work orders.

A typical workday as a Site Manager involves joining conference calls to discuss reports, checking emails for any updates, approving employee timecards, loading cars into the wash tunnel, manning the pay stations to sell memberships, ensuring customers have enough towels and bottles as well as a clear vacuum nozzle, interviewing new applicants, and informing management of any wash issues. 

While management is supportive, they typically train you to do their job and then expect you to do the work each time thereafter so they won't have to. You will (probably) have 2 district managers, 1 over sales and 1 over operations. In most cases, they do not get along and hold you to different standards which come back on you at the end of the day.

The site workplace itself is a fun environment where you feel "at home;" however, the title you are given comes with a ton of responsibilities but very little power. Most things must be approved or discussed with higher management and the answer will, 9 out of 10 times, be no. 

The hardest part of the job is trying to juggle everything from making sure membership sign-ups, conversion rate, and manned pay station percentage remains at or above goal while also ensuring the team stays focused on these priorities. You are typically scheduled from 7am until 5pm; however, you're on salary so you will end up working until 9pm instead on a daily basis. On rainy days, you must be the only one working which is extremely dangerous and also means you are unable to leave the work site or take a break. 

There is very little enjoyment to look forward to; however, I made friends throughout my 4 years at the company and enjoyed working alongside each of them. Management caused the Lead Attendant, Asst. Site Manager, and 3 Customer Service Attendants leave their position before finally driving me out after I had dedicated blood, sweat, tears, and quite a lot of unpaid time throughout my time with Zips Car Wash. 

Unfortunately, they lost some of their best workers and now are struggling as the district manager works open to close and now sees the downfall of the company first-hand. 

If you enjoy unpaid, volunteer work, no praise when you constantly do well but major consequences for 1 minor slack off, and/or devoting your life to your work 100%, then this job would be perfect for you! If not, run.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The best part of working at Zips Carwash is being part of a team that is deeply committed to quality, safety, and exceptional customer service. I appreciate the collaborative culture across locations, where team members and management work together to solve problems and improve processes. It’s rewarding to see employees take pride in their work, learn new skills, and take initiative to maintain equipment and prevent shutdowns. The company’s focus on continuous improvement and professional growth allows me, as a Regional Maintenance Director, to make a meaningful impact on operations while supporting teams in achieving their goals

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The most stressful part of working at Zips Carwash is managing unexpected equipment issues and operational challenges across multiple locations. While our teams are dedicated and proactive, equipment malfunctions or unplanned shutdowns can create pressure to quickly resolve issues to minimize downtime and maintain high standards of service. Balancing these urgent maintenance needs with ongoing projects and improvements can be challenging, but it also provides opportunities to develop problem-solving skills and improve processes

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment and culture at Zips Carwash is collaborative, fast-paced, and focused on excellence. Teams are dedicated to providing high-quality service and maintaining operational standards, and there is a strong sense of pride in doing the job right. Communication is open across locations, and employees are encouraged to take initiative, learn new skills, and solve problems proactively. The culture emphasizes teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement, which makes it rewarding to support and develop staff while ensuring smooth operations

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day involves visiting locations, checking equipment, addressing maintenance issues, and supporting teams to ensure smooth operations. I help prevent problems, guide staff, and make sure quality, safety, and customer service standards are met.

I am writing to express my concerns regarding the current state of our manager-employee relationship. It has become apparent to me that there are several areas where improvement is needed in order to foster a more positive and productive work environment.First and foremost, communication has been lacking in our interactions. Clear communication is essential for understanding expectations, addressing issues, and fostering a sense of trust and collaboration within the team. I believe that establishing regular one-on-one meetings and open-door policies could greatly improve communication channels.Additionally, I have observed instances of micromanagement, which can be demoralizing and counterproductive. Trusting employees to perform their duties autonomously not only boosts morale but also allows for greater innovation and problem-solving.Furthermore, I am concerned about the prevalence of favoritism within our team. It's crucial for all employees to feel valued and treated fairly, regardless of personal relationships or other biases. Implementing fair and transparent performance evaluation processes can help mitigate this issue.Lastly, recognition for hard work and accomplishments is essential for maintaining employee motivation and job satisfaction. Acknowledging achievements, whether big or small, goes a long way in boosting morale and fostering a positive work culture.I believe that by addressing these concerns and working collaboratively to improve our manager-employee relationship, we can create a more positive and productive work environment for everyone involved.Thank you for considering my feedback, and I look forward to discussing these matters further to find constructive solutions.

Here at Zips, I met some of the best coworkers I will ever have the privilege of working with. I was trained properly and walked through the difficult tasks by my site manager, with thorough answers for any questions I had. It’s been really awesome, learning a new side of retail and meeting all the customers that come through daily. If you are good with people, you’ll probably have a good time working here! The job itself is also pretty easy and straightforward; you can get fully trained within a month and know everything within a few more. They are also pretty flexible with hours and schedules, they’re definitely willing to work with you there. Most locations don’t open super early or late, so the work/life balance is pretty good!

However… on the application where they say “through rain or shine”, they definitely meant it! You will be working outside even in 100° heat waves and 32° freezing conditions. Some locations do not have a working HVAC system, so you’ll risk health problems if you’re sensitive to temperatures. That was probably the most difficult part about working there. 

Most of the equipment in the car wash itself doesn’t work well, if at all, so customers do not leave satisfied. We get blamed by management for customer dissatisfaction, but they refuse to fix our site because we don’t have high traffic. And we don’t have high traffic because our equipment is broken… the cycle goes on. They will also require employees to close or open the site by themselves, which isn’t safe in some locations and areas.

The job consists of u literally doing everything even if your by yourself guide, prep and send through cars. Try to sell memberships if you can't get a membership try to sell the top wash. Make sure towels and bottles are stocked and vacuums are working and unclogged, sweeping the lot, cleaning the tunnel every night as well as emptying the vacuum canisters every night. The management is awful when your managers a trying they're hardest and the dm is just a yes man and liar he offers his help to your site only for when you need he he's busy or has something else he needs to take care of and don't even get me started on the higher ups. The workplace culture is pretty standard for a service job they're are awesome customers, ok customer and awful customers. And your co workers can be some of the greatest people you ever meet or some can be literally useless. The worst part of my job is literally wanting to go to work if not then the unnecessary amount of stress it causes, but for a more realistic answer dealing with customers who don't want to read or listen, they're have been so many people I've seen where I just think to myself on who allowed them to leave the house. Best part of the job depends on your coworkers because if your co workers are amazing they're the best part getting to just casual talk and share interests with one another is amazing, but if your not that interested with your co workers then leaving is the best part of the job knowing you get to go home.

The company puts all blame on the sites and site manager, even though they never gave any employee a single day of training, they give unrealistic “goals” and numbers to get each day, causing site teams to stress and worry about every car buying a single car wash. They offer several options but talk down to you and blame you when people don’t want to buy a membership to a car wash that’s falling apart in front of their eyes. They don’t take care of or put money into their stores and expect you to still sell as many memberships as stores in other bigger cities that are in great condition. District management is a joke and hasn’t done anything to help stores and does not care about anything besides hitting numbers so he can sit and do nothing and collect a bonus off of our work. Only blames and scold them, for his poor performance in upper management. This company does not care if you’re the hardest worker and have built relationships with your customers. If you sell less than 10% in memberships each day, in their eyes YOU’RE the problem. This company is a joke. In 1 year I haven’t seen a single good decision made by upper management. Again, THIS COMPANY AND ITS DISTRICT AND REGIONAL MANAGERS ARE A JOKE. STAY AWAY. 

Been with the company for over 2 years the job started out fun and laid back but that quickly changed after about 6 months and a change in upper management, customers are either the nicest people you'll ever meet or you're gonna get screamed at for things out of our control such as we don't accept cash anymore, "unlimited washes" means only 2 washes a day, and half the time the wash doesn't clean the car thoroughly, vacuums not working, no spray bottles/rags because they keep getting stolen. Have had a gun pulled on me more than once and there's an ongoing joke "manager initiation" where every single site manager has had a gun pulled on them at least once. Never any hours unless you're ASM or SM but even then you get berated for going over 40hrs. Upper management only cares about selling memberships, if people are standing at the paystations (could be the hottest/coldest day of the year and you'll still have to stand out there just to pester people about buying a membership even if the store is completely dead) management will drill you if you sell too many cheap washes (the $12 wash in particular and any washcode  like why have them if you don't want people to use/buy them?). 

TL;DR: Corporate greed, verbal punching bag for management and customers, no hours, low pay and bad policies. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Site manager 3 salaries reported	$48,773 per year
Customer service representative 5 salaries reported	$13.40 per hour
Customer service attendant 42 salaries reported	$13.70 per hour
Area manager 22 salaries reported	$55,000 per year
Sales associate 1 salary reported	$12.50 per hour

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