Santa Barbara Hand Car Wash

Hemi Theos

★☆☆☆☆

2 years ago

Stopped on the way to solvang from la, and wanted a nice car wash but the workers there were very rude, I arrived first and was waiting in line, when another car arrived behind me, was more expensive than mine, they literally ignored me and went to that car, I waited in the front of the line for 5 min, while the car behind me was being tended to by 3 people, and answering questions about different washes. I felt ignored and not treated fairly. After they were done with the car behind me, they told to wait a little longer... really? Very bad customer service.

Douglas Anderson

★☆☆☆☆

a year ago

Took over an hour and a half before they started to dry my car, the car was dry and streaked by then and they wanted to wreck my paint by wiping it down dry. I asked for a refund and the kid refused to help at all. I am doing a chargeback and never going back.

Jim Mannoia

★★★★☆

Edited a year ago

UPDATE Aug 2024: I was able to discontinue the plan for 2 months while I was on vacation and then renew again. That's convenient. My car was filthy after 2 months sitting outside and they made it look like new! I do notice that the one time base wash (("The Works") As risen from $25 to $32 I think. This makes the unlimited deal even better, since that only costs $70 a month not too much more than the cost of just two washes! We went because they have a monthly unlimited washes plan. Only place we know of with this in Santa Barbara. It was slow, but a good job! I like the free lattes and cappuccinos and mochas!!

Diego J Segoviano

★★★★☆

Edited 8 years ago

Pretty good service. Not perfect but better than others in town. Monthly unlimited washes deal is great.

Lynnette Alexander

★☆☆☆☆

2 years ago

If zero stars was available I would select that. I faithfully used this car wash until my most recent experience. I went to this car wash and selected the $45 wash. After they were finished washing my car is looked as if it wasn’t wash. The front was still covered with bugs and around the vehicle it still had dirt marks. When I asked them you wash it again, they said no and stated due to the season it’s hard to clean these marks off of cars and pointed to another vehicle. The manager came over and attempt to clean it. Still didn’t do anything worth $45. Spare yourself from this car wash. Poor customer service!!!

Chef2CHIEF Chef2Chief

★☆☆☆☆

a year ago

This is the car wash that gives car washea a abad reputation. I will never go back to this place. They took almost $300 for the interior cleaning and told me to wait a couple hours. After 2 hours, they hadn't started on me, andasked me to come the next day. KC said he would be there the next morning to personally do the job while blaming his coworkers for the lapse. Next day, he didn't show up. The employees that were there, took my truck in. But after an hour of not working on it, I asked for my money back and they then rushed through it leaving dust and dirt all over. Not worth the money, time, effort, I felt like a rube and they still stalked around me at the end to try and get more from me with a tip.

Olivia M.

★☆☆☆☆

2 years ago

Never go to this car wash!!! I came into the car wash with my car in perfect condition. When I left the mat clips were broken and also the interior door was broken where you could tell they had pulled it off while trying to get in the car. I immediately spoke to who was in charge that day and was told to come back the next day to speak with a manager. I came back the next day and the manager is never available. No one will call you back and they have been very rude when asking for help. I finally met with a "manager" and she claimed that this was not their fault even after seeing the employee using his entire body weight to get into the car. I am considering going to small claims court, but wanted to make sure that you never ever take your car there. After reading the reviews I see that other people had similar experiences. I am also reporting them to the better business bureau as they need to be closed down.

Kesley Underwood

★★★★★

7 months ago

Did an excellent job for a very fair price. Comfortable waiting area and very friendly staff. Can't imagine getting a Carwash anywhere else now.

Anna Mendez

★☆☆☆☆

4 months ago

Do not recommend. The service is horrible, and the manager is unhelpful. My review aligns with all of the bad reviews on here. I had a monthly account and continued to try and stay because it was convenient. Not worth it. They are careless.

William

★★★☆☆

10 months ago

This has been my go-to car wash in Santa Barbara mostly because it’s close to my work, and with Cajun Kitchen right next door, it’s too convenient not to grab breakfast or lunch while my car gets cleaned. The staff is super friendly, the place is clean, and the location is prime. That’s where most of the stars come from. That said, for $50, there’s a certain expectation that the exterior of my car will actually be free of plant debris, dirt etc. Unfortunately, this place has let me down too many times. I’m not picky about hard-to-reach spots—I get it—but when the top of the car, hood, and rims are clearly still dirty, it’s hard to justify coming back. If I’m paying for a “Super Wash,” I expect more than a half-hearted job.

Charissa Duston

★★☆☆☆

8 months ago

I should have taken the negative reviews more seriously. I gave them another chance after I came a few years ago. Apparently, a $50 car wash isn't enough to clean bird shit off of your car and windows. I sent it back three times, and I still had bird crap that I had to clean off myself with a wet tissue. I pointed out exactly what the problem was. They said it wasn't included unless I paid more for a wax. I don't want wax, just clean. I paid for the $50 package plus 4 mats for $20. As I was finally driving off, I noticed 2 more spots on my windshield so I got out and cleaned it myself in front of all those lazy guys. ⁰

todd wood

★★★★★

10 months ago

I am, as my daughter calls me, bougie. I like my cars clean and looking new… or I become disenchanted and want to ditch them. So with that having been said, I’ve been going here for the better part of 20 years and my wife and I love it! In fact we’ve maintained a subscription on all of our cars over the years! In my opinion, these guys do a great job; they’re fast, efficient, and easy to deal with. They’ve always taken care of any issues that have come up. So I’ve always felt comfortable recommending them to our friends. It can get busy at times so while the wait can at times be longer, we’re typically out in 30-45 minutes with our car looking great! This is not a hose, blow, & go operation, it’s a full service car wash, so if you’re in a hurry, hit up the car wash at Turnpike Shell; they do a good job too, just not nearly as thorough. Not a ding on them, just the nature of the sort of car wash it is. I love that Santa Barbara Hand Car Wash doesn’t have any brushes touching my paint; I’ve personally black-listed other car washes in town b/c of swirl marks! Thats a deal killer for me! They, vacuum, clean all the Windows, hand wash & dry, and wipe everything down. They dress the tires too; my car always leaves looking like new! Fun fact; they have a washer & dryer on site to keep their rags clean, so the rags touching your car weren’t just used on the previous customers car! That’s important & a lesson other car washes in town should take note of. I will say that, if you go in with an extra dirty car, you shouldn’t expect perfection; unless you’re ready to request extra service, which may cost more. They’re not going to take the car that hasn’t been washed in months that is filthy and make it perfect on one visit. No car wash will; that requires a full detail. My personal experience is that if my car is nasty b/c I’ve waited too long or been on a long and dirty road trip thru the rain, I have to go thru 2x to get it back to where I like it. Nothing in this world is perfect, but for my $$$, I’m super happy with these guys! I hope they’re around for a long time to come!

Merciless K

★☆☆☆☆

6 months ago

Took my car here to get the superworks and got a half assed job. The inside of May car wasn’t touched, just wiped down and the seats werent blow out or vacuumed underneath or between. They completely skipped my trunk, and then argued when I asked them if they could re do it. Chris the “manager” is unhelpful and negligent. He was rude and very disrespectful with the way he approached the situation. I didn’t want anything for free just a proper clean cut a service I paid for. Thank goodness for the kind patient woman in the front. She explained the service clearly and directly and properly put me in for a voucher to redeem a proper clean the next time I can make it in.

Beauty Contender

★☆☆☆☆

8 months ago

Today I visited Santa Barbara Hand Car Wash for only the second time ever, and unfortunately, it confirmed my worst concerns. First visit (approx. 6-8 months ago): They removed my license plate and denied it. When I complained, they became visibly upset and reattached it poorly. I didn’t go back after that because I felt disrespected and suspicious of their behavior. Today’s visit: I went back reluctantly because my car really needed a wash. I arrived with no warning lights on my dashboard, everything was working fine. I was with my blind relative, and the car is registered to her. As soon as we arrived, they said they “remembered us,” which struck me as strange. Why would they remember someone who had only been there once before—months ago? It felt targeted, not friendly. After they washed the car (I paid for interior and exterior cleaning), I drove off and noticed the airbag light was suddenly on. That light has never been on before. I immediately returned to let them know. The manager, Juan, was rude and dismissive, insisting they never touched the inside of the car—which makes no sense, since I paid for interior service. I told them this is now the second time they’ve damaged my car—and I’ve only been there twice. That’s a 100% damage rate. I also pointed out this could rise to the level of ADA discrimination, given that both visits involved damage while I was accompanied by a blind person who owns the car. They offered no apology, no help, and no accountability. Just gaslighting and denial. I found strange pieces that likely go to my car scattered around as well! I don’t know what it goes to but it like like pieces broken off! This is not a business I trust. The pattern of damage, the rude behavior, the strange memory of us, and the targeting of a vehicle registered to a visibly vulnerable, disabled person is not normal—it feels calculated. Avoid this place if you value your car, your dignity, or if you or your loved ones are part of a vulnerable community. Two strikes, and never again.

VERONICA MEDINA BRAN

★☆☆☆☆

5 months ago

"Warning: Damaged My Car and Took My Money" ​ ​I am completely outraged and disappointed with my experience at Santa Barbara Hand Wash. I paid a shocking $50 for a car wash, only to have my car's paint chipped on the hood. Essentially, I paid $50 for them to damage my vehicle. ​When I brought the issue to the manager's attention (Chris) they were completely unhelpful and showed zero accountability. They simply said, 'Oh, there's nothing I can do about it.' They were unwilling to take any responsibility for the damage caused by their equipment. ​To make matters worse, when I asked to speak with the owner to resolve the issue, the manager and staff refused to provide any contact information. They stonewalled me and prevented me from speaking to anyone who could actually help. ​This business not only charged an outrageous price and damaged my property, but they also showed a complete lack of accountability and customer service. I highly advise everyone to avoid this place. The complete disregard for their customers and the refusal to fix their mistakes is appalling.

Nick

★★★☆☆

a year ago

Just want to give my honest opinion. The good and the bad. It was my first time there and everyone was super nice all around, helping explain the difference between the wash and what is and isn’t included. They were prompt with timing too. I didn’t inspect the cleanliness until after I left and I wish I had. I paid extra for the super wash and leather conditioning. Assuming this would leave the entire exterior of the car spotless, which it was not. Tons of dirt in the wheel well and mud flaps that weren’t sprayed or whipped and lots of little areas on the vehicle that were simply forgotten. Unfortunately won’t be back here after spending $75, I had more attention to detail as a child cleaning my families car.

Ruth Gordon

★★★★★

2 months ago

I am greeted by all the staff as if I was family. I really like that and appreciate it. There’s a little shop inside that has tons of things at reasonable prices. If you’re late on getting a birthday gift or holiday present for someone it’s a real save. They have a free coffee machine with hot chocolate, which I never fail to get even in the summer, and ice cream choices, galore, and other snacks, chips, and beverages. They have a big TV and seating area inside and outside there are tables and chairs. It’s a nice place to visit even if you don’t need your car washed! Like a corner store. A lot of people go to the Cajun kitchen next-door while their car is getting done and the employees park the car on the side when they’re done so you don’t have to rush back, that is a real plus. Now, as far as the car wash itself is concerned, every time I pick up my car, it looks brand new inside and out. I used to go to the car wash at the gas station and I thought I was getting a good deal but when I added up how often I was doing that it was cheaper to buy a membership at Santa Barbara Hand Car Wash and I can go anytime I want to and as often as I want to. You can’t beat that.