Charity Car Wash

**Concours.John** · 03-31-2011, 05:08 PM

I was approached today about teaching a class at the local school for a cheerleading car wash.
The representative said her husband said no likes to go there because of possible damage.
She wants to advertise taught by a professional.

I have three fears.
Liability
Teenage ADD
Liability

I know I don`t want to be on site when this happens because Murphys Law. Something will happen and I`ll end up doing a Charity Correction.

I`m tossing the thought about guiding them, only on the agreement they do not advertise " professionally taught"

However I`m not stupid they will probably make a sign anyway.

I`d like to help out showing them the basics but a binding liability waiver is a must. Or should I walk away all together?

Anyone done this?

**mrclean81** · 03-31-2011, 05:36 PM

Youve got some good points. Im not really sure how I would handle this one. You definatly dont want your name advertised anywhere. I think I would show them the bare basics and hope that one of them was paying attention, then leave them with it.

**MDerleth** · 03-31-2011, 05:39 PM

1. I don`t go to a cheerleader car-wash for the quality of the car wash.

2. Lots of perpetual screw-ups were professionally taught. It`s not the teaching, it`s the application you`re rightly worried about. And with people whizzing by they`re unlikely to see the "professionally taught" on the banner, or care.

Why not show your friend a couple tricks, or give them a link to a video demonstrating 2-buckets, etc. and let them worry about training the kids.

I will share one fund raising car-wash tip....sell advance/prepaid tickets. Lots of people will buy a ticket advertising/reminding them of the event and then not show up. An old Scout troop did this...tickets good for the one day/one location.

You could also help them with their marketing in general.
"We wash your car...$5."
"We don`t touch your car...$15"

Good luck.

**C. Charles Hahn** · 03-31-2011, 05:58 PM

If it were me, I`d say "No I won`t let you advertise `professionally taught` but I will donate car wash soap and wash mitts to your cause."

**Concours.John** · 03-31-2011, 06:19 PM

I don`t know her.
Shiny I thought about that because that`s a deduction you have a good idea. My time is not, according to my accountant.

I think she`s trying to make this work despite opposition from her husband.
Stubborn from my impression.

I did tell her what ever you do don`t lay the towels on the grass/ground. Hose the car down first.
I basically showed her what she needed while she was in the shop.
2 buckets etc. And why. She had a dazed look
MDerleth i like the wash no was idea.

**YellarStang99** · 03-31-2011, 06:36 PM

I agree that putting your name on that experiment wouldn`t be a good idea.

I also don`t think that a "professionally taught" sign is going to boost sales for them. People (should) know what they are getting into w/ a fundraiser car wash & it`s not a `professional` grade wash. Ya know?

Originally Posted by MDerleth

Why not show your friend a couple tricks, or give them a link to a video demonstrating 2-buckets, etc. and let them worry about training the kids.

^ That is what I would probably do.

**Concours.John** · 03-31-2011, 06:43 PM

Maybe I should wait a few weeks after and make flyer. "Suffered damage due to a good deed for charity.....I can help."

**John@Autopia-Carcare.com** · 03-31-2011, 06:45 PM

^ haha nice

All in all sounds like a damned if you do, damned if you don`t situation. Good luck either way.

**Concours.John** · 03-31-2011, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by John@Autopia-Carcare.com

^ haha nice

All in all sounds like a damned if you do, damned if you don`t situation. Good luck either way.

Your right John.
Everytime I do something like this I lose. ie. Mercedes E300 thread.

**Poorboy** · 03-31-2011, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by YellarStang99

I also don`t think that a "professionally taught" sign is going to boost sales for them. People (should) know what they are getting into w/ a fundraiser car wash & it`s not a `professional` grade wash. Ya know?

I agree with this

but I disagree with most of the others here .. Not only would I do it, I would probably go one step further and volunteer to supervise the event. First a short course in a classroom type setting and then a quick demo run through. With you supervising not only will this ensure quality, but it could draw you new business from the community. Many of them many not be aware of you or your services... call me John if you want to go over it

**DSPlati** · 03-31-2011, 11:22 PM

I am actually going to be helping with a charity car wash, I am supplying the equipment (soap, mitts, power washer, MFtowels ect...) I will be on site with a booth with my flyer/brochures/business cards and provide other services (headlight restoration, hand wax, small scratch removal etc...) and with that I will charge my normal price but give a percentage back to the charity.
The way I see it, great way to interact with the community, bring in more clients and help promote my business, and most important TAX WRITE OFF...

**paintjobpro22** · 04-03-2011, 05:36 PM

I actually participated in a charity wash about a month ago for a little boy who had cancer. I got phoned by somebody I knew a long time ago to see if I could help them out, so I did. We did 55 cars raising $1100! However, it ended up with my partner and I doing just about ALL of the work because most of the teens had never touches a sponge/brush.
They want us to come back for the next one they`re preparing for in May, but I will definately go over a couple of procedures before we get started.

#1. Wheel/jam rags are for dirty stuff, NOT PAINT SURFACES! (One girl wiped an armorall infested towell all over a black honda)

Overall it was a good turnout, and while I presoaked wheels and pressurewashed, my partner and one other guy brushed the cars. We let everyone else dry becuase some of these kids had no clue!

**C. Charles Hahn** · 04-03-2011, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by paintjobpro22

#1. Wheel/jam rags are for dirty stuff, NOT PAINT SURFACES! (One girl wiped an armorall infested towell all over a black honda)

I can only imagine how that soft paint looked by the time she was done

**Beemerboy** · 04-04-2011, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by Poorboy

I agree with this

but I disagree with most of the others here .. Not only would I do it, I would probably go one step further and volunteer to supervise the event. First a short course in a classroom type setting and then a quick demo run through. With you supervising not only will this ensure quality, but it could draw you new business from the community. Many of them many not be aware of you or your services... call me John if you want to go over it

My approach to the T. Look at this as a marketing tool for your detail business.

**Bunky** · 04-04-2011, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by paintjobpro22

I actually participated in a charity wash about a month ago for a little boy who had cancer. I got phoned by somebody I knew a long time ago to see if I could help them out, so I did. We did 55 cars raising $1100! However, it ended up with my partner and I doing just about ALL of the work because most of the teens had never touches a sponge/brush.

How long did it take you do to 55 cars?