Near Tet, car wash services are overloaded, prices increase

Car washes are always crowded with customers during the days before Tet. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Open from 6am, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Huu - owner of a shopcar washin Dung town (Thanh Chuong), along with his wife and two assistants, have to work until 9 p.m. before resting. Mr. Huu said: "Normally, there are only a few motorbikes washed a day, and occasionally a few cars. But at the end of the year, it's very busy, the couple and their two grandchildren can't keep up, 30-40 cars a day."

Not only Mr. Huu’s car wash but also most other car washes are crowded. Because these are the last days of the year, when everything is temporarily put aside, besides decorating and cleaning the house, everyone has the need to fix and repair their vehicles for the Spring trip, among which, car washing is the most “popular” service.

Motorbike washing prices near Tet double compared to normal days. Photo: Thanh Phuc

“Normally, I wash my motorbikes at home to get rid of the dust. But during Tet, my family has 4 motorbikes so I took them to the mechanic to wash them. They did a professional job, washed them, changed the air filter, and changed the oil before going out for Tet. The price for Tet was 120,000 VND for 4 motorbikes,” said Hoang Binh Son, a motorbike wash customer.

In Vinh city at this time, the gara car carealways overloaded. To avoid the situation of customers being overloaded and having to wait in line for a long time, starting from December 27, all garages have posted notices to customers that they must make an appointment for cleaning and washing their cars before coming.

Garages and car care showrooms in Vinh city are always busy these days. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Hoang Minh Hien - owner of a professional car wash system in Vinh city said: "Everyone wants their car to be beautiful, certainly without any mistakes when going to the beginning of the New Year, therefore, at the end of the year, the demand for beautifying cars is 2-3 times higher than usual. Cleaning the interior, stickers, painting, installing additional equipment or washing cars... all increase.

Right from the beginning of the month, our facilities have been crowded with customers. Near Tet, the number of customers is 3 times higher than usual, so customers must register in advance and schedule a time to come to reduce waiting time.

There were times when customers had to wait in line. Photo: Thanh Phuc

According to Mr. Hien, many customers have to deposit their cars overnight, the workers work quickly and then come pick them up the next day. The busiest time is from December 27-29, the workers have to work until 1-2 am to deliver the cars to customers. Nearly 100 workers of 10 facilities have to work overtime continuously, salaries are paid according to revenue, so there are days when each worker earns millions.

Mr. Tran Quynh Nguyen - a car washer at a car wash garage on Le Mao extended street (Vinh city) said: "From December 23 until now, workers have to work from 7:30 am to 10:00 pm, without any time to rest. However, knowing that this is the peak time for this service, income is based on revenue, so everyone is trying to work at full capacity to have money to buy Tet."

Car washers work tirelessly from morning till night. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Due to increased demand, on many sidewalks,car wash serviceMany businesses have sprung up spontaneously, taking advantage of the Tet holiday to make money. In addition to long-standing businesses, in newly opened roads or urban areas, people take advantage of renting locations, buying mobile car wash machines and a few buckets and basins to be able to do business and earn millions of dong every day.

According to the survey, except for some professional garages that keep the car wash price the same and give customers gratitude calls, at other car wash shops, the price of washing motorbikes has doubled, from 20,000 VND to 40-50,000 VND/car; car washes have increased from 70,000-100,000 VND to 200,000-250,000 VND/car (depending on sedan or SUV).

In addition to car washes, car beauty services are also very popular at the end of the year. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Nguyen Nhat Cuong - a car wash customer said: "It's Tet so the price increase is inevitable. I choose to wash my car at a familiar place, I am a regular customer of the garage, normally it is 120,000 VND/wash but the workers are careful and meticulous so it is worth it. They do business professionally and not seasonally so they do not increase the price during Tet."