Mermaid Car Wash

I had just the basic "total wash" done. 2500 miles of bugs and grime removed outside and inside. They did a great job.

Took my car in to get washed and my car came out with a cracked windshield. Owner refused to take responsibility or cover it. Very unprofessional. POOR customer service. Would not return or refer.

Went to Mermaid today for first time on recommendation of colleague. The outside of the car looked fine, although the back of the car was still dripping, the mirrors weren't dried (and are now spotty) and there were water marks on a back window. I can polish that when home. The interior was another story: seats weren't vacuumed, cup holders not cleaned, that area that you step over to get into the car clearly not touched, the clear panel with a million fingerprints not touched. Trunk not vacuumed. This for a $16.25 package! Upon reading the reviews below, I called the manager and am bringing in the car tomorrow to have the interior cleaned. I'll be returning to Octopus from now on.

Bad job won't pay for service any more

Granted car was dirty but no cup holders cleaned out inside doors not wiped down gear shift not touched. What did they do?

I went to get car wash at this place twice a couple years ago and I didn't like it. Today, I went there again and I even hate the place even more. People who work there are so rude and unfriendly. I spent $20 just to get lousy job done. Save your money and go somewhere else.

I used to work there,and I tried to do the best job I could on the cars....

I admit I only paid for the cheapest wash, but they barely clean the inside at all. Ran a cloth over the dash and took a swipe at the windows, but never touched the console or the cup holders. I found dust and crumbs (yes, I admit I sometimes snack in my car) plus a candy wrapper still at the bottom of the center cup holder. I used to go there years back when I lived in Madison, but I won't go back again. Cheap is one thing. Lazy is another.

Never Go There! Total waste of time and money. Had to take my car to Octopus Car Wash after I left here because they left all the dust in my car. Didn't even use a dressing when wiping down the dash and don't do the doors or panels at all. Manager seemed very uncaring when I said that I could have done what they did in 10 min at a car wash myself. He then took my car back through and had them take out the trash and re-vacuum the floors and seats. I paid for the "Pearl" top of the line car wash for $17 and ended up paying another $15 to get it done right half way across Madison where they do the TOP OF THE LINE car wash for less and even vacuum the rear bay and clean the entire car out top to bottom, remove the trash and dress the panels and dash. Not a fuzz or dust to be seen. Good job Octopus! Even the inside staff were unable to give me a way to email or call the operations manager or owner. I left a note so we'll see how it goes, think I'll get a call...I won't hold my breath!! Parrots were the only entertaining factor here folks and the only thing we could get from the girl behind the counter who was too busy playing games on the computer and chatting to greet customers coming in (who are dodging the parrot trying to bite them!) is that she wishes she could "muzzle" them! Ridiculous, will NEVER go there again!! Don't waste your time unless all you car about is getting the outside washed...sigh

They didn't clean the rear window at all. I could see it was dirty when I got home and cleaned it with paper towel and glass cleaner and the paper towel was dirty. They also didn't clean the cover over the instrumentation panel - was visually dirty. I very rarely go to Mermaid or anywhere to have the inside cleaned. I called and they asked if I could come back in. No, not today - don't live close. Guess I will need to clean what they missed myself. And this after sitting for a long time because there was a long line of vehicles waiting.

I have never PERSONALLY had any trouble with Mermaid...I love the way my car smells after, nothing has ever gone missing, and hey...my car is usually pretty messy when I bring it in so I definitely get my money's worth. But in response to revitup I totally agree. You need to get what you are paying for if there are understood expectations of what the car should look like after. Couldn't have put it better myself.

I drive to Mermaid from the Dells area just to get my car washed, as I know a couple of my friends do as well. The employees treat me as I treat them, with respect. My car is always clean and lint free. I have NEVER had a problem and have been using Mermaid for 10 years. Love the service and the staff. If I were ever unhappy with something they did, they would gladly fix it as it is all in the way you ask, not demand.

I've wonder if any of the people writing reviews read what they've written before they hit "all done" Do you ever wonder why youmight be treated "rudely?" When you make yourcomplaint do you talk to whoever you're complaining to like they are beneath you? It's a car wash! It's not the end of the world, I promise. If the shininess of your wheels are that important to you, take a rag bend over and do it yourself. I know for a fact the managers would be glad to point out where the rags are. After so many years of customers with their "I'm better than you, I have more money than you so you are here to serve me so rewash my car for free, bend over and wipe down the door jam, they didn't clean out the cup holders, etc (which by the way is NOT included in ANY car wash packages, its a detail)" you become a little jaded so the next time you're unsatisfied, by all means bring it to the managers but talk to them, us like we're human without your preconceived notions and I know you'll leave happy

Lot of negative reviews here. I've frequented both Mermaid and Octopus and both do a good job, but I've historically had more problems with the quality of a wash from Octopus. But both providers are happy to do a do-over to make things right. I would bet none of these people who left negative ratings complained in person. And I would bet they historically just tend to post negative complaints online rather than confronting a manager in person. One thing I have found from either car wash facility is that the best deal is the cheapest package. Add-ons are where they make their money. As a consumer, check their work and make sure you're happy. It's what you want, and in the end, what they want.

I went to get the 10 dollar in and out deal. The price sounded too good to be true, because it was. The whole idea was to get the dog hair out of the interior, which they did not even come close to doing. And the bed of my truck was empty, but they decided to close the tailgate anyway and let me keep all the leaves and debris that had piled up back there. The wiper blades still had junk in them, the ashtrays weren't emptied. All in all a complete waste of money. I would give a zero star rating for them if I could.

Really...? You are going to charge me $22.39 for the "Pearl Package" and you are going to clean/shine the tires as well? I should have just gone to one of those "touchless" car washes...for $6-7 because that is really all I got as far as service. The extra I paid for tire service involved the automated car wash shooting out some goo and completely missing my tires...which would have been rinsed off anyway. As for the service, well my windows were still dirty and they didn't even pull the mats to vacuum. It was a waste of time and money to go to these guys. Now, I'll have to go to Octopus and actually have my truck washed. I will never, ever go to another Mermaid carwash again. Friends do not let friends go to Mermaid.

What a horrible car wash, compared to Octopus!!!! I recently changed employment, and am now on the west side of Madison. I use to frequent Octopus on park street...Mermaid apparently doesn't believe that the rear compartment of an SUV needs the cargo area vaccumed, nor the tailgate area or rear windows, cleaned...I will never go there again! Back to Octopus!

JP

At check in I asked for full service for a minivan. They did not vacuum clean the third row area. And when I questioned the worker, he asked for extra $2 cash and said he'll take care of it. First of all I was not told if there will be extra charge for the third seat area, secondly a worker tries to make money under the table. when I brought this to manager's attention he didn't care much and just wanted me to pay extra and get going. The staff was rude and argumentative. Seemed like they didn't care at all for my business.

We did not find it to be a good value, unlike the other reviewer. When we pay that kind of money for a wash, we expect it to be cleaned well. There is no way there should still be food on the floor when they are "done"!

We paid for the "extra" of cleaning the floor mats ($1.50 each) and they simply vacuumed them (which they theoretically would have done anyway, right?!). When my husband asked why they didn't do more than vacuum them, we were told that for another extra fee, we could leave them overnight and they would clean them, but not for the extra fee we had already paid. When he said fine, he was very unsatisfied and wanted his money back, the manager essentially said "too bad, so sad", and would not even discuss it any further. They did fine on the outside (but a touchfree gas station wash does that for half the price), and they cleaned the windows inside okay, but the vacuuming was incomplete, they did nothing "extra" for the extra charges we paid, and they were rude and defiant when we pointed out our disappointment. We are never going there again. We will drive into town further and go to one of the three "other places" that do an excellent job all around for the same price or less.

For the money, you get a decent car wash. It's much less expensive than the others. $16.95 for the Pearl Package which is the deluxe package and most expensive for a car. Vans and trucks can get more expensive. As far as I could tell, there are no options for shampooing carpeting or upholstery, but they do a great job of vacuuming the carpets and seats.



The interior job isn't perfect, but it's good enough. There were a couple of crumbs left in one tray near my stick shifter, and there were some crumbs left at the base of the boot (flexy leather around stick shifter). There was also half a pretzel on the passenger floor. Easy enough for me to toss the pretzel bit.



The exterior job is great! Mirrors and windows are spotless.



For not having to wash and vacuum my car myself, I'll go to Mermaid any day. I don't need my car absolutely perfect, but if you do, I'd suggest one of the higher priced competitors.