A friend of mine is just starting a mobile car wash service in the Zurich area, he told me about it this weekend and I wondered what other EFers might think about the idea.

He's certain that this type of service doesn't exist here (certainly not in the Zurich area anyway) but I do know it's pretty popular in the UK. My first thought was the problem with not having a designated car wash area to use but apparently he only uses one bucket of water (and some new high-tech car wash stuff) and his 2 Swiss partners don't see this as being an issue.

2nd issue I can see is getting the message across to the locals... car valeting translates as valet parking so he has to come up with a good name that works in both English and German. He does though intend to start with the English speaking expat crowd. I've already given my views on this, ignore the much bigger local market at your peril, also, many expats here do not even own a car.

He already has interest from places such as golf clubs and from some bigger companies that have fleets of vehicles, I'm not sure how worthwhile it will be for him to drive an hour across town to wash one private car. (prices BTW, I seem to recall were between 45 and 75 per vehicle depending on level of service and size of car).

So, what's your view? I said I would ask around here and elsewhere and give him some honest feedback.

there is a stationary car wash / valet service in the parking garage at the shopping center in Chavanne de Bogis.. and they are always busy so I should imagine that a mobile service with the proper advertising would just *cough cough* clean up.

I know you've kind of covered it in your original post, but I'd make damn sure about the legality of washing a car in the street.

http://www.clean-cars.ch/tarifs.html

the "Polish Pro" is the same price as a tidy Fiesta in London. Grumpy, great idea: do it!

Not all gas stations in Lausanne have a car wash and I had to search a bit when my regular gas station's one broke down. He might have found a business niche. But 45-75 CHF is on the pricy side when the 'de luxe' option at the automatic car wash is around 20 CHF.

zy... .check out the prices for the hand wash at chavanne centre..
and they are always busy.

It seems to work best in the U.K. when the cleaner visits a company and then does several cars at once. If he does a good job then it's repeat business with no travelling whilst cleaning the group of cars and less touting for business.

I know of people who love this as it's once less job for them to worry about and they don't waste time waiting for a car wash.

The Swiss love clean cars!

It maybe of possible interest to me.

I'm looking for someone who also provides a similar service to this guy

http://www.offyourmarks.com/detailing.php

Some nice motors in the gallery. This guy is a serious pro

I could also ask at work if there's any interest. HR are always looking for "perks" for staff.

Thus the lack of shops that offer detailing?

There is a distinct difference between detailing (paint correction etc) and valet services, that extends to the cost also

I want the swirls removed from my car I need a pro to do that.

what is this "detailing" of which you speak? Another Americanism? In fact, do you mean "cleaning". If so, most Swiss cars are immaculate, so I suspect they're getting it done somehow.

Slightly off topic...

A few Polish guys ran a car wash from a parking lot near my work... You could have a Jet wash for £15 , or a Hand wash of your car, by hand it was only a fiver...

I remember getting one done in my lunchtime whilst I went shopping , it really was a good clean, and only 5 quid. Getting back to work, sitting down at my desk with a smile on my face, turned round to my colleagues and blurted out...

"Just got a great hand job from two polish guys down the road for a fiver..."

Took me a while to figure out the stares I got back.

Check the link I gave earlier, it shows the complete process.

http://www.offyourmarks.com/correction.php

Also look at this thread and the Aston

http://www.jaguarforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=3979

The Swiss don't need to do 'detailing'. They replace their cars before the nooks and crannies get grimy.

http://www.car-makeup.ch/Start.htm

Ive not used them so dont have any info on them.

Autos dürfen nicht mehr auf öffentlichem Grund gewaschen werden.

translation: Cars may no longer be washed on public property.

source: http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/zuerich/...story/21697489

..nah, they're not getting it done somehow as you need special products for that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_detailing

..and I tell ya...the Swiss need all the detailing they can get.