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Auto detailing work
Auto paint restoration
Car wash
Interior detailing
Paint and exterior protection
Auto bug and sap removal
Headlight restoration
Protection
Review Highlights
“There may be better car washes out there, but in the Mill Valley area, this is the best available.” in 2 reviews
“Firstly, they do a FAR superior job than other car washes in southern Marin and the employees are always smiling and gracious.” in 2 reviews
“Courteous, professional and diligent.” in 2 reviews
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Overall rating
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- Kevin B.Mill Valley, CA387911718905Jul 6, 2020Updated review
Confession: it's been at least 4 months since my last car wash. So forgive me, father, for I have sinned. But in all fairness, this damn pandemic (aka damn-demic) hasn't helped matters at all. But then again, I haven't really been doing much driving in that time.
Needless to say, I was happy to hear that car washes were open again in Marin County. For a while, some car wash places would only clean the exterior of your car but not the interior. But now it's game on for both inside and outside your vehicle.
So I drove down the hill to my go-to car wash which is located in a Chevron station next to McDonald's. They've always been reliable. And don't get me wrong, they still are reliable and do a thorough cleaning. But man oh man, this spot keeps getting more expensive. The last time I went, I paid $35 for a basic cleaning + tip for the hardworking staff. On my recent visit, they charged $40 + a $5 sanitization fee. So after tax/tip, I drove out of there with a $50 dent in my wallet. Is it just me, or does this seem a bit pricey.
I'm all for adhering to best safety practices right now. But a $5 fee for sanitization seems like a stretch. After all, the people cleaning the cars are already wearing masks & gloves. And I'd like to think that the cleaning products they're using already have disinfectants. Maybe it's just me, but I haven't heard of any other business charging a sanitization fee. I would understand this rule at restaurants and other public places. But at a car wash?
In any case, I guess this is just the new norm. And at the end of the day, this is merely a "1st world problem" to be complaining about. I am glad to see them back in business and employing so many hard working employees. And my car does look shiny and new again.Helpful 8Thanks 0Love this 5Oh no 0Business owner information
Edy D.
Feb 26, 2015
Hi Kevin. The $5 is not merely a sanitization fee, it encompasses all that we are doing to maximize the safety of our customers and employees during the pandemic. That includes personal protective equipment for our employees, electrostatic disinfecting or fogging the inside of your car, utilizing the seat liner, and the extra time required to do all of that right. We believe that maximizing the safety of our customers and employees is absolutely crucial during this time, and we are committed to doing everything we can do achieve that. We look forward to seeing you again on your next visit, and hope that you feel at ease knowing that we are doing everything we can to keep you safe.
Thanks for your candor,
Edy D., SupervisorJun 5, 2019Previous reviewI'm pleased to report that Shineology continues to be a lean, mean car washing machine.
I have a dog. And my dog sheds. A lot! I also have a job where I transport a bunch of party gear, boxes, and items that can leave dirty residue. So when I brought my Mazda in yesterday for a long overdue cleaning, I was pretty sure that there was only so much realistically they could do. But lo and behold, the Shineology team performed an automotive miracle. When they finished with my car twenty minutes later, it looked and smelled like it had just came out of the dealership. No dog hair in sight. Spic and span, baby!
The staff here is very friendly. When I first came here a few years back, they were a bit too pushy with the up sell. Fortunately, they seem to have eased up on their sales practices. That being said, their prices seem to have gone up. A basic car wash is roughly $35 now. Ordinarily, I'd gripe and say that's a bit steep. But in the grand scheme of things, $35 is a small price to pay for an immaculate vehicle. Also, they have a very nice waiting area. So you can sit outside in the sun, enjoy a coffee, read the newspaper, etc. They even have a water bowl for your pooch.
Thumbs up, guys! Thanks for making my car look like new again.Jul 16, 2017Previous reviewI'm bumping up my previous rating to 4-stars.
Don't get me wrong, these guys are still persistent when it comes to up-selling car wash services. But once you get past that part of the process, they do a solid job of cleaning your car in a relatively timely manner.
Furthermore, they have a very comfortable, sunny waiting area (which is also dog-friendly!).
Long story short... I came here with a dirty/dusty Mazda hatchback, and 20 minutes/$30 later, it came back to me looking & smelling like a brand new car. You can't really ask for more than that from a car wash.
I'll be back.Feb 20, 2015Previous reviewPerfectly fine place to get your car washed for under $30. However, I must agree with other reviews, these guys need to tone down the upsell. I feel like they're trying to sell me a damn time-share or something.
Let me paint a quick picture for you. I arrive at the station and roll down my window. The guy asks me what I want. I tell him that I'll just have the Basic Wash (which covers exterior and interior cleaning). But before I can open my car door, he bombards me with all the other more expensive services for like $20 - $30 extra. I politely decline. But then he continues to point out the blemishes and scratches on my vehicle, and tell me how my car would look better if I enlisted more of their cleaning/waxing services. Ok, now it's just starting to get ridiculous. This guy is now just peer-pressuring me in to spending more money by making me feel that I'm a bad car owner. Look, buddy - No means No. I drive a pretty basic Toyota Yaris. I don't drive a Mercedes or fancy sports car. Just accept my order and give me my damn receipt.
Once this annoying procedure is done, I finally get out of my car and pay my bill inside the gas station. For what it's worth, they have a sunny outdoor waiting area with lawn chairs and umbrellas. It's a nice place to sit while you wait for your vehicle to be finished.
At the end of the whole 20-minute process, I do drive off the lot with an immaculate car (so no complaints on that front). However, I do sincerely hope the business owners read these reviews and train their staff to ease up on their aggressive sales approach. It's very uninviting. - Greg F.San Francisco, CA0142Jul 26, 2024
They do a fine job, but they could be more detailed or thorough. Whoever is doing their sales training should get 5 stars. These guys don't stop up selling. They don't stop.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Agustin G.Downtown Berkeley, Berkeley, CA20121May 24, 2024
It is unfortunate to experience such poor customer service at a place I've seen with so much demand. I've paid, for a couple years, the cost for a wash that includes additional unlimited exterior washes for a month. At first, the guys checking me in, used to tell me I had 2 weeks for the unlimited washes. I believe I came back once, due to the fact I didn't really feel my vehicle was dirty enough and the two weeks would fly by quickly. Later on, I found out it was a full month for the washes included, which I believe I've used once.
Today, I came asking if my time for the additional exterior wash was up, and I was told I was still within the threshold. Therefore, I asked if a quick wipe of my dashboard could be done and the worker said he needed to talk to his manager. Manager (in the picture) comes and tells me "unfortunately I can not do more than the exterior wash", even after explaining the above. His defeating, power trip like attitude and rudeness, simply left me with one option, to NEVER come back again.
JUST BE AWARE.Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Denis F.Sausalito, CA013Jun 9, 2024
Be careful when you are doing a car wash over there. They smash my dash board vent and didn't want to know anything about that. Finally, after insisting, the manager show up and didn't want to assume they made a mistake. After arguing for a while, they decided to try to repair it and they scratched the plastic. He took my phone number and told me the supervisor will call me. After a week without any phone call, I decided to write this review.
Oh, and I forgot, the car was not even well wash. They miss a lot of spot between doors, wheels and other areas.Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Schree Y.El Portal, CA15Aug 2, 2024
This place is the worst!!! They do not deliver what the promises and they keep up charging you.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Sofia W.Torrance, CA47533Jun 21, 2024
Do not come here--worst car wash place ever. I opted for the second most expensive option because I really wanted a deep clean for my car after several road trips. Unfortunately, the service was a complete letdown.
In less than 15 minutes, they told me my car was ready. When I checked, the hood of my car had many visible dirty spots, and they definitely didn't clean around the license plate areas. The services included interior but besides the mats, it looked untouched. My dashboard was still sticky despite the service I paid for.
They most definitely didn't perform all the services that were paid for. Save your money and go somewhere elseHelpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Kelly C.San Francisco, CA58132May 29, 2024
They do a good job but at $45 for a the basic pkg, it's pricey. Also I really don't appreciate all of the upselling that goes on before they'll take your car. I have a brand new car and the guy told me that my car really needed a wax. He seems to get frustrated and a bit rude when he realizes you won't upgrade to a higher price point. Management shouldn't put this pressure on their employees or customers
Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Egan H.Mill Valley, CA50923Apr 21, 2024
I used to be a fan of this place. Now, they aggressively try to upsell you on everything. I have to say no multiple times to their trying to get more money out of me. Not to mention, they ripped the plug out of my driver's side floor mat the last time I was here. Also, be aware of any mysterious scratches that might appear on your car after they get done with it. Not worth the money!
Helpful 2Thanks 1Love this 0Oh no 0 - Ruslan K.Sausalito, CA181014Mar 1, 2024
Stay away! I repeat stay away cause they damage your car and take no responsibility. My Porsche got one piece of bumper ripped off by the their washing apparatus and the side door panel as well. Brand new Porsche. They won't admit even though I found the ripped off parts in their washing chamber.
Helpful 3Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Mike D.Sacramento, CA314Jul 24, 2023
My mechanic gives me a coupon for a free car wash from Shineology after each smog check. The first time I did this was 2020 and Shineology insisted on a $10 "COVID cleaning fee" (or something like that) to redeem the coupon. I felt like I was being scammed but I did the wash anyway. It was ok; nothing special. One star because they actually did wash my car. But next time, I went elsewhere when paying for a car wash.
Then I went back with another coupon from the smog check. The guy checks the date and says that last year they changed ownership so I'd have to pay $29.99 to redeem the coupon. So I produced my second coupon, from March of this year. This would have been after the change in ownership he described. He couldn't explain why but said I could pay $29.99 or redeem it at the San Rafael location.
It felt like I was being scammed (I'm not sure if that ownership change really happened) but I drove off, then pulled over to run directions to the San Rafael location and learned that it's permanently closed.
I can't be sure but I suspect that telling me to go to (closed) San Rafael was retaliation for my insistence on a business honoring its promotional coupon.Helpful 2Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 1 - John D.Casa Grande, AZ081Apr 25, 2024
OK folks, so I read the many bad reviews, but I stopped in today because of convenience. And yes, they will try to upsell you a wax job even though you're getting a $59 car wash. So the true "value" isn't there as much as my $17 car wash nearer to my homebase of Monterey. But the crew did an excellent job on the car inside and out. So I have no complaints and I'm only subtracting a star because of the pricing. I left a tip in the box and in the hand of my crew chief as well, because there were at least three people working on the car at any time. No spots remaining, totally dry and totally clean and well vacuumed.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 1
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