The Carwash Man

Summary

An elderly salesperson reflects on his encounter with a car wash man and contemplates offering him sales advice but ultimately decides against it.

Abstract

During his morning walk, the narrator, an experienced salesperson, comes across a man washing cars and considers the value of his own sales expertise. He ponders giving the car wash man advice on how to upsell his services by emphasizing the quality and thoroughness of his work. The narrator plans to introduce himself and share his insights on how to engage potential customers by showing genuine interest in their vehicles, demonstrating attention to detail, and taking pride in the cleanliness of the engine. However, upon returning to offer his advice, he observes the car wash man's busy schedule and realizes that unsolicited advice is not always welcome or necessary, especially from someone who is not currently in the trenches of the working world.

Opinions

The narrator initially undervalues the car wash man's service, considering a drive-through car wash to be a cheaper and sufficient alternative.
He believes that by using sales techniques such as personalizing the service and highlighting the meticulous nature of his work, the car wash man could justify charging more for his service.
The narrator feels a sense of pride in his own sales experience and sees an opportunity to help someone he perceives as less experienced.
After seeing the car wash man's success and work ethic, the narrator reconsiders his impulse to offer advice, realizing that the man is already doing well on his own.
The narrator acknowledges the generational gap and the potential inappropriateness of giving unsolicited advice, especially in a context where the recipient appears to be thriving without it.

My expert advice to him

In taking my morning walk around the Senior Campus, I saw a man washing one of the staff's cars. He had pushed the windshield wipers out from the windows. Water from his washing ran down the drive. He had been at it for a while.

I nodded to him and asked, “How much?” he replied “twenty five.” Which is your car? I told him, “It’s the one parked next to the company van.” He glanced at my car and repeated twenty-five. Then he said, “What you want me to do?”

“Nothing” I said. I knew I could get a drive-though car wash a block away for much less. I walked on.

At the far end of my walk, I stopped and sat down on my walker and thought.That hard working man could use some advice from an old salesperson. Me.

I should go back to him, introduce myself and explain that I had been in sales for over sixty years and made a good living at it. I had some tips for him.

My mind continued. First you should ask which car is yours. You inspect it, rub your chin and say, I can do that one for only twenty-five. Then you ask the man to look at your work.

Tell him you do more than wash a car, that you are a Detail Man, and smile with pride when you say it. Open the car door and tell him you clean in and out. If he is still with you, say, “Here, let me open the hood. Look how clean the engine is. It was filthy before I got to it.”

“That's why it's worth twenty-five, because I put a lot of time and effort into it.”

Having now imagined all I was going to say, I walked back to where he was. He was in a neighbor's car, parked it in the same watery spot. He was doing another wash job. “Hi again” I said. “Got another wash job I see.” The man gave me a quick smile and said. “Got two more waiting.”

Abashed, I walked back to my senior home knowing old fuds like me do not give unsolicited advice to working people.