LC
Lisa Coston
Oct 25, 2025
(EDIT: I just read some other bait and switch reviews here. So, he's charging people, no matter what is quoted on the "orange ticket" whatever he feels like charging? Wow)
I was referred to California Gold by a friend who always spoke highly of them. My car had been parked under trees and needed an exterior wash and wax—nothing more. I told the attendant that I didn’t want the interior cleaned. He gave me an orange ticket for $79.99, which seemed fair.
The wash and wax themselves were excellent—the employee who did the work was professional and thorough. My issue is with the billing and customer service afterward.
When I checked out, I was charged $150.73—for a “SUV-Large Wash” and “Sprint Wax–Sedan.” My car is a Honda Civic Coupe, not an SUV. The original ticket (which they kept) said $79.95 total. When I returned to ask why the price nearly doubled, Mr. Sam argued with me in front of customers, insisting nothing was wrong. He blamed “a mistake in the system,” but refused to fix it or show me sedan prices, or even go inside, away from customers, to discuss the confusing matter.
When he was sick of talking to me, he had another ticket written up, by the same attendant who gave me the first one, for $65 (wash) + $79.95 (wax)—still over $140 for the exterior of a small sedan. When I objected, he said, “Your car was dirty… we cleaned it.” Well, dirty cars are your business, not an excuse for bait-and-switch pricing.
The worker who cleaned my car did great work, but management’s attitude and lack of transparency ruined the experience.
No posted prices, no consistency, no accountability. Buyer beware—ask for a printed quote which reflects your make and model car, for each service performed, before you agree to anything. He and his associates seem to just pull prices out of his behind, depending on who you are, or other criteria you don't know about. So, I got charged the amount for the car wash that a LARGE SUV is charged, but charged for the wax for a SEDAN (which is what I should be charged for both).
He refused to tell me what the car wash rate is for a SEDAN, instead of a LARGE SUV--which I was charged for. Why? Because he just makes up prices, period.
Nope, he doesn't care. Sure seems like a scam, to me, period. So dismissive and arrogant Mr. Sam is. Very argumentative. I am sure, or I could bet, that his workers get paid diddly, which is why you are badgered about leaving a tip. I always tip, especially for good service. I tipped well, as the young man deserved it. You and your cohort sure didn't.
You've been in business long enough to POST YOUR SERVICES AND PRICES for EVERY SERVICE RELATED TO SEDANS, SUV, COMPACT CARS, BOATS, RVs, whatever, where people can see it, clearly. You've been jacking up your prices, at will, with your little orange pad, whenever you feel like it, for several years now, according to these reviews and others on Yelp. A terrible way to conduct business. Trust me, I will be proactive about this for me and all of the other negative reviewers here, as they tell the truth.