during one of those long hot summers when we were about 14, my friend John and I noticed that the local gas station had improved his mechanical washing automatic to manual car. Previously, an operator behind a screen is needed to draw the necessary levers and push the right buttons for manipulating brushes, but now just bought a token driver, drove the car in the car wash and put the token in the slot next to the driver window.
One day we walked past we saw a confused woman out of the car and look around to try to understand how the new system worked. We helped him and showed him where the token was slit and she gave us a small tip for our difficulties. We saw an opportunity.
The interior of the car wash is not visible from the gas station, therefore we acted as "security agent" (or "NA" - complete with reflective vest) and positions next to the token slot and the other is positioned behind the screen in front of the old manual controls to act as "Wash Technician" (or "WT"). S. O. welcomed the drivers with a hello and a hand as they pulled up to the slot and they automatically give him the token. It would then stand as the security guard and ask "Sir" or "Ma'am" to please stand by while he inspected the car for "loose connections", then wait the "all clear" to him before driving away after the arrested brushes. They always agreed.
The SO would then walk slowly around the car make a "safety inspection" very careful, including control mirrors were loose and retract the antenna to the name of the driver if necessary. It would then return to the window of the driver, tell the driver of the car was "now safe" and remind him or her not to move until he gave the green light sO would then cry. "it is clear to start ", as hard as he could to the WT before inserting the token into the slot and withdraw to a safe distance. Of course, everything from then on was completely automatic, but T. W. would make a big show of moving levers redundant around and pressing buttons disconnected while the S. O. visibly kept a close eye on the process.
When the machine is finished, the S. O. would be banging on the driver's window and wait to open it. He would then tell the driver that the process was complete, everything was satisfactory and no damage was done to the car. The secret was to smile and stop talking to that moment. The drivers would then always do two things; they would either hand in their pocket and offer a tip (which has always been accepted reluctantly of course) and they ask if it was safe to drive. I am happy to say that over half of the drivers gave a tip and we made a lot of money this summer. In fact, it was so lucrative, we returned every weekend (the busiest time for a car wash) for a few weeks after we returned to school. Then some disgruntled customers back began to ask the owner to explain why there was no security guard on duty on weekdays. You're welcome?