Customers flock to convict-run car wash for low prices
Customers flock to convict-run car wash for low prices
2024-02-27
To help convicts develop marketable skills, Taitung Prison has for many years run a program in which prisoners offer affordable car-washing services. Now, “Big Brother” car wash is a hit among drivers who love the low prices. However, other car wash operators are upset at the unfair competition, resulting in the closure of one of two such prison programs.
Car wash employees wipe a car window clean, using a power washer to clear off the grime. From hood to trunk, and even the tires and floor mats, no detail goes unnoticed.
This worker opens the rear door for a deep clean in the backseat. Everyone like him in a yellow vest is a convict, whose carwash services are so beloved by the drivers of Taitung that they make regular cleaning appointments.
Customer
You can’t find this price anywhere else in Taitung. Most car washes are NT$800 to NT$900, but here it’s only NT$150 to NT$200. The key is their attitude toward the work.
Customer
I’ve been coming here for years, every year. It’s cheaper here.
Most car hand-washing businesses charge about NT$700 to NT$1,200 depending on vehicle size, with additional charges for special services. On the other hand, the prison car wash charges NT$300 max. Yet the low prices have attracted the ire of other car wash businesses, whose protests have reduced the program from two classes to one.
Lin Chun-chi
Taitung Prison
The original idea was to let the students practice on prison employees’ vehicles, then join the car wash after learning how. They can use their newfound skills, then after getting out, they could start their own business or find a job.
The Taitung Prison car wash class has been around for over 20 years. At first, the goal was to teach inmates a marketable skill to help them get back on their feet after getting out. Incidentally, it’s their exemplary skills that have made the “Big Brother” car wash a huge hit.
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受刑人習得一技之長 "大哥洗車"CP值高生意夯
2024-02-27
為了培養受刑人一技之長，台東監獄多年前成立洗車班，由獄所提供平價洗車服務，沒想到這個"大哥牌"洗車，深受駕駛人歡迎，認為cp值超高，不少人更是一試成主顧，但也一度因為低於行情價，讓業者抱怨與民爭利，導致兩個洗車班裁減剩一班。
車窗玻璃一擦再擦，再用高壓水槍清洗乾淨，從車頂、車尾、輪胎，甚至腳踏墊，每個細節都不放過。
打開車門，後座清潔一樣不馬虎，這些身穿黃背心的受刑人，因為好口碑的服務，讓不少台東駕駛人一試成主顧，定期報到。
[[民眾]]
“在台東找不到這種價錢，一般洗車大概都在八九百之間吧，這邊頂多才一百五至兩百，最主要是他們的工作態度，都滿好的”
[[民眾]]
“好幾年前都有在這裡洗，每年都有在這裡洗，這裡比較便宜”
以手工清洗價格來看，小型車到休旅車價格大約落在700至1200元左右，根據不同的保養項目，價格可能更高，對比大哥牌清潔服務，頂多300元，就能讓愛車煥然一新，俗擱大碗的高CP值服務，卻也因為低於行情價，還有業者認為監所與民爭利，導致原本兩個洗車班，裁減剩一班。
[[台東監獄作業科長 林俊吉]]
“一開始的宗旨是用我們員工的車，讓同學去做實習，等他們結完訓以後，到這個洗車場來，可以真正地學以致用，那以後出去他也可以自行創業，也可以去受僱”
台東監獄洗車班成立超過20年，最初的目的是希望培養受刑人一技之長，出獄時能順利重返社會，只是這項好手藝，意外讓"大哥牌"洗車，變得超夯。
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