Additional Information for Soft Wash Pro's LLC

BBB sent correspondence to Soft Wash Pro's LLC on June 27 and July 8, 2024 requesting substantiation for or removal of advertised claims on the website https://www.softwashproservices.com/. The business has responded stating, "As of right now I won’t be making any changes to the website. My website has seen a lot of traffic over the past few months. I understand the requirements and expectations that’s the BBB has. Unfortunately I won’t be able to meet those at this time."

Advertisements should be truthful, sincere offers to sell. Advertisers have a responsibility to have substantiation for all claims made and should be able to provide that substantiation upon request.

The claims that BBB requested substantiation for are, or similar to, the ones that follow:

1. Superiority Claims
“#1 choice for power washing”
“Soft Wash Pro’s proudly holds the title as the #1 choice”
“Best pressure washing company in …”
“Shining bright as the #1 gutter brightening company in Genesee County, NY”
“Ranking supreme among pressure washing companies in Genesee County, NY”
“Soft Wash Pro’s takes the crown at #1”
The tab for the website states “The #1 Pressure Washing Company in Genesee County”

BBB’s Code of Advertising #28. Objective Superlative Claims states:
Superlative statements in advertisements about the tangible qualities and performance values of a product or service are objective claims for which the advertiser must possess substantiation as they can be based upon accepted standards or tests. As statements of fact, such claims, like “#1 in new car sales in the city,” can be proved or disproved.

2. Eco Friendly Claims
“Our team of professionals utilizes advanced techniques and eco-friendly solutions to ensure a thorough and effective cleaning process.”
“Soft Wash Pro’s uses eco-friendly cleaning solutions in house washing. Our methods are designed to be effective in cleaning while minimizing environmental impact.”

BBB’s Code of Advertising #36. Environmental Benefit Claims states:
36.1 General Principles
36.1.1 Advertisers should not make broad, unqualified general environmental benefit claims like “green” or “eco-friendly.”
36.1.2 Advertisers must qualify general claims with specific environmental benefits.
36.1.3 Advertisers must possess competent and reliable evidence (often scientific evidence) to support all environmental benefit claims. Qualifications for any claim must be clear, conspicuous and understandable.
36.1.4 When an advertiser qualifies a general claim with a specific benefit, the benefit should be significant. Advertisers must not highlight small or unimportant benefits.
36.1.5 Unless clear from the context, any environmental claim must specify clearly and conspicuously whether the claim applies to the product, the product’s packaging, a service or just to a portion of the product, package or service.

3. "Satisfaction Guarantee"

BBB’s Code of Advertising #20. Warranties or Guarantees states:
20.1 When using the term “warranty” or “guarantee” in product advertising, the advertiser must clearly and conspicuously include a statement that the complete details of the warranty can be seen prior to sale at the advertiser's location, viewed on the advertiser’s website or, in the case of mail or telephone order sales, made available free on written request.
20.2 Advertisers should only use “satisfaction guarantee,” “money back guarantee,” “free trial offer,” or similar representations in advertising if the seller or manufacturer refunds the full purchase price of the advertised product or service at the consumer's request.
20.3 When “satisfaction guarantee” or similar representations are used in advertising, any material limitations or conditions that apply to the guarantee must be clearly and conspicuously disclosed.
20.4 When advertising “lifetime” warranties or guarantees or similar representations, the advertisement must clearly and conspicuously disclose its intended meaning of the term “lifetime.”
20.5 Sellers or manufacturers should advertise that a product or service is warranted or guaranteed only if the seller or manufacturer promptly and fully performs its obligations under the warranty or guarantee.