Obligation to protect Consumers?

[PissedInMichigan]

A local car wash business uses a soap product that has some caustic properties.
After washing my vehicle, I noticed soap residue on my new jacket (made of nylon and polyester). Thinking nothing of it (because it is just soap, right?), I delayed wiping off the jacket until I returned home for the evening. After using a soft cloth and cold water, the material of the jacket has "deteriorated" to the point of fraying everywhere the soap residue was.
The jacket is only weeks old and I am seeking replacement costs only.
I approached the manager about this and he laughed. Then told me to call the dealer of the soap.
This car wash facility has no warning signs of any kind to alert consumers of the potential for damage.
The best I could do is request a MSDS sheet on the soap and hope there is something there.

Is there precedence for seeking damages against negligent buisiness operators for similar circumstances?

 

[JETX]

Before you could prevail in any action, either in court or in direct contact with the merchant, you will need to confirm your claim that "A local car wash business uses a soap product that has some caustic properties."

How do you know the soap is caustic?? Have you had an analysis made of the soap, the water, the material, etc. There are professional labs out there that will do these tests for you.

Put yourself in the place of the car wash merchant... he doesn't know if you spilled catsup on it (mild acid), or maybe orange juice (stronger acid), or even did it yourself.

At this point, you only have a supposition.... you THINK the car wash solution was the cause of your damage. You will need to prove it to advance your argument.