EDIT: The management has really cleaned this location up in the pat 2 years or so. New Super gigantic volume pro dryers, most regular machines fixed. One of the grumpier long time employees has since left. It's definitely improved, and at least on par with other laundromats in the area, even, better than a few.
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Poor customer service, poor machine maintenance, often dirty.
Out of 7 visits (our dryer was broken) to Proclean in Flint on Court St, we encountered problems on nearly every visit. Why did we return? First, it is a mile from our house. Secondly, Proclean forces it's customers to deposit money onto pay cards, in order to use their facilities. So, the money has to be used or lost. Oh yeah, the card that costs them 6¢ costs you, the paying customer $2.00.
The staff at Proclean is there to punch the clock, pass the time, drink coffee, and read magazines, not assist customers. Their responses to our family's problems varied from "nope" to "nothing we can do" to "I will let someone know about that" on most occasions. If a customer asks a common question the employees act as if the customer is trying to somehow get over on Proclean for a few quarters. More basic questions are treated with derision and an attitude that we, the customers, should really not be asking something that even the most simple-minded idiot should know.
On one occasion, the male manager accompanied us to a dryer and added the credit ($2.00) that one of Proclean's many poorly maintained dryers erased, insisting that it all be added to the same dryer, and if we didn't use it all, come back and find him.
On another visit, my 5 year old daughter put a quarter in the quarter-push game machine and 2 quarters plopped down, except didn't come out. I brought this to the attention of 2 different employees, the second of whom told us about a "trap door" that we were supposed to automatically somehow know about. I asked her if when this trap door is down the winning player just doesn't get their winnings, she said "yes". I asked if there was a 'tilt' or 'out of order' sign or any other way to know the trap door was down- beyond what she showed me, and she said "no". When I asked her if my 5 year old could get her quarters, her only response was "Nope".
On 3 of the 7 visits trash cans were overflowing with various trash, including clothes! Guard your clothes at Proclean in Flint, or they may be discarded by staff! Don't try to visit any of the other establishments in the strip plaza, or go to your car, you may find a rude suprise. Luckily, I've always had my phone, or something to read, so no disappearing clothes for me.
Currently approximately 11 of 32 dryers are officially "out of order". Others have rotten smells, or don't heat up well, but do not have "out of order" handwritten, ripped pieces of paper taped to them. Interestingly, the next to last visit, there was a repair man fixing a few of the dryers, so 11 out of 32 was closer to 17 a few weeks ago. The washers are equally as unreliable and unmaintained.
Other Proclean franchises seem to do a fine business, and the branches I visited in the Detroit, Michigan area in the distant past (early 2000's) were just fine, well managed, clean, with reliable machines, and friendly employees. The Proclean in Flint, Michigan, on Court Street, however is to be avoided at all costs, unless absolutely necessary. read more
