Wanted in Dry Cleaners: Fast, Inexpensive, Quality Cleaning, and CUSTOMER SERVICE…read more
Based on my experience with Artery Cleaners and Launderers, they did not get the memo. It may look like a sweet, cute little family run operation when you see high schoolers and older ladies behind the register, but I warn you: Do not be deceived!
All I can say after my experience is that they are DECEPTIVE and RUDE.
My fiancee and I recently dropped off 3 jackets to be laundered. We asked that they were pressed(not dry cleaned), and had some alterations issues. On one, a button needed sowing and a sleeve repaired. Another, a two buttons needed to be sewed on. A third, a pocket fixed. We walked through all of the alterations with our cashier, and brought our own buttons. We were then handed a receipt for about $20 dollars. "This place is great!", I though to myself when I saw that. "What a steal!"
One week later, our total bill was $60 dollars. $60 dollars! I can understand that, apparently, alterations do not bill at the register. It is annoying, but I can live with the understanding that I will have to argue with you to secure a price in advance from now on, and that my receipt doesn't actually show the truth. It may say alterations, but don't let your eyes fool you. That first receipt is only the cleaning. I can understand issues like that in small business shops.
I can also understand $15 for a sleeve repair and $10 for a pocket repair, plus the buttons sewed on. Knowing the time that goes into it, its not a great deal, but as long as it is good work, I can grin and bear it.
However, $15 dollars to sew on two buttons that I gave you? $15 dollars for that 5 - 10 minute job?
I called their store, upset about the cost after my fiancee picked everything up. I was (and am) ok paying those other costs (although it would have been great if that had been shared beforehand...... which it wasnt). However, I made it clear that I felt the alterations were too high. I was told a manager would call me back. The next day, I had to call back, and was put on the phone with a manager. I explained my point of view and that I felt $15 dollars for sewing on two buttons on one jacket was too high, especially when we provided the buttons. I explained I felt that was a fair refund.
The guy seemed to have a mental breakdown at the thought of a $15 refund. He began interrupting and talking over me while I was trying to explain that I wanted I refund for the one jacket. He proceeded to argue with me about how I wasnt willing to pay for good work, about how I wouldn't do work and then not expect to get paid, and how you can't just not pay people for their work. .To which I explained, as an analyst who does 1099 work, I do expect to not get paid for bad work or if I decide to triple bill my client all of the sudden, or bill them an hour for 10 minutes worth of work.
The manager argued with me about how I didn't want to pay people for their good work, and how we were told ahead of time the prices (to which I stated that we weren't, and were expecting a bill of about $20 dollars). He sternly demanded to know (again, my problem is mainly this one jacket.....) how much of a refund we wanted. I stated $15 dollars a far price. He demanded to know how I figured that out. When I replied it seemed fair based on market prices, he then proceeded to go back to arguing about not paying people for their good work.
Not wanting to waste time, I stated that if it was clear we would not be able to come to an agreement, we can let the market handle things. I mentioned that I would be writing a yelp review and that from now on I would take my business elsewhere, which is only fair. Upon hearing this, he proceeded to yell about how I was threatening him, kept talking over me, and again went back to arguing about not wanting to pay people for their work. After five minutes more of that, I decided he can have his $15 dollars, and hung up.
So, long story short, DECEPTIVE PRICING and RUDE MANAGEMENT.
