Sounds like a bargain, doesn't it? But no, that's not the purchase price for a dress; rather, it's the cost of having it dry cleaned! I was shocked, I thought perhaps 7 or 8 dollars, tops. We're not talking about an extra process for a delicate fabric or anything, either. It's an otherwise ordinary linen and cotton sundress, and it's not the first time that I've had it cleaned, either... but, it was the first time at that price! I have no idea when dry cleaning prices skyrocketed. Maybe I wasn't paying attention, I don't know. I need to find another cleaner... I do know that much, for me that's not a simple thing to do. It's not quite as traumatic as changing hairdressers; but, almost. I used to have a cleaner that I loved, patronized them for years. They had a good reputation and they weren't out of line. Then some things went bad, all at once. They ruined my bedspread and lost one of my matching pillow shams. They finally located the sham and called me. When I went to pick it up I discovered it hadn't been cleaned. It was in one of their dry cleaning bags but it wasn't clean. They argued with me and told me that it was clean when it clearly wasn't. To add insult to injury they sent me home the same day as that argument with someone else's black pants. I returned the pants the following week, exchanged them for my own(!), but left with a bad feeling and never returned again. I found another place, my current cleaner, after searching for a while and have used them on occasion; now, I think they're simply just too expensive. And so, the search continues... my husband mentioned that there's a good one right in front of my LQS. I wonder if he knew what he was suggesting?I suppose I could run by there, it's not like it's out of my way or anything!
Life is Good!
...and speaking of running by places, run on by "Polka Dots and Rick Rack", you'll find that Cheryl's got a fantastic give-away planned for her one year blog-iversary...
Life is Good!
...and speaking of running by places, run on by "Polka Dots and Rick Rack", you'll find that Cheryl's got a fantastic give-away planned for her one year blog-iversary...
17 comments:
OUCH! I've found (as a way to avoid many of those high costs) that lots of items labeled 'dry clean only' can be laundered at home (cool water, delicate cycle, Woolite type product)... love your husband's suggestion!!
There is a nice dry cleaners in front of your LQS!! What a happy coincidence! I'm not sure they're any cheaper (call and ask prices) but I will tell you they are great on customer service---they will walk TO your car to take the cleaning from you instead of waiting till you get to the window. And they'll call you by your name! I'll let you decided how much that is worth.
I'm furious at my cleaner because they charge my DH $1.25 to do his shirts, but they charged me $5.00 to do MY smaller, man-tailored shirt. It's sexism.
I've just had a similar problem. My favorite dry cleaner (who I'd found a few years ago after a problem with another one in town)made a mess of Hubby's blue silk blazer. It had a little stain on one elbow, which they got out, but in the process they stained the other sleeve terribly. Looked like something, maybe a chemical or perhaps just water, got spilled on it during the cleaning process. After sending it back several times, the stain just kept growing, and the entire area was lightened. They gave me $100 in gift certificates, but that certainly didn't cover the cost of the blazer which was his birthday gift last year. I was so disappointed. On the day I stopped in to pick up the gift certificates, there was a woman in the shop complaining that they had completely faded her bedspread. She still had the shams and they really were a totally different color.
So, what to do now? Do I change and experiment with somebody else? Not sure. Now that Hubby wears suits to work every day, dry cleaning has gotten expensive: $12 for a suit. I think $14 for a dress is outrageous! I just paid $10 for a simple dress. I think the high cost of petroleum is contributing because of the solvents they use. Maybe I can talk Hubby into wash and wear leisure suits! ;-)
Think of the gas you'll save if you use the cleaners right there by the LQS!! It might then seem like a bargain! Or as we say up here, a "BAAAH-gin"!
Wow, that was a long comment. Guess you struck a chord with me!
My goodness, that does seem like a lot to me too. I seldom use dry cleaners though, so I am probably not a good judge of costs.
That is ridiculous. I think the most I've paid is $9 for one of my dresses, which is much "taller" than you. (I don't want to talk about the wider part).
Oh I like the suggestion of the dry cleaner in front of the LQS ~ convenience plus I'd say! But the $14.00 for a dress seems high to me, dry cleaning is something I try to avoid, but some coats just require it!
Good grief! That DOES seem high! I've had the same problem Jane Ann mentions -- charging more for my tailored shirts than for his. I've solved that by mixing one of mine in with four of his. But it galls me. And now that you mention all of this, I need to change hair dressers and am dreading it.
n, np
I used to do drycleaning. Wait, not me as in I did the cleaning part, I mean I used to buy clothes that required it! Then I had children. And I started using Quicken to track expenses and Lord help me - I am not exaggerating - in the last year of my drycleaning experience, come to find out I had spent about 4 times the money to have the clothes cleaned as I had to buy them in the first place!! I about DIED!!! I could have thrown them away and bought new outfits.
And so ended my drycleaning days...
If I can't wash it, I won't buy it
*yikes* I haven't anything dry cleaned for myself in many years . . . . a strictly wash and wear girl *s* Still I make the weekly trek with Hubby's work wear. Prices have been creeping up a bit. There was a story on the news recently about the cost of the hangers (of all things) that have caused prices to skyrocket. Seems all hangers used to be manufactured domestically. Then China moved in with a less expensive product. As soon as all the US plants were out of business, China upped the price . . . a lot! Guess it's time we started paying attention - cheaper isn't always better in the long run. Good luck finding a good cleaner.
I agree that drycleaning costs have gotten out of hand - although I have been able to find cheaper cleaners and the Dryel and other do it yourself drycleaning things in the laundry aisle. The quality doesn't seem that much different to me.
Your dear husband is simply giving you permission to peruse the quilt shop as often as you take dry-cleaning! what a sweet man...
Hee! Okay this cracked me up with the dry cleaners in front of the LQS. DH is such a punkin'...
Unsuspecting Love, *karendianne.
I was quite surprise by my last trip to the dry cleaners as well, before going to Alaska I took in a dress with a jacket and another black blazer jacket and the bill was $45.00. I don't think the dress cost me that much! Good thing I don't dress up that often -LOL Good luck with your search for a new dry cleaner.
I'm a pretty loyal fellow too and I hate changing things for fear of hurting peoples' feelings. But sometimes what has to be done has to be done. I haven't dry cleaned things in so long I have no idea of prices in Japan. I know I cringe at gasoline and mailing costs!
I also machine wash some of my dry cleanable clothing on the delicate cycle and cold water, using Woolite. Personally, I think you should go with your husband's suggestion - that's the best answer to your dilemma, don't you think? LOL!!
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