Accidents happen, I get it. Mistakes and errors are going to happen, no one is perfect. To expect a business to never make a mistake is unrealistic. Which is why I was friendly and pleasant when I went into Alterations Station today to show them my sweater that was snagged in 8 places the last time it was dry cleaned with the dry cleaning tag still attached.
I smiled. I greeted the owner warmly and explained that my sweater was damaged. She examined my sweater and noted two things…it had been “a while” since it was dry cleaned and there were a couple of spots on the front of the sweater. Correct, I haven’t worn it in 3 months since I picked it up from dry cleaning and it is a well-loved sweater.
She asked if the snags were there when I dropped it off for cleaning. I responded…no, definitely not. Really, I just wanted to know if she could fix it and give the business owner the opportunity to make it right.
She told me she “had no way of knowing for sure the condition of the sweater when I brought it in.” Seriously, I’ve used this dry cleaning business for 10 years and brought them THOUSANDS of dollars of business. And she couldn’t believe a long-term, loyal customer when I told her that I did not cause damage. Never once did she say “I’m sorry this happened,” there was ZERO empathy or accountability. I told her I was offended by her accusation that I would damage my sweater and bring it in to blame her business. Her response was the she was offended I was blaming her business. For real.
Blows my mind that small businesses beg for customer loyalty and then treat their most loyal customers like fraudsters. Shame on you Alterations Station. You don’t deserve my business or anyone else’s.
She refunded the cost of the dry cleaning ($6.25). I assume the rude-passive-aggressive comment from her was because she didn’t want to compensate me for the actual sweater.
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