Having read reviews here... wow! In some cases it sounds like perhaps she needs these policies clear and expressed on her website so as not to take you by surprise, but it is what it is and you're in Portland, not NYC or LA. If you're not chill, go elsewhere.
Some basics:
You pay for the service first. Don't like it? Go elsewhere.
Turn around time is based on demand and the type of work needed. My opinion? Never rush an artist if you want your piece done well.
Do not just show up. She is appointment-only. Go on her website and take a slot. If you are unsure what to choose, do your best and then book it with notes (be detailed, so she can determine if she'll need more time than what you selected).
Ok, onto my experience:
Brought my coats in with the buttons I wanted added to them. Expressed my disappointment with the original designer's single snap closure and stated that I would like both an internal button and three external buttons on each coat.
Her approach. Try on each coat. Determine where buttons will need to go, then pin those places. Discuss how, though they were both from the same maker and supposed to be of the same design, they're different in how they hang and in the collar. She then explained why one was weirdly stiffer than the other (felted wool). She discussed how the work would be done and said she couldn't give me a firm date for return because eyelets need hand-stitching.
One coat also needed to be tact in the arms so the liner didn't move through the coat with my sleeves and come out the arm hole (really poor cleaning job by the designer shrunk and hardened the wool, leaving the liner loose and stretchy inside on one coat). Total? $50/jacket, which was enormously fair in my opinion, provided it was done well.
At some point you just have to trust the person doing the work will do it well. If you're super picky, then take a sewing class or two. The full payment up front was a bit surprising to me, but hey!- if she got it right, these two beautiful coats I was unable to wear would be wearable again and wouldn't that be wonderful!? Paid in full up-front.
A couple weeks later I was sent a scheduled appointment. I assumed this meant the jackets were done. I changed the date and time, since what was sent didn't work, then picked it up a couple days later. I tried them on, they looked FANTASTIC!!!
They were better than I expected and, if I'm honest, her extensive knowledge of fabrics helped us both understand what needed to be done the the shrunk and hardened coat that was poorly cleaned by the designer. This knowledge led to the tacking in the arms and a coat I now wear almost daily, love, and get lots of compliments on!
I cannot speak to all the services that she provides, her knowledge of the work, willingness to jump through hoops for overly demanding customers, but I'll say one thing for certain: I trusted her to cut holes in my jackets and make them wearable again and she did that and then some. I'd trust her again in a heartbeat and her prices are more than fair. I'm unsure what happened with the woman who complained about her daughter's wedding dress, or the person who couldn't process a credit card- sounds like these were unfortunate situations, but I would not suggest writing Alteration Central off because of those reviews. Follow the basics and I think you'll be pleased with the results. read more
