Receiving a promotional card for this newcomer to the Hamilton dry-cleaning scene, I thought I…read morewould take advantage of the promotional, grand-opening savings and give this new dry cleaning service a try. The space itself is new and clean, albeit empty. If not for Sarni being a chain, I would have questioned leaving my clothes in what looks like a transient operation. There is a small driveway directly adjacent to the retail space, which I had thought might connect behind the building, perhaps to more parking, but it is actually just the size of a single parking space. There are a few more parking spaces in a small lot on the other side of the building. Your luck may vary finding a space.
I dropped off two (2) pairs of pants and two (2) shirts on Saturday and was told they would be ready by Tuesday after 5:00pm. The woman behind the counter was pleasant and asked if this was my first time using Sarni to which I responded in the affirmative. She handed me a card to fill out so they would have me and my credit card number on file. She also asked for an email address to which Sarni could send news, coupons, and promotional offers.
In all of this exchanging of information, I wasn't asked once if I had any coupons or promotional cards to use, which I did in fact have and intended to use upon retrieving and paying for my clothes. Failing to ask me this simple and obvious question is disturbing, especially in retrospect, since an employee in a store that is celebrating its "GRAND OPENING" must, or at least should, have known there were "GRAND OPENING" promotional materials in circulation that customers might be bringing in. In fact, some businesses might even go out of their way to see their new customers save to foster good will in their customer relationships; apparently not Sarni.
It also does not seem to be Sarni's policy to make sure customers leave with a claim check for each item you leave in their care. Sarni is apparently very confident that they won't be losing customers' clothes. I wonder, however, what would happen when the inevitable item is lost...
When I returned to pick up my clothes on Tuesday after 5:00pm, I was told that while my pants had come in, my shirts had not, and I would have to come back again the next day to retrieve them. Why they were ever separated or ready at different times, I do not know. To add insult to injury, I was told that I could not use the promotional card I had received, because I was required to present it to the employee when I had dropped my clothes off. The only consolation I was offered was that I could use the coupons on my next order. That, however, didn't make up for the order I was already paying more for than I should have or the inconvenience of having to come back a second time to pick up the other half of my order. While, in truth, the card did read, "Coupon must accompany incoming orders", who really cares? Why does it matter so much when I present the card? To not make an exception for a first-time customer who was specifically testing Sarni's services is nothing short of a poor business decision. Even if the prices in the computer could not be changed after they were entered, I find it hard to believe that an order could not be cancelled and a new one entered, or that some discount could not be applied.
When I returned - again - a few days later - the earliest I could get there again on my busy schedule - to retrieve the shirts that were not ready when Sarni had assured me they would be, I received no discount for their tardiness nor even any apology for the inconvenience of my having to come back as a result of their mistake. When you have a laundry business, and customers are relying on having items back at a certain time, making sure those customers get their items back when you promised them is a pretty crucial part of the business, and yet, even when I expressed my dissatisfaction with Sarni's services - my first, experience with them - they made no effort whatsoever to make amends or keep a customer.
The golden rule of business is and always has been, "The customer is always right" - especially when the business itself makes a mistake by misinformation, neglect of duties, or is just flat out wrong. Considering Sarni had just opened this location and, by business sense - of which they are apparently in need - should have been trying to attract new customers to their brand, they couldn't have done a worse job, unless they had actually lost my clothes, which to their credit, they managed not to do.
Sarni has demonstrated to me that they are a poorly-run, unsympathetic business that doesn't seem to care at all about customer satisfaction.
If you need your dry cleaning done right, on time, and by people who care about both you and your business, drive the extra five minutes to Hallmark Cleaners on Cabot Street in Beverly. You'll be glad you did.