After using Comets for 9 long years, I unfortunately have to move on. The first year, I got the call that one of my shirts had an issue. When I arrived there was a 4" long tear in the middle of the left chest. Although the shirt was only a few months old, I received a letter stating that is was a "manufacturing defect." So I took it at face value although I found it perplexing that a shirt would rip mid panel (most defects are around seams on new garments). Fast forward 9 years later, and on average I have 2 shirts per year ripped by them. Some of the rips have massive discoloration on the edges where it looks like a chemical burn. Fortunately for me, I have worked in the laundry industry for a large CPG company that sell Walmart so I am well versed on this industry, and although I knew they had an issue in their process somewhere, I never said much just out of convenience. I have since run into 2 other people who have had similar experiences and stopped using Comets. I however continued to use them after all the issues.
Recently however, I bought a brand new $90 dress shirt from Dillards, took it out of the package and threw it in the Dry Clean bag. I was surprised to get a call from a women telling me there was a problem. Thankfully, the problem she called about was not about my new shirt. There was a "manufacturing defect" in another shirt, so I just told her to throw it away. A week later, I then grabbed my brand new shirt off the hanger and put it on. Shockingly, on my brand new shirt, there was a round hole in the lower right stomach that was jagged and had bleached the color around the edges. This was not a used shirt. It wasn't worn. It wasn't low quality. I wasn't even told there was another issue as I guessed they missed it entirely. And manufacturing defects don't result in holes in the middle of the garment with a bleach looking chemical burn around it. So at this point, I can not longer take the "manufacturing defect" or "the garment was worn out" excuse. Most of the shirts I take there are Ralph Lauren, Cremeiux, Roundtree and York, and other standard dress shirts.
I had only taken my cleaning there on average once per month or less... so it isn't like I even wear these clothes often. Statistically speaking, out of 35-40 trips to the cleaners on shirts worn on average 10 or less times, to have 9 shirts rip or show up with holes in the middle of panels with chemical type burns around them is outside the normal control limits. I am fairly confident something in their process (either people or machine) resulted in the garments being ripped. The chemical burn aspect along leads me to believe something pooled on the garment and resulted in it being eaten through. In fact the last shirt I got back looked as if it had been cut with scissors around the edge (maybe trying to hid the obvious chemical burn in the middle).
I won't even waste my time with the "analysis" as again, having worked in this industry, I know how those work. Why would you bite the hands that feed you if you are one of those companies? So you will end up with some vague letter not really establishing fault or they will side with company paying them.
In 45 years of life, having lived all over the world, I have only had a few issues with dry cleaners (e.g. one in Hong Kong use to break my buttons in half all the time), but to have a cleaner with such significant issues on high-quality garments at such a rate is puzzling. Never seen that before.
Furthermore, any discussions with their mgmt is wasted. Honestly, if they would have just said "we are so sorry" or showed any empathy at all that would have been welcomed. Instead they are on the defensive from the first moment and even on the initial call are laying blame to the garment (unaware that his is the 10th time on 40 trips). I am not even the type of person that would ask them to pay for the garment, even if they said "We have a new employee who .." I would say "no problem" and move on. But to continually deny any involvement and blame the garment over and over is just baffling and that fact alone is what drives me to find an alternative to Comet.
Either way, it doesn't matter. I just hope this review helps if anyone else if having the same issues. I am going to try a local cleaners who picks up and delivers to my home. Hopefully I have better luck. Good luck if you use this cleaner... I would keep track of each garment before and after. read more