I brought in a couple of items to this shop for the first time at the end of November/beginning of…read moreDecember 2023. I put absolutely zero pressure on Liz, the Tailor, with hard deadlines, and acted in good faith, trusting that she would be fair and honest. She asked for a $100 deposit. I left it. However, I would later regret it.
The only thing I asked to get back before Christmas was my black suit (getting the jacket let out, the waist let out, and dry-cleaned). Liz gave me the date of December 19th to pick it up. That was over 2.5 weeks away. I agreed, but it was not ready on December 19th. I had to come closer to the New Year to pick it up, along with a pair of black CK dress pants, getting the hems repaired, nothing else. I did not complain or give her a hard time about her not meeting her deadline for the one item. However, it was an inconvenience, even if she showed no clear concern.
After picking up the black suit (let out + dry clean) and black pants (hem). I was now waiting for another suit to have 2 small moth holes repaired + dry-cleaning, and a bomber jacket that needed 4-5 buttons sewn back on (2 items left to pick up). I waited until the end of January 2024, which was now two months, even though I did not rush her or pressure her still.
I came to pick up my jacket with the buttons, and the last suit, and she drops on me a final bill of $315 (deposit included with tax). I was not impressed, and asked to go through the pricing right there in the shop. The most polite way I can say this, is that I was being treated as if I was an idiot, and I was not being dealt with honestly.
She was making it confusing, jumbling up all the figures as she stated them, speaking super fast, so I asked to slow down and go through each price/item line by line, one at a time. She made that nearly impossible, but I persisted. The final tax amounts, button charges, plus $75 to let out a black Moore's men's suit jacket, were ridiculous. I could see the prices ratcheted up for each thing to try and hit her final number of $315. At the end, I paid because these were her declared prices (I'm not a thief), but I pointing out two major problems in her pricing, she was only willing to give me $20 back. Outrageous behaviour, and total disrespect to a customer who was wanting to bring her more business to this shop.
I am very upset about it still, as to come out with a final bill of $315 for two suits to be dry-cleaned, one altered, and the other have two small pant holes repaired, a simple pant hem, and 4-5 buttons sewn back onto a coat, is wrong. I paid her for the work, but spent 10-15 minutes trying to go over this with her, telling her that her pricing was outrageous, and that I regretted not demanding all pricing up front, in an itemized list. It was not right.
Based on comparable services, I was over-charged by $40-60 (with taxes) and that is with her $20 returned to me. It's very disappointing. I hate stuff like this. This work should have been done for $240-260 w tax, at most.
No matter how friendly the person presents themselves, get ALL your pricing in advance, and in writing. I hate deception and taking advantage of others.
BE SMART OUT THERE, AND SHOP AROUND. HONESTY AND TRANSPARENCY ARE THE BEST POLICIES.
