Joy Cleaners - What an ironic name for a business, because I definitely did not feel any JOY after visiting here.
It pains me to have to write this review as Joy Cleaners has been my neighborhood cleaner for over 10 years but my latest trip to this place has seriously put me over the edge, and I feel COMPELLED to write a review, so everyone can know what I went thru and hopefully not have the same horrible experience that I had.
For starter, Joy Cleaners never once gave me any sort of discount, even though I had been a loyal customer for over 10+ years.... Sadly, I continued coming here because it's right next to my house, and the location is convenient. PLUS, I am not much of a bargain hunter.. I don't typically mind paying a few dollars more here and there if I know I can trust the merchant or if I know I am paying for good service. To me (and I am sure this is the same for many of you out there), any merchants that do not put their customers first or knowingly operate their business at a subpar level deserves to be ousted and punished. While I am only one person and one unhappy ex-customer of Joy Cleaners, I am going to do anything I can to make sure nobody else has to go thru what I had to go thru.
I dropped my jeans off last Saturday for alteration. I've brought my clothes here before for alteration, so it wasn't my first time. I never remember how much I paid on my previous alterations but I'd remember if I had been swindled or lied to. The lady was new and explained to me that it'd cost me $10 to get my jeans altered, with original hems. I gladly agreed and gave her my jeans. She asked if I wanted to pay first, but I declined and said I'd pay when I pick up my jeans. She informed me it'd be ready by Wednesday (today) and then I was on my way.
Today, while driving home, I remembered that today's Wednesday and I needed to pick up my jeans. I stopped by the place 10 minutes before they closed, and the lady let me in.
In my 10 years as a customer, it was my first time meeting this lady, who I believe is the owner. She asked me for my phone #, and I gave it to her. I didn't bother giving her my pickup slip and figured my phone # would do. This is where things started to get interesting:
Lady: Ok, this is for your alteration, original hem?
Me: Yes, $10, correct? (about to give her my credit card)
Lady: Oh, no. The lady did not know what she was talking about (referring to her own worker) It is $15 because we used original hem
Me: Eh, but she told me it was $10 when I dropped it off.
Lady: It's $15
Me: (while I waited for her apology) Ok, but that's not what she told me. I shouldn't have to pay for the extra $5 if it was her mistake. I am the customer.
Lady: I know, but it's $15
Me: (Feeling very annoyed) Well, that's a lot for a simple alteration. If I had known this, I would have seriously taken my jeans somewhere else for alteration
Lady: You'd go somewhere else (Sounded like she did not believe me)??
Me: Yes, because $15 is too expensive. Even Nordstrom only charges $10 for alteration. I should have gone to Nordstrom
Lady: Just look at your jeans, we did a good job
Me: What does that have to do with anything? Are you expecting to pay $15 when your employee made a mistake
Lady: I am sorry (but she's really not sorry) but she didn't know what she was talking about. Do you want to pay $15 or what?
Me: I am very disappointed. I've been a long time customer and you are going to penalize me for your employee's mistake?? You know what, this is not right. The principle is all wrong. I will pay you $15 but I will never come back. If you want to lose a customer over $5, then fine. I do not wish to conduct business with places like you (and I threw down my credit card)
After I signed the credit card receipt, I began shaking my head. She said sorry again, and I told her that she wasn't sorry because if she truly was, she would not have charged me $15.
Something similar had actually happened awhile back when my boyfriend had suit jacket altered here last minute. We knew it was last minute and paid extra to have the alteration expedited. He needed to wear the suit jacket to a wedding on a Saturday and we must have dropped it off for alteration on Tuesday. They promised it'd be ready by Friday morning but the owner decided to call us on late Thursday night (past 6pm) to inform us that it would not be done by then. I was so livid and totally told the owner off on the phone...how it was unprofessional, and I asked her how the F we were supposed to have something altered this last minute before my boyfriend needed to wear it? I should have known by then that this owner is trouble. My boyfriend had to RUSH home, pick up the jacket, so he could drop it off somewhere else for alteration. NOT. COOL.
Joy Cleaners. Never again! I'd not recommend this place to anyone! Do me a favor, unless you're looking to get ripped off or raise your blood pressure, avoid this place. This is not the only dry cleaners in the area! read more