Kingsmere Dry Cleaners were so bad, that I decided to write my first ever review to ensure other customers know what they sign up for.
I took a new French Connection dress for alteration and a new Comptoir des Cotonniers leather belt for making an extra hole to Kingsmere Dry Cleaners. I needed the dress to be alerted on the day, but their usual tailor had already left. The lady at the till suggested to use the services of their more professional tailor who appeared to be an owner and was available. She said that the owner/tailor offered to make holes for free. I paid an extra charge for the same day alteration.
Nothing good comes free in the commercial world. Holes on the belt were made uneven and at the wrong distance. The tailor/owner said: "If I knew you will be paying attention to it, I would have made it even and charged you". Did I mention he was the one who offered to make holes for free? I was happy to pay.
The dress lining was not properly sewn but I noticed it at home only. I checked with Consumer Advice helpline my rights, then called the shop and was advised to come back next day. When I came back the next day, the owner/tailor said it was manufacturer's fault and suggested to buy another dress and compare. I quoted my rights, he rudely referred me for an independent advice and told that he only had an hour to fix the dress and I was the one who insisted for this to be done on the same day. For information, there are a lot of alteration services around and I was planning to find the one that could make it on the day, so I was not desperate for their service. Plus, when you are offered a professional alteration service you don't think something may go wrong.
When I kept showing where things went wrong (I used to alter dresses in my teenage years), the owner/tailor started serving other customers. I asked to finish with my enquiry first and he became abusive and started shouting and asking to "get out and shut up". One of his customers behind me, a very old lady, joined in and shouted: "Get back where you came from!" and the owner/tailor smiled and asked her to be a witness as I reported this abuse to the police. I was very much shaken and scared with the way the owner looked at me and treated me. I am sure if there weren't other people coming in and out, he would have been even more abusive.
To summarise, the Kingsmere Dry Cleaners' service completely falls below professional alterations and tailoring standards. I could only advise to avoid them. Their alteration services are not professional and if anything goes wrong, they do not take responsibility for it. The owner lies by changing his story from one minute to another and refuses to take responsibility for services that fall below standards.
Cost of damaged goods - £200. Damaging services - £18.50. Emotional distress - can't put a price tag on it. read more