Three weeks ago: "Hi, just wanted to ask how much you charged for a regular and an original hem?" The nice lady gave me the rates and off I went to "Maki Yaki," the sushi restaurant a couple of doors down. (BTW - Cool little sushi spot)
Store front - https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/royal-cleaners-dana-point?select=f6dg00JS-9QY9DOwvogyRQ
Last week: Dropped off a couple of pants to get hemmed. Mrs. Park took her time and when she asked how I liked the length, she made adjustments accordingly. So far, great!
Today: Picked up pants. However, the cost wasn't the original quote I was given a few weeks ago. I inquired to Mrs. Park and recalled our short conversation when I did a "Pop in" en route to Yaki Taki. She was adamant that she told me ten dollars per pants and not anything else. I replied that my regular cleaners charges ten dollars and if it was the same price, "Why would I go any place else?" I added that on the day I dropped the pants off, I even repeated the price I was quoted back to her but yet she said nothing in regard to THAT being incorrect. Mrs. Park stood there, looking at the receipt, almost as if there was nothing she could do about it. I was stood their patiently, waiting to see what she was going to do. Working in retail/customer service, there should've been only one course of action to resolve the situation. Well, two actually but neither was offered... Now, mind you, I wasn't loud, irate, or argumentative. That's generally not how I like to handle things BUT if you're going to be rude & indignant to me, I will be more than happy to return the favor. As the ol' saying goes, "Sh*t in, sh*t out." So, for the next couple of minutes, we went back & forth, me explaining to her what was discussed and her stating that it must've been a mistake. When I asked Mrs. Park why she didn't correct me when I repeated the quote rate, she had no real answer. (Sigh) That's why hard...
I'm a huge advocate of principle and like integrity, a big out peeve of mine when people and more especially business owners do not value it. The $$ wasn't the real issue, I mean if I was happy with the work performed, in the long run it could've saved me a few dollars. I felt like I was duped, hoodwinked, wasn't completely given the real information upfront. (Then again, it could've been an honest mistake... We will never know.)
So, after a couple of minutes passed, "I can give you both pants for $19, okay?..." 'And there IT was. I could've made a big song & dance routine, ranted and raved about it but again, it wasn't about the $$. I wanted to see if this mom & pop shop had scruples, a test of integrity to do the right thing because that would determine if I would return or not... 'NOT. Sure she made a couple of extra dollars on this one small transaction but in the long run she lost a returning customer and earned this review.
I thought Mrs. Park was very nice and I'd hoped this was going to be my new dry cleaner/alteration shop since I'm always here in Dana Point. It wouldn't have been a big deal to honor what she had originally told me, that would've been a win-win solution for everyone involved. I would've given her kudos for the exemplary customer service despite the sloppy hem job. I'm a supporter of not drinking and driving, the same should apply to sewing as well. (See photos below) "Excuse me mam, can you please cut & sew this straight line for these pants."
"Don't drink & sew" (Round 1) - https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/royal-cleaners-dana-point?select=XSTFDsErf78v_sIwcS6w5g
"Don't drink & sew" (Round 2) - https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/royal-cleaners-dana-point?select=qvXXF5AP2-Jcq1orYYlvBQ
If you looked @ the photos, "Pictures are worth a thousand words... Sadly, none that I can can write here that wouldn't offend.
Did Mrs. Park really think I was trying to pull a fast one to save a couple of bucks by making all of this up?... 'And the funny part was, she was there when it happened. (Besides, I'm not that creative.)
Two words - "Kim chee'sy!"
- Aloha!
Food: n/a
Ambiance: 3
Service: 2 (**Check your receipt)
Value: 1 read more