While other places have their signs that indicate the years they have won the "Best in Boston" distinction as voted in some local paper, Anton's Dry Cleaners in Somerville has a giant sign behind their count that annoys me every time I go in there: "Voted #1 Drycleaner! Everywhere, year after year." Yes, really--rather than rise to whatever occasion is needed to actually win whatever awards, they just have a sign up that simply asserts with no supporting evidence that they always win.
When I'm in there I wonder why I would trust a place with my clothes when they so brazenly lie on a giant sign. But I needed to go in there today, because there is only one day between the trip to Madison I returned from last night and the trip to Aspen I embark on tomorrow, and Anton's is the only place advertising same day service if you get it in by 9 ("READY TODAY" in a sturdy, reliable looking font is what they advertise).
I arrived there at 8:57. There was a line, though, and so by the time I got to the front it was 9:02. "It's after 9," the woman said. We can debate whether a place should honor their In-By-9 deal if you are inside the door by 9. However, "it's after 9" was actually just the second reason she gave for why my clothes wouldn't be ready, and she had told the people in front of me their clothes wouldn't be ready until tomorrow either. Her reason: "They won't get it back to us in time. We've had too many orders."
I don't know what I'm going to do about my clothes. I am never going back to Anton's again, ever, considering they already charge high prices and now I realize their service advantage is "READY TODAY. MAYBE." Using cleaners in Cambridge has been so ridiculously poor in service and high in price compared to the In-By-10-Out-By-4-Always-Forever service in Madison.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
18 comments:
Time to buy some new clothes, Jeremy! Unless you need an alteration, most retailers make good on their promise that you can buy it and have it in your possession simultaenously. Even alterations can be done same-day.
Should've had those clothes cleaned before you left Madison!
Maybe have them cleaned as soon as you arrive in your new destination?
(There are lots of good cleaning places in your part of Cambridge.)
And I guess time to start looking for appropriate places in Evanston.:)
Sorry to hear about the annoying experience. Welcome back to blogging.
For future reference, Kenny's Kleaners on Dempster in Skokie (the next suburb west from Evanston) will do it, usually. One possible advantage for procrastinators--the store is on the way to O'Hare from Evanston.
klinke rocks! (although they recently tried giving me a not-so-flattering-green-argyle-shirt, i declined of course) ;-) nevertheless, they're good and relatively inexpensive.
I have to step in here and say, no, Klinke's does not rock. Yes, they do same day and next day service, but often times my clothes have come back looking as dirty as when I brought them in. I've also gone in to find that my clothes were not ready even though I waiting longer than the required time to pick them up. I refuse to go there anymore unless it's an absolute emergency. But unfortnately, none of this really helps Jeremy. Have fun shopping, buddy!
JJ
Jeremy,
Today's the first day after a holiday weekend. Sometimes signs get overriden by social norms -- you can't really expect them to honor same day service on the day after a 3-day weekend, unless they also get to play the "Must be in by 9am" rule enforcement too.
Social norms. Keep living, you tend to notice these things.
Jeremy,
Today's the first day after a holiday weekend. Sometimes signs get overriden by social norms -- you can't really expect them to honor same day service on the day after a 3-day weekend, unless they also get to play the "Must be in by 9am" rule enforcement too.
Social norms. Keep living, you tend to notice these things.
Anon 9:13: Your snarkiness would be more charming if you also evinced understanding of what a "social norm" is. Social norms. It's a vague and stretchy enough concept that if you just keep living, maybe you'll actually use it sometime when it's appropriate.
Anon 11:50: The reason I didn't drop them earlier is that the couple days before leaving Madison I had things that kept me from making a trip to the cleaners during its open hours.
jeremy 8:36pm: you snarkiness is cute as ever.
my pinky sends its regards.
Lol. Musta touched a nerve there, eh? Grains of truth: 3 day weekend, don't push your luck.
For such a smart boy, you sure do come off as a dumbbell here sometimes. Evince that.
ps. And here I self-edited my first comment "Tough to get good help these days..." thinking that a bit too snarky.
wv:crutejdb (no shit!)
In as much as I can't stand cleaners making false promises, I also don't like cleaners who over promise and under-deliver as a form of marketing. I feel pretty much the same way about cleaners who have to guarantee thier work or money back. Sure, its comforting for the skeptical customer, but shouldn't you really be doing the job right from day one? If you are on top of your business and have solid quality practices in place, one wouldn't really need a guarantee anyway. See my post on my blg about it at: http://www.dcadshop.com/blogsection/0/
I considered offering to take you shopping when you were in town. Not because of anything in particular. Maybe because you are always going to the dry cleaner and it might do you good to have a spare shirt or two.
Leaving critical comments anonymously is so cowardly. And annoying.
Good answer, Jeremy, btw, not that comments like that even deserve a response.
yI noticed an Anton's in the next town (Arlington) the day after reading this blog (and all the comments): it's in the Center, next to a Carberrry's where I had stopped for a croissant. They have a 'laundry shoot' out front. I guess you can by some arrangement leave stuff there at ANY TIME without going inside!
At least, that's what I saw happen. A woman pulled up her car, dropped her laundry down the shoot and left!
Of course, I didn't witness what might have happened the next day (What? Who? I don't know anything about it, etc. etc. ...).
yI noticed an Anton's in the next town to Cambridge (Arlington) the day after reading this blog (and all the comments): it's in the Center, next to a Carberrry's where I had stopped for a croissant. They have a 'laundry shoot' out front. I guess you can by some arrangement leave stuff there at ANY TIME without going inside!
At least, that's what I saw happen. A woman pulled up her car, dropped her laundry down the shoot and left!
Of course, I didn't witness what might have happened the next day (What? Who? I don't know anything about it, etc. etc. ...).
Leaving critical comments anonymously is so cowardly. And annoying.
Good answer, Jeremy, btw, not that comments like that even deserve a response.
eszter
-----------
The Eszter... calling me out. Funny how you don't respond to the point but the name.
You must be one of those poor-common-sense-here's-my-money-JUMP types too, who just can't understand why they don't get good service dammit! You're very laughable, sweeties. Wait until it's food or childcare services you're waiting on. Lol.
Signed, Professor Wildcat who treats the help well, and consults a datebook to make sure pressed clothing will be ready on time. You kids ought to try it! Beats public bitching, where you end up looking like sorry b-----s yourself.
ps. I'm really not saddened by lack of response. My original words seem to have hit the target...
Post a Comment