When I was a young girl growing up on the streets, I would
always walk by a nice leather store to see the latest window
dressings. I loved everything about leather, from the feel to
the smell. One day I would have a nice jacket like those in
the window I told myself.
Years have flew by this then. A year ago, I bought a nice
new suede coat. It smelled nice, it felt nice, it looked nice.
It was in style, color blocked, light grey on the top 2/3
of the coat and black on the bottom half. I wore it a few times, and put it away for the summer. I don't know how, but
when I brought it back upstairs, there was a stain on one sleeve.
I have no idea how it got there, maybe something dripped
from above.
Inexperience made me take my coat to Tie's Cleaners on 43rd
and N. E Sandy Blvd here in Portland, they told me they
would have to send the coat out to be cleaned. I should
have took it to a professional leather cleaners. But I saw
people bringing in lots of things, so I thought they
were reputable. I also should have checked to see how
long they were in business, etc. I did, after the incident.
The new owner has been in business about 5 months.
I went to pick up my coat the First time in a couple of weeks.
I Noticed there were pin marks on it. Little holes in the leather.
I told the man about it, and took my coat home. When I
took off the plastic, I saw what looked like they had
tried to clean it, but didn't even do the job all the way.
Where the hood was covering the coat, they didn't clean there
at all. I took it back. I had faith in these people.
When I returned the Second time. I was horrified. My coat
was ruined, It was dirty looking. No longer was it light grey,
it was now a dark ugly dirty looking grey and AGAIN, only
partially so. I burst into tears. As I said, I am not
a rich person to just go out and buy new leather coats.
The man that worked there accused me of wearing the coat
in the pouring rain. I had to demand to see the owner.
I did, she is a Vietnamese woman, or some Oriental. Not
Chinese, for they know how to clean clothes. She said
I should, for the THIRD Time, leave the jacket and she
would AGAIN send it back to Washington to be fixed. Come on now,
if someone messes up the first time, and the second time,
isn't it obvious they will the third time. I took my jacket
home. And I almost dealt with it like I have always done.
Laid down in bed and cry for days, thinking there is nothing
I can do about it. I mean, after all who am I?
Not this time, not anymore. I can at least complain.
I wrote the BBB. The owner wrote them a letter saying
that I wasn't being cooperative in leaving the coat a Third
time and I never said anything about wanting my original
40 dollars back for the cleaning fee.
What I did, was try to fix the coat myself. I spent eight hours,
with a fine brush, scrubbing the jacket, to try to make it
the light color it was, and so I can wear it to match the hood.
I kept the hood off the coat the 2nd time I took the coat in.
I had a feeling they would try something, to say the coat
was dirty. My mother bought me a black leather jacket,
not suede. It is nice. I have a online mom who told me
just to forgive them and pray about it.
Granted, it is not the end of the world. Still, beware.
As there is in all life's sorrows there is a lesson to be learned. Don't take leather to anyone but a leather professional.
Check out every business you trust the things you worked hard
for.
By MH
Portland, Oregon
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