Don't take your furs to El Mars.
I took a fox parka and a full mink to be stored, cleaned and glazed at El Mars of Oak Park.in all the months they had the coats, they did not clean, glaze or repair them properly.
When I picked up the coats they seemed in a rush to bag them. They did not offer the time to inspect the coats (a normal practice) before pulling the plastic over them... Yes, plastic! I asked to look at the coats and noticed they had completed an unauthorized repair job. Although they acknowledged I did not authorize the repair, they still invited me, at least twice, to pay for it -even at a discount. I was most unhappy with the repair and did not intend to compensate them for the poor work -and didn't.
At the time, I picked up the coats, having a hundred other things on my mind, I just couldn't put my finger on the problem. Yet, I kept having this unexplainable, nagging feeling about the coats. They just looked mangy, shabby and dull.
First, I called El Mars and asked them what the fur cleaning process entails. Would you believe she asked me what did I mean?!!! (These are not teenagers, these are middle-aged to elderly business women). After some dialogue, and asking "you clean furs, right? How do the furs get clean, what's the process for getting them clean?" She explained a tumble process, and honestly after that my mind began to wonder. I began to remember their elusiveness when dropped off the coats when I asked where they store the coats. They just said, "offsite". Well, when I got into my car, I observed an employee that was in the store, driving a van he had just loaded with coats, across the parking lot to an unmarked building with bars on the windows. I watched for about 5 minutes and wondered why they wouldn't just say that the coats were stored right across the lot in a humidity, temperature controlled building. After all, storing on site or in the area is a plus to coats going to Chicago or Canada. I also began to wonder why this little whole-in-the-wall had such and uncomfortable shopping environment. Other furriers are far more chichi, without the uneasiness felt at El Mars.
I've stored these coats for six years using two other companies and have only been very pleased with how they cleaned, glazed and handled any needed repairs.
I took the fox parka to one of these furriers. I explained that I wasn't sure the coat had been actually cleaned and asked if they would inspect the coat to allay my suspicions. They unfolded the cuffs on the coat and you wouldn't believe the lint & other debris that fell out. We all stood looking at each other in disbelief. I had just picked up the so-called cleaned coats from El Mars.
He said the coat had definitely not been combed and he took a metal comb and combed the coat's cuffs, sleeves and body. It began to look better right before my eyes. I asked him about the stains in the lining. He said the fur cleaning process does not clean the coat's lining. It would have to be removed, cleaned and replaced.
Finally, he took the coat and glazed it and Voila! The coat looked light years better!
I pointed out the repair job El Mars had botched. He couldn't believe such shoddy work... So much so that he asked if he could show it to their tailoring staff as evidence of the poor work El Mars is putting out. It looked like the work of a child just learning to sew. You wouldn't believe someone would allow that kind of work on such an expensive item.
Because I had always received quality services from the other companies, I had no reason to spend time researching and becoming an expert on the fur cleaning process...
I wanted to stop payment on my Visa, write them a letter, demand proper consideration for their lousy work... But, honestly, the way life was happening, I had to attend to things far more important than whether or not a fur coat was properly cleaned by those who say they professionally clean furs. I could not take on another battle and I had to drop it. That is until now.
I hope you will take this advice, save yourself a headache and
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