Need Advice on Alteration Gone Wrong!

[coughdrop]

Ok guys, I just got my blazer back from the dry cleaners where I'd had an alteration done--jacket taken in, as it was too big around the middle--and the damned thing looks & feels just like it did when I took it!! Ok, it was dry cleaned, so it's cleaner, but for the life of me, I don't see ANY change in the fit AT ALL. This ever happen to you guys? What course of action do you think I should take here? Help! I'm pretty P/Oed right about now.

[82R100]

Assuming you had them measure and mark at the time the arrangements were made, simply go back in and (calmly) make your case. Don't accuse anyone of cheating you, simply tell them what you've told us: you can't tell any difference; it doesn't look like an alteration was made.

- Chris

[Timmy Dee]

If the drycleaners where you are are anything like the drycleaners here in Canberra, there's your first problem. I barely trust them to do my drycleaning, let alone any alterations.

I would take it back and ask just what they did to it - but first have a look and see if there is any evidence (ie: different stitching) that they actually DID something to it. If the stitching on the seams looks totally uniform, there are only 2 conclusions to draw:
1) the person working at the drycleaners is a master tailor/seamstress and should be opening up their own store; or (much more likely)
2) they did sweet f-all on it.

Ask for a refund if you are unhappy with the work (clearly you are) and take it to a professional clothing alternation store. They will fit you and consult you properly on the process. Leave the drycleaners to handle drycleaning, and MAYBE minor alterations.

[The guy that does my fittings gives me free minor repairs and alterations anyway, so my drycleaner can just stick to pressing and cleaning.]

[winkydink]

I'm sorry you let your dry cleaner tailor your jacket. You need to find an "honest to goodness tailor", not a dry cleaner with a Singer. You'll be amazed at the difference. And, if you don't like the result, a reputable tailor will redo it for no additional charge.

[Go West Young Man]

It's not inconceivable that someone messed up and accidentally put your jacket in the wrong pile, and the alterations were never done. You should just go back and ask them to verify they actually did the work, but there's no reason yet to be PO'd at them - stuff happens, a good company will make good on it.

Anyways, lesson learned is ALWAYS try clothes on at the tailor's when they've done alterations. Once you leave with it, it's hard to get them to fix any mistakes.

[coughdrop]

Thanks guys, for all the advice here. I believe, since it was only 12 bucks, I might eat that & call it a lesson learned--never get your big work done @the dry cleaners (& always try it on there!). I could go back & complain, yadda ya, but I really don't want to get into it too much for $12, &, frankly, I don't want it done there now anymore anyway. Not too expensive of a lesson: she could of chopped it up to an unfixable point.

Now to the task of finding a good tailor, which was one reason I took it there to begin with. Anyway, props again to all. Peace.