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AIBU?

to want a "Mumsnet swears at..." thread

10 replies

margoandjerry · 10/11/2011 10:32

in the tradition of the "Mumsnet swears by..." emails but with more vitriol directed at companies who are useless, greedy or just plain rude.

And I'll start with the American Dry Cleaning Company. I took loads of dry cleaning in there and while in there noticed that the hem on a plain black knee length skirt had come down so asked them to hem it just thinking it would be easier and quicker for them since they were doing some alterations for me anyway on other things. When I came to pay, the price for the skirt came to £28 - £8 for dry cleaning and £20 to put them hem back!

Obviously I'm hemming the skirt myself now - but AIBU? £20 to restitch a hem? I imagine they're paying their seamstress the minimum wage so that's about 3 hours work instead of 3 minutes on a sewing machine. Oh and the manager of the shop was very rude and unpleasant - but happily took over £100 from me for the other items.

By the way, this shop is not based in Savile Row - it's my local branch on the grotty Edgware Road.

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Fuzzled · 10/11/2011 10:49

You're not alone in your hatred of things like this.

We have a lovely cream hooked blanket style rug (bought by DH just after arrival of DS! Hmm ) which is machine washable but far too heavy when wet for a domestic machine.

No bother, pop it into my local Johnson Dry Cleaners on my weekly shopping trip along with hubby's suit.

Quote to machine wash a rug that is 40cm by 60cm? £70 quid!!! Angry

When queried, the manager couldn't tell me why it was so expensive and said "Well nowhere else will do it!". Confused

Cue a swift about turn and small detour to my local drycleaner who said £10 and therefore also got my husband's suit to do too - which also came back cleaner and smelling much nicer than using Johnson's.

Guess where I go now?! Grin

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TheVermiciousKnid · 10/11/2011 10:54

Top of my list: Lloyds TSB insurance (or whatever they are). I am still far too cross to elaborate. Angry

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LowLevelWhiiingeing · 10/11/2011 10:59

Talk Talk customer service Angry

Indian call centre where communication is a problem.

Passed from person to person repeating name, security, phone number, nature of enquiry each time. "I've just said all this to the last two people"

On hold for up to 20 minutes in between each transfer.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Angry Angry Angry

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margoandjerry · 10/11/2011 11:08

Fuzzled, you've hit on another pet peeve of mine - perfectly nice ordinary local that businesses get bought by private equity firms or want to be bought by private equity firms and turn into rapacious bastards. I think Johnsons either has sold or hopes to sell itself to a PE firm. 70 quid to dry clean a small rug has private equity written all over it.

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GraceTW11 · 29/11/2017 15:48

My lovely blouse has been destroyed by the Esher branch of The American Dry Cleaning Company (across the street from Waitrose). It was returned to me with a replacement top button, which does not match all the other buttons. The Esher store manager said that the company is not responsible for buttons damaged during the dry cleaning process - 'it's in the terms and conditions' she said. On what planet does a dry cleaner get to destroy an expensive blouse and then claim they will not be held responsible? Definitely NOT a premium dry cleaner. Oh and last year my white jacket was returned to me looking very grey. I should have stopped going then.

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GraceTW11 · 29/11/2017 15:48

My lovely blouse has been destroyed by the Esher branch of The American Dry Cleaning Company (across the street from Waitrose). It was returned to me with a replacement top button, which does not match all the other buttons. The Esher store manager said that the company is not responsible for buttons damaged during the dry cleaning process - 'it's in the terms and conditions' she said. On what planet does a dry cleaner get to destroy an expensive blouse and then claim they will not be held responsible? Definitely NOT a premium dry cleaner. Oh and last year my white jacket was returned to me looking very grey. I should have stopped going then.

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hamptonhangingpork · 29/11/2017 16:21

Birds Eye frozen food.

It used to be a treat growing up and I aspired to be able to have it (burgers, chicken, fish etc.) more often when I grew up. Now it's just tiny portions of breaded sludge sold at an exorbitant price.

What happened Birds Eye? Pretty sure you got shit when you sacked the old bloke from your ads years ago.

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CigarsofthePharoahs · 29/11/2017 16:48

Clothing companies that sell larger sizes but forget that larger ladies don't have skinny arms (I'm looking at you Peacocks).
Trying to find something a bit more sparkly for my mum. Lots of lovely items, but none fitted on her arms! D'oh.

People who tell me to smile or cheer up. Sod off. I wasn't miserable before, but I am now!

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undertheradarplease · 29/11/2017 16:50

IKEA in Birstall (Leeds)

It still is used to be my happy place but I experienced the most shocking customer service of my life quite recently.

One Sunday, just 2 weeks before my due date with my dc (a few weeks old now) I was bored to tears, suffering from a very painful bout of SPD so practically housebound and decided to take my other dc on a spontaneous trip to gather meatballs and many, many a few candles. Obviously, I bought way more than anticipated: photo frames, cushion covers, a plant, several Hmm candles and other things I absolutely do not need.

My daughter had been gleefully and dutifully pushing by around one of those kiddy trollies for me, stashing all my goods as we went.

When we got to the self serve at around 15 minutes before closing time, I scanned and paid for my goods. As I was about to reload them into the trolley, a rude little madam member of staff started to wheel my trolley away. I asked her if I could keep the trolley (not forever Grin) to transport my stuff to the car. She replied that I wouldn't be able to do so as it was nearly closing time. I then explained that I had SPD, was 38 weeks pregnant and would struggle to carry all the stuff to the car. Her response was that I'd "just have to buy a reusable bag like everyone else."

I was so shocked that I just gathered my stuff and kind of waddled out with dc balancing 17 ribba frames on her head.

I sent an email to customer service, expressing my disappointment at my treatment and they didn't even bother to reply. I still haven't chased it up because I'm recovering from pushing a baby out of my vagina a procrastinator.

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agentdaisy · 30/11/2017 13:09

Sodding Hermes delivery. Left a box of books from The Book People (with The Book People clearly on the white box) in my back garden when I wasn't in. Great that I didn't have to arrange redelivery, however, the place they left it is clearly visible from the road in a rough area, and they dumped the box half in a puddle.

I'd have rather had to arrange redelivery or pick up from collect+ than have a box of books dumped in a puddle. Not to mention that it was clearly visible from the road so anyone could have swiped it.

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