Cheap dry cleaner's in RTP or Durham?

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:25 pm

Robert Goodwin wrote:

Irony: While posting this lengthy reply (sorry) I was interrupted twice. Once by a lady who had mildew on a dry clean only dress who needed help,and the other by a lady who washed her husbands favorite shirt with something that bled on it. Hopefully, the value that I add to my general services will keep me here another 23 years.
P.S. I charge $2.15 for a shirt, and do over 400 daily. If you have a problem at my store, it is resolved to your satisfaction at all cost!! One of the secrets of the "one price" cleaners is they have signage in their lobbies that says "limit of liability for any cleaned item is 15 times price charged to clean that garment." If your shirt cost over 15.00 and something happens, your screwed. Be forewarned.
Karl, I will get back to you with recommendations. Thanks again.

I have a friend who ran a quality cleaners for 25 years-finally was forced out by all the things you're mentioning. Some time later I decided to give the new guy a try. I took in one of Bernie's fly fishing shirts that I hate to iron because it has a gusset in the back. The young girl who helped me gave me a price of something in the $2.75 range. OK. When I went back to retrieve it my bill was $15.00. When I said that was not what she told earlier she just shrugged her shoulders. I asked to speak to the manager who wouldn't even come up front. But, I heard her tell the girl to tell me it was a "jacket", not a shirt, so I was being charged the jacket price. I said that was fine, and I'd know for the next time, but I would have never left it in the 1st place for a $15 fee. Needless to say I've never been back. I'm shocked that they're still in business. It's been a couple of years now. I'll be watching for them to close.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:49 pm

I found a place on Yelp.com that's in the same complex with a coffee shop I really like, so maybe I'll try them. They're called Perfect Image. Prices look more or less the same as what the other place charges, and they'll even do it next day. Only open until 6, though, which is kind of a drag. I still haven't found a $0.99/shirt place around me or around work, though, so maybe the "one price cleaners" discussion has less bearing on me than I thought it would.

These garments aren't anything super exotic, but they're nice enough that I'd rather not have some idiot ruin them. If I were to take my favorite blue Banana Republic shirt somewhere, and get it back looking like the one I'm wearing now, I'd actually be pretty upset. Now I know to look a bit more carefully before accepting something.

Interesting discussion, thanks for educating us, Robert. I haven't decided for certain on the place I found on Yelp, so if you hear of an alternative, let us know.

Robert Goodwin · **Posted:** Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:19 pm

Karl, waiting on a call back from the owner of a Durham store. I trust his opinion. One more caveat, the people who go in alot of these stores tell me that "most" of the discount stores don't even have/use
hot water for shirt laundering. That makes my skin crawl. A large commercial washer can wash 80-100
shirts at once. Who knows whats in that load. I know ph can kill alot of germs, but really?????

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:28 pm

Robert Goodwin wrote:

One more caveat, the people who go in alot of these stores tell me that "most" of the discount stores don't even have/use
hot water for shirt laundering. That makes my skin crawl.

Robert Goodwin · **Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 11:46 am

Karl, My Durham connection said to try Morrisville Dry Cleaners. It's a new place(relatively) and is located on 54 where 540 crosses. It's across from a Sams and Walmart in a strip center. (Near Hotel Sienna). The owner is reputed to be a nice guy who tries to do things the right way and would potentially stand behind his work. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Robert Goodwin · **Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:41 pm

Steven Carter wrote:

Robert,

To be honest, they all look the same from the outside. I couldn't identify a "good" cleaner based on the storefront if my life depended on it. The one I picked I did based on convenience, good alterations service and reasonable prices. If there's a checklist of features that differentiates the good from bad, i'd appreciate knowing what it is....thanks!

Steven, That is the quandary. Most of us look the same. I have a free standing building and it's obvious the work is done here. Thats one good sign. Those of us that do our own work are more likely to have a better handle on quality. In one of Karls posts, her alluded to shirts with small wrinkles between the cuff and sleeve. I can tell you that those are from a press with a pad that needs to be changed. The flannel cushion under the nomex pad has compacted from the heat and pressure of pressing and has gotten hard. It causes those wrinkles. Thats a store maintanence/quality issue. When moneys tight or there is a general malaise of ownership, those things occurr.
If you tell me your area I'll try to help you locate a reputable operator.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:44 pm

Hi Robert,

Thanks for your kind offer. I live in midtown Raleigh, near Crabtree Valley Mall just outside 440. I have been taking my stuff to Lynnwood Cleaners which has done average, but certainly not excellent work. Any advice?

Robert Goodwin · **Posted:** Fri Feb 18, 2011 1:15 pm

Steve, I would change cleaners. Soon. Ref:http://www.bbb.org/raleigh-durham/business-reviews/dry-cleaners/lynnwood-cleaners-in-raleigh-nc-6019324
I'm working on a recommendation for you now. I'll let you know soon.

JamesFeinberg · **Posted:** Fri Feb 18, 2011 1:29 pm

Maybe I missed it but what is the name of your store Robert? I live in Fuquay and while I generally don't have a need for dry cleaning, there are a few garments I own that I would love to take somewhere I could trust.

Thanks,

Jim

Robert Goodwin · **Posted:** Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:50 pm

Jim, Thanks for asking. I own the Glam-O-Rama on 401. I'm beside the KFC. I would love for you to stop in sometime. Driving lessons for Dry Cleaning???????

Robert Goodwin · **Posted:** Fri Feb 25, 2011 5:00 pm

Lake Boone Cleaners in Lake Boone S.C. has a "Quality" reputation from what I understand. In Brier Creek area, I would try Sherills.
Steven, Sorry for the late reply. Hope this helps!!

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Fri Feb 25, 2011 6:04 pm

So, here's an update of my own:

Karl Shultz wrote:

I found a place on Yelp.com that's in the same complex with a coffee shop I really like, so maybe I'll try them. They're called Perfect Image.

Meh.

Three shirts, and two pairs of pants, cost close to $20. The woman I first spoke to told me it would be around $15 for the whole thing, so this was a surprise. Sure, it's only five bucks, but it's also a 25% miss on the estimate. Strike one.

The second problem was with one of the pairs of pants. The woman asked me if I wanted both of them creased, and I said that on one pair, I did not want them creased. They did it anyway. Strike two.

The shirts look great, I'll give them that, and they were ready the next day. The shirts have stayed nice through a couple wearings so far - not perfect, but certainly better than I could manage on my own ironing them between every wearing.

So, two strikes. Normally, I'd bail on this place and try Robert's suggestion, but I really like the coffee shop in the same complex, so they get one more chance.

THSCC Forums

Cheap dry cleaner's in RTP or Durham?

Who is online