Next time I'll just Fabreeze it.

July 11, 2008 5:36 AM

My dry cleaner lost my clothes and refuses to do anything about it.

Three weeks ago, I dropped off some fairly new (less than one month) clothing (maybe $500 value) off at the dry cleaner's, along with some of the boy's shirts and pants. Shirts and pants get delivered, my stuff does not. The dry cleaner keeps stalling and asking for more time when I try to get a resolution to the issue, then promising he'll call and never doing so.

So now a big chunk of my newly-acquired "real job" wardrobe is gone. What do I do? Is 3 weeks a reasonable timeframe for admitting that it's lost, or should I give him more time? Am I legally entitled to any compensation, or is this a small claims sort of scenario?

This is NYC. Bonus points for recommendations for a new cleaners in the north side of the West Village.

posted by snickerdoodle to work & money (10 comments total)

Have you called the Better Business Bureau? They might be able to advise you.
posted by Carol Anne at 5:43 AM on July 11, 2008

Small claims court. It's been long enough - they know that they lost (or damaged, so "lost") your clothes.
posted by lullaby at 6:11 AM on July 11, 2008 [1 favorite]

Were it me, I would politely refuse to leave until he took the time to "find" them. That may force an admission. Don't be angry or raise your voice, just be insistent that your clothes are overdue and you want them now.

Bring a friend who could be a witness in court.
posted by Pants! at 6:38 AM on July 11, 2008

At three weeks you're coming up on the "pick up in 30 days or we aren't responsible" window. Get in there and refuse to leave without your stuff.

Be respectful, but don't be a pushover.
posted by 26.2 at 6:43 AM on July 11, 2008 [3 favorites]

lullaby got it. Just file a case in small claim court.
I'm sure he would just pay up and settle this before the trial, since it's clearly his fault.
posted by WizKid at 6:44 AM on July 11, 2008

1. Go the show up and insist route.

2. Draft demand letter--take time to give all details and provide copy of claim check.Send certified.

3. File in small claims with copy of claim check.
posted by Ironmouth at 6:53 AM on July 11, 2008 [2 favorites]

Proof of the clothing's value would also be helpful if you are heading to small claims court, or even to negotiate a settlement with the dry cleaner.
posted by caddis at 7:26 AM on July 11, 2008

They might be trying to run down the clock so they can claim you waited more than 30 days before you picked up, after which they are not responsible (probably got a sign to that effect posted). Make sure you document every contact/visit, so that they cannot claim you never tried to pick them up. File in small claims court, or see if you have a lawyer friend (or just hire a lawyer) who will send a letter stating that if they don't cover your loss, you will file. Then file if they don't comply.
posted by nax at 7:32 AM on July 11, 2008

Am I legally entitled to any compensation, or is this a small claims sort of scenario?

Both. Isn't the legal remedy of small monetary losses precisely what small claims courts are about? In other words: I agree with aforementioned suggestions that you pursue the small claims option.
posted by astrochimp at 9:15 AM on July 11, 2008

Don't call. Go in person. Stay until there is an offer of resolution. Most likely scenario is they were mis-delivered. Be very calm, very polite and very firm about replacement. If you are not satisfied with their offer, small claims court.

In order to be successful in small claims court, you need documentation of the lost items; receipts would be very useful, documentation of all calls, etc.
posted by theora55 at 1:01 PM on July 11, 2008