Weddingbee boards

This is the first time I've felt compelled to outright complain about a potential vendor for my wedding. 

Summary

• Quality Cleaners, Lemoyne PA=NOT SO GOOD
• Leaf of Eve, Enola PA=GOOD

I went to Quality Cleaners in Lemoyne for a trial fitting.  I gave them $150 to clean my dress a few months ago, and they did a good job.  They will not give me prices for wedding dress alterations over the phone, so the lady told me to come in anyway and they could give me an estimate and I would be under no obligation to buy.  So ok, that sounds reasonable, but the lady who actually does their wedding alterations is sort of outsourced, she doesn't work for the cleaners. 

For the record this was the second place I went to for a trial fitting. 

The seamstress immediately told me upon seeing me in the dress that I would have to do a traditional style bustle, and I told her that I'd like to see a french style.  She told me how that wouldn't look good but she'd do it anyway to show me.  Wouldn't you know, it looked fantastic, but whatever I wasn't dwelling on it. 

I asked her about starching or backing my collar so it stands up nicer and she doesn't seem to understand why I'd need to do that.  She can clearly see the collar flopping around, not sitting right against my neck.  In the end she offers to starch it, saying that she cannot put a stiffer backing on it. 

Then she pins up the hem a full 2 inches above the ground!  Not asking me how short or long I want, just pinning away.  I tell her I am still searching for a crinoline slip to poof the dress out enough to hopefully avoid needed a hem.  She tells me forcefully "NO, you can't wear a slip with that dress, it's an a-line, it won't look right.  At this point I am ready to leave, this lady doesn't know a damn thing about doing alterations like this.  I happen to have a slip for the dress that fits under it just fine, it's just too poofy for my taste. 

I have the other lady who works at the cleaners unzip me, she was observing this whole mess and was the one who took my appointment and said I had no obligation to use them for the work.  I tell her I have one other place to go have a trial before I decide, and she acts shocked that I'm not leaving the dress with them for the work.  I ask her to write down the cost estimate so I don't forget. 

I can hear them outside the changing room door, really not happy that I'm not leaving the dress.   I come out and she tells me she can't write down any pricing.  Well, hmmm, that's a little shady.  Won't quote over the phone, won't write prices down, don't know what crinoline slips are for...I walked out.  They treated me like I was a spy from their competitor or something, trying to scope out their pricing, it was rediculous and insulting. 

I can't speak for their work, but they will not be getting my $200.

On the opposite spectrum is Deborah at Leaf of Eve.  I had a trial fitting with her that was the exact opposite of what you read above.  So helpful, even offered to rent me a slip for the weekend so I wouldn't have to buy one.  The costs would have been about the same, but I'll drive the extra ten minutes to give my business to someone more professional and competent.

So beware Quality Cleaners ladies, I'm sure the work would have been fine but don't go if you don't enjoy being treated like crap.

End rant.