Overprized Alterations

[Mammamia]

Just got a quote from Regal Dry Cleaners to take the hem up of a very simple dress (no frills, plain fabric, straight line, no pleats) and was quoted $35 without even a thought. This dress cost me $24 to buy and I have to fork out more than double that to take the hem up? How do you make a dress for less than $24 (you still have to make a profit...) and charge in effect $140 per hour in labour & materials to take the hem up? I've done this before - it takes less than 5 minutes, but allowed 15 minutes for the job in my calculation. Is this a fair price or am I being done by here?

[bc53]

"I've done this before"
So just do it again Regal Dry Cleaners are in the business of making money.

So what about the road rage?

[Cas98]

Talk about being taken to the cleaners.....

[kadee]

lost her temper on the way home?

[Krystal]

The current rate for dressmaking/alterations is $20/hour. The hem done by machine would be a minimal charge but if done by hand, perhaps $10 too much for the job described.

It always amazes me that non sewers expect those with the skill to do it for nothing

[Thing]

I recently had some alterations done to clothing in Thailand - the seamstress charged me $2 per item, however when I was in Cambodia the dry cleaners sewed a tear in my shirt for nothing...
& I nearly got run over crossing the road after collecting my clothes (just for the road rage whatsit)

[Cas98]

I bought 2 pairs of slacks for work. Nice black slacks. Had to get them hemmed up as the length for the "Ultra wide" is wayyyy tooo long. Anyway, $25/pair for the slacks and another $42 to get them hemmed up. Almost $100 for the 2 pairs...

I DID get hit by a cyclist riding through a red light on my way back to the car....

[Mammamia]

So I got a few quotes from various shops for the exact same dress:

Shop 1: $22 (had a special promotion for $14.95)
Shop 2: $25
Shop 3: $25
Shop 4: $20
Regal: $35

Regal is a ripoff.

[fergi]

you people really make me crinch. you winge about paying for labour costs, try getting an electrician or plumber then you can really winge.people are entitled to make a living, if you dont like the price do it yourself,probably too lazy.
fergi

[Mammamia]

Fergi, how is whingeing about a plumber or electrician not whingeing about labour costs - the very thing that make you cringe?... Are they not also entitled to earn their living then? Double standards here I think...

That said - this is not about labour costs, it is about ONE retailer, being Regal, charging ridiculous prices in comparison to others, doing the same thing.

It is not a matter of being lazy either - you do need a special machine to over-lock fabric.

[Dale61]

[quote by OP] ..was quoted $35 without even a thought. This dress cost me $24 to buy and I have to fork out more than double that to take the hem up? [end quote]

So, let's do the math. $24 for a dress. Double that would be ....... $48. How do you work out that $35 is more than double the original price of the dress?

[quote by OP] I've done this before - it takes less than 5 minutes, [end quote]

Yes, it does take less than 5 minutes to whinge about something.

I'm still waiting for the road rage post!