Bethesda Avenue Dry Cleaners

Review: We went with my husband to the above Dry Cleaners to ask about repairing his shoes because we saw the sign: we repair shoes. We parked in front of the shop. We had never been there before. We entered the shop but another costumer was before us paying. When the costumer left the lady behind the desk, apparently the owner **. [redacted], continued doing bills without raising her head to greet us but rather ignoring us. Finally I said hi and proceeded asking about the shoes reparation showing the shoes my husband was holding in his hands. She continued not looking at us and mumbled something in broken English we could not understand. I repeated the question if she could repair this king of men's shoes and if yes, how much would it cost. She hardly took a look of us and she mumbled something more. I guess she was trying to tell us she does not repair shoes in house but she sends them out, therefor she could not tell the reparation cost. At least that is what I believe she said and by thanking her we left without leaving the shoes. She did not answered but continued doing her bills. We found her very unpleasant and rude.

On the way out, my husband had to go to the bathroom badly, so I told him I would wait for him and he could go right across the street to the [redacted] building. We knew the building because we go there for servicing our car. I stayed behind to wait for him. I did not enter our car because it was too hot. I stayed outside looking at the shop window next door to the cleaners.

It must have taken my husband about 10-15 minutes and by the time he returned, he notices a towing track backing up against our car preparing to tow it away. He rushed and asked what was going on, only to find out that the Cleaners' owner, **. [redacted], had called the towing company because we were parked in front of her business without having the right. It was for customers only!

We explained to the towing truck driver that we were customers and showed the shoes, but did not leave the shoes for repair because we could not communicate properly and she could not give us a reparation estimate. He said that is not what she said on the phone.

We argued several minutes because the man kept saying he needed to get paid $75 for the towing service. We were stunned she had called the towing company because we prolonged our stay for a few minutes while my husband was in the bathroom. She had come outside and had put a sticker on the car window but never bothered to talk to me when I was standing a few feet from the store. I had keys for the car and I could perfectly move the car if she had told me to do so. The truck driver suggested I go and I talk to her but when I went back inside the shop she was in the back and she would not respond to my calls. When I came outside the next door shop owner came close to me and suggested: call the police. I did and they were ready to sent me a police officer after I explained the situation. At the same time the truck driver received a call too for an emergency pick up, so he waved goodbye telling us he had to leave, he could not wait for the police but we should be careful with her the next time. I was still on the phone with the police station and I told the officer he did not need to sent a police car anymore. We drove away in a stage of a shock with the behavior of that woman who obviously because we did not give her out business she was seeking revenge. We could not believe that such people could stay in business!

I really think these kind of vicious business people do not belong to our town. I had never been to her shop before and I would never recommend anyone to ever go close to her furthermore to ever do business with her. We found her not only rude but also vicious and inhumane! Such a shame!

My question is: What is the towing policy here? How much time does a customer have to park, enter the shop and leave the parking space? In order to qualify as a "costumer" do you have to complete a business transaction since I did try to do business but left without ordering the service at the end.

I believe the sign that she has outside should state clearly how much time a customer is allowed to park. Also, why the truck driver kept saying I have to pay the fees since she was the one who placed the call and she lied about us going into her shop? And in the end why did he leave without getting pay? Did he lie about having to get paid by me or the shop owner one way or another? What is the policy exactly?

By the way, **. [redacted] never came out , we never saw her face during the incident. I guess she was watching from behind a closed door. I hope someone lets her know about our complain for her vicious attempt to punish us for not giving her our business.

Thank you for your time.

Consumer

Response:

From: [redacted]

Date: Mon, Oct 14, 2013 at 11:07 AM

Subject: Re: You have a new message from the Revdex.com of Metro Washington DC & Eastern Pennsylvania in regards to your complaint #[redacted].

To: [email protected]

I have not heard from them and I do not expect to hear anything. Thank you very much for your efforts!

Best regards,