The day I had to turn a customer away ....

[AdamB]

A lady mentioned whilst in the shop that she had purchased a hoodie from a dance group for her daughter and they had forgotten to put the name on the back. So, I added that we can add a name to the rear and she said she would bring in the hoodie for printing.

The next day, she walked in with a bag and said "I have the hoodie............." then fumbled to get it out "................... sorry, I haven't had time to wash it!"

I glanced down at a hoodie that looked like it had been worn recently at a cake throwing contest and had more hair on it (looked like dog hair) than on my grannies chin (and that was a lot, believe me - I still have nightmares about that).

I explained that we couldn't do anything without a clean surface as politely as I could - and, perhaps, the best thing to do was to give it a wash and then return with it clean (all said in a way not trying to offend her because, as we all know, the customer is always right).

She left, but returned the next day.

She took out the hoodie and said "Sorry, it's been washed but I can't do anything about the hairs ......"

I picked up the hoodie that was heavier, it was wet - very wet and was still covered in hairs, and when I mean covered I mean COVERED - still, the cake was gone but it looked like it had been taken straight from the washer and fetched into the shop.

Again, I tried to explain that, firstly - the hoodie couldn't be printed as it was very wet and would need drying first but more importantly I couldn't print it as the whole thing was covered in hairs which would mean that the hairs would be under the vinyl.

Now, before you think - "could you not have cleaned it with a sticky roller?", the answer was no because it was covered thick and although I give t-shirts a quick roll before pressing as a general rule, and have even had the odd one with a few extra hairs, this one would have probably taken a good hour to clean and a full roller - plus I like to keep my press clean and I was (at that time) pressing some nice white t-shirts for an event.

Here's where things got interesting and the lady started to get a little "irate" explaining that we didn't really do what was advertised, and could I not just use some sellotape to clean it. She then started to shake the hoodie like you would a rug at the front door of the house to get the dust out.

I had to ask her to stop, quite abruptly as hairs were starting to fly off everywhere - I explained again that it wouldn't be done in this state and she started to swear, snatched the hoodie back and walked out of the shop growling and shouting obscenities that I didn't know could be spoken in public!

She never came back, and I bet the story she tells others is somewhat different to what was actually said - with 'us' to blame for the whole experience.

Now, 3 days later - I'm still finding the odd couple of hairs cropping up when I wipe down or pre-roll a garment for pressing!

[Craig]

Feel sorry for you having that experience and to be honest I cannot believe someone would dream of bringing something in to have some work done in aything other than excellent condition.

I have to say i would have done the same

[RogerC]

Well done for being so patient and polite for so long........and if her friends are anything like her it's potential 'business' you could do without.

[bigj2552]

hats off to you adam for your patience bud... afraid i wouldnt have lasted that long :rolleyes:.

anything that compromises your own stock is a big no no. if people cant take 30mins to wash something and present it properly, what does it tell you about them.

these are the ones that would come back with the slightest thing that went wrong with this, even tho it wasnt your fault, and blame you for it anyway - for swearing at me, her ass would have been hauled out the shop regardless

trade and people like her, i don't/wouldn't need or want :rolleyes:

[Renniwano]

Sounds like she owned a Husky lol.. all my hoodies are covered in fur !!! but admittedly wouldn't expect to vinyl on them in that state

[bigj2552]

we used to have 3 Alsatian dogs in our home when i was young, never did we have any hairs on our clothes or go out smelling of dog...and the house never smelled of dog either.....well, until they got older, but thats life i,m afraid.

having animal hairs on clothes and smelling is just pure utter laziness on the owners part IMHO...and i aint no snob here before anyone says, just brought up with good hygiene standards :rolleyes:

[Renniwano]

I only have to brush past my husky on a full summer or winter blow.. and I am covered.. it's nothing to do with good hygiene standards there either as twice a year EVERY husky owner goes through it - even with the hoover out three times a day and lint roller !!

I agree with some it may be total laziness (and on the part of Adams customer sounds so as it was dirty also) but sorry, you can't say that for everyone!!

This is a quick daily brush for our lad when he's in full blow..
[ATTACH=CONFIG]1296[/ATTACH]