Cost of Alterations

[Anonymous]

How much does it usually cost to have basic alterations done? I took two pairs of jeans to my local dry cleaners yesterday (local being Vienna, Virginia) needing both of them taken in at the waist and one of them hemmed. And it’s costing me $81. That seems like a lot? I could’ve bought new jeans for that.

[Anonymous]

Did you have them keep the jeans hem? That can be expensive. $40 wouldn’t surprise me. I paid that for hemming lately on some sweatpants with elastic at the bottom that I wanted saved.

[Anonymous]

That's because you live in Vienna! Drive south of 50 and it's cheaper.

[Anonymous]

It costs a lot more to have one person work on your one garment than it does to make jeans in a factory.

[Anonymous]

Seems normal to me for this area.

[Anonymous]

$20 per leg doesn’t seem too bad to me. I can sew and pants are a pain.

[Anonymous]

This is sadly the reality. I was charged $60 to get a new zipper in my jacket. Not worth it - it is better to buy a new piece but mindful of the environment impact. However, the services shouldn’t cost that much - which is why I rarely use them.

[Anonymous]

I do all of the alterations for my family - good at sewing. It’s a time consuming process. The price you got for the DMV doesn’t surprise me.

[Anonymous]

It's too much and usually bad quality. I found a lady who had her own atelier in Eastern Europe she she's retired but takes some work. It's 1/2 the price and amazing work. She hems all my jeans (keeps original hem) and my kids (keeping some hem folded for when they grow). As well as slimming shirts etc etc.

[Anonymous]

The tailor at Montgomery Mall charges $23 for a simple hem.

[Anonymous]

People are misreading. Op had the waists taken in on both pairs. Hemmed just one.

$81 was a steal. Taking in a waist is moderately complicated, and the average hack tailor working at a dry cleaner can’t handle it. Hemming is usually $25 or $35 a pair. I consider your price very cheap for a complicated item.

[Anonymous]

Jean material is thick, too. It’s tough to get a needle through that material.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you have them keep the jeans hem? That can be expensive. $40 wouldn’t surprise me. I paid that for hemming lately on some sweatpants with elastic at the bottom that I wanted saved.

I haven’t done this in at least 20 years and it was probably $20 back then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is sadly the reality. I was charged $60 to get a new zipper in my jacket. Not worth it - it is better to buy a new piece but mindful of the environment impact. However, the services shouldn’t cost that much - which is why I rarely use them.

Only $60.00 to replace a zipper in a jacket?

You got a steal. That is sweatshop prices.

I sew, like really sew. Couture bridal, custom womens suits, formal gowns.

I can't tell you how many times people ask me to alter things, because the dry cleaner alterations are "so expensive"

It is insulting. I hate it when people ask me to alter their clothing, especially when they couple it with complaining about the cost of the dry cleaner alterations like you are doing.

Sewing well is a very specialized skill that takes years to learn. Most people can't do it anymore, which makes it more valuable a skill.

Altering something well so it looks like it is original takes a LOT of skill and time.

If you don't know basic skills, pay your skilled craftsmen and women what they deserve, and don't complain about the cost afterwards.

Dry cleaners should charge more for the alterations but don't. Finding someone who sews and expecting them to do it for a pittance is really off putting, especially if they are an actual seamstress or tailor.

You got a steal for what you paid. It likely took them several hours to change out the zipper correctly. Be grateful and quit complaining. Or learn to do it yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do all of the alterations for my family - good at sewing. It’s a time consuming process. The price you got for the DMV doesn’t surprise me.

Yep.

People with zero skill set always seem to be the first people to complain about the prices.