Tailr 'Stole" a Button- Husband Won't Let It Go

[Anonymous]

DC competed in a sport where contestants wear expensive pants and jackets. They always came back from the dry cleaners with missing buttons including the extra buttons on the inside hems. Super annoying, as you have to find appropriate replacement buttons for the next competition. Dry cleaners suck.

I've had multiple item ruined by the dry cleaners and they always gaslight you if you bring it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Small claims is excessive though I understand the ire here; the tailor absolutely stole those buttons. Likely does this all the time as if those extra buttons are his or her right. I'd be angry too but it sounds like this has really set your DH off. Can you redirect his anger away from the small claims court idea, though?

One thing that worked for a friend of mine long ago with a problematic business was informing them, very coolly, that she had already written letters to the Better Business Bureau and some other local business association with formal complaints about the business. This was back in the day of actual letters (early 1990s) and she stood there at the counter with the letters in her hands and said, "I can walk out of here and mail these right now, or you can make this right." The business instantly caved.

With SO many online reviews etc. these days, that might not work, and this business might not care. But in your DH's shoes, I'd probably go ahead and file a complaint with the BBB and any local merchants' associations of which the tailor is a member. Should be easy to do online. The tailor might not care but maybe it will help your husband get past this. If the tailor is on Yelp or other review sites, he can write reviews there (though he should be careful; there have been instances of people being sued by businesses for negative reviews online!).

They probably "caved" because they wanted to get your friend off their property and be done with her already. BBB is a sham.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing that worked for a friend of mine long ago with a problematic business was informing them, very coolly, that she had already written letters to the Better Business Bureau and some other local business association with formal complaints about the business. This was back in the day of actual letters (early 1990s) and she stood there at the counter with the letters in her hands and said, "I can walk out of here and mail these right now, or you can make this right." The business instantly caved.
.

Your "friend" sounds crazy. I truly hope it was not you who did that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG I can't with you dreadful people. No one with real problems in their life would spare two seconds to think about this. If your husband is so rich that he has multiple pairs of thousand dollar pants, his life is pretty good. Let.It.Go.

OP is asking for help to help her husband let it go...

[Anonymous]

I think you know that’s not normal!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG I can't with you dreadful people. No one with real problems in their life would spare two seconds to think about this. If your husband is so rich that he has multiple pairs of thousand dollar pants, his life is pretty good. Let.It.Go.

OP is asking for help to help her husband let it go...

I was responding to all the PPs who advocated for pursuing this in court.

[Anonymous]

Psst! Next time, take the spare buttons off yourself. Stick them in a ziploc in your dresser drawer. Forget about them for 10 years, but enjoy the extra inner peace you gain.

[Anonymous]

and why won't you mention the brand? you're nuts too

[Anonymous]

Over time dry cleaners have cracked 3 buttons on my Burberry trench. I am out of spare buttons and now have to take less used / less visible buttons from the storm flap to replace the main buttons and backfill them with plain ones.

You cannot get replacements. When I bought the coat 15 years ago the salesperson told me to always knot the belt if I wasn’t using it because if I lost it in a cab they would not sell me a replacement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually three buttons. My DH took three suit pants in to be hemmed. These are nice, Italian wool suits. I won't name the brand but they are mid- to high end ($1000 each).

When he got the pants back all the spare buttons had been removed. Contacted the Tailor and they denied it, but these pants had never even been worn. The buttons were there.

He won't le it go- he's threatening to take them to small claims.

Is this normal?

He keeps saying 'it's the principle.'

Tell him to go for it! You don't help-he has to do it. He'll either win or lose-but then it's on him and not you.

[Anonymous]

How old is he? Have him screened for dementia

[Anonymous]

Moral of the story:

Always store extra buttons in your house BEFORE getting clothes dry-cleaned!



And yes, OP, your husband should write a scathing review online, and then switch dry-cleaners, but with the moral above - safeguard the buttons!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Over time dry cleaners have cracked 3 buttons on my Burberry trench. I am out of spare buttons and now have to take less used / less visible buttons from the storm flap to replace the main buttons and backfill them with plain ones.

You cannot get replacements. When I bought the coat 15 years ago the salesperson told me to always knot the belt if I wasn’t using it because if I lost it in a cab they would not sell me a replacement.

Is this to prevent frauds from using OEM accessories?

[Anonymous]

Were they gold buttons?

[Anonymous]

A $1k suit doesn’t seem that expensive and I wear off the rack men’s wearhouse