Rant:Golden Thread

[healnlaugh]

I only rant when I am completely taken advantage of. I feel like people should hold true to their word, and I understand that people are trying to make an extra buck, but this is ridiculous…Golden Thread charged me $150 to alter a bridesmaids dress!!! She quoted me initially $40-50 for a hem and asked for money up front. So I gave her $50 and she said the taking in of the bottom portion would be no more than that. When I came to pick up the dress, which she did not call me about when it was ready to be picked up…I had to call because I was worried, she said it would be $95 more!! She said it was very complicated, so my jaw dropped, I already paid $200 for the dress…so I mentioned at the time that was not what she quoted me and she said it was “complicated”. I was red in the cheeks but payed and left, to think things over before talking to her again and when I checked the hemline, it was cheeply done and crooked. I went to two other seamtresses in West Seattle and asked them what they would have charged for this job and if her price was way outside the normal ballpark and they informed me that yes way outside, they would charge $100 at the most, and they only charged that with a “complicated” dress, something with a built in bra and a zipper. One business that wished to stay annonymos, but was close by, said she came into her business and asked her to change her prices so they were close to hers! She took full advantage of me. So I went back to try and talk to her about my findings and my feelings and she dismissed me and said this is what I charge and she would not give me back any money. While I was taking to her, telling her that other businesses in the area felt her prices were well out of the ballpark, and that she did not stick to her quote, the lady waiting in line behind me left to go elsewhere. I am new to West Seattle and in the business of working with people, and have had years of experience. I am careful to keep my opinions to myself unless I feel the need to warn others, we are all working for a buck and feel when it comes to quality and honesty you should keep this in mind when you are looking for alterations in this area.

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[hopey]

I also had a bad experience at Golden Thread. I brought in a dress to be altered for attending a wedding. I don’t recall the pricing being too bad. I felt the quality of the alteration was poor.

I had bought a beautiful dress where the shoulder straps needed to be altered — not spaghetti straps, more complicated than that. After alteration, they did not lay quite right and did not look as pretty. But it was too close to the wedding for me to have it redone.

The kicker though? I am very happy that I planned ahead, because when I arrived to pick up the dress on the date written on my receipt, the work wasn’t done! SHE HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT MY DRESS. Thankfully I still had two weeks before the wedding for her to complete it. In hindsight, I wish I had seen it as a sign of incompetence and taken my dress and my business someplace else.

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[catlady]

I’m glad I found out before taking anything there. My friend recently referred me there, although she did mention that it was more expensive than other places in WS. Now I’m wondering if that was really a referral or not??

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[bailecyclist]

My experience with Golden Thread was very good. I took a man’s coat in for significant alterations, and got a very nice job for what I thought was a reasonable price. I have dealt with other tailors, so I have some sense of what pricing should be.

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[JimmyG]

If you’re talking about the alterations business on California, it’s The GOLD Thread, not Golden.

I have been a satisfied customer for years, never any issues with the alterations done there. In fact, she did a beautiful job altering a pair of pants that I figured were a lost cause.

Turn around time has always been just a couple of days, and she is always very friendly with me.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Gold Thread to friends and I will continue to patronize her business.

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[hopey]

Perhaps she does well with men’s clothing and not so well with women’s dresses.

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[SEG]

Sorry to hear that.My husband and I use her and love her. We have never had an issue.

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[Irukandji]

I took slacks in there once for alteration: take in the waist and hem. When I got them back, she had done both, but didn’t account for the hem length AFTER bringing the waist in, so I was left with two pairs of highwater pants that couldn’t be fixed. Never went back.

I’ve had much better outcomes from the dry cleaner at Admiral & California.

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[changingtimes]

wow random! i just came on to look for a quick alteration place…i have a mini maids dress that needs alterations for a wedding next saturday..my daughter grew a full 6 inches in a month lol!

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[JoB]

there seem to be two issues…

quality of alterations

and not sticking to a quote…

both are red flags for me

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[healnlaugh]

Exactly, I have had many alterations in the past as well, with jeans and skirts and understand what quality work looks like…this is not it. I also think that sticking to a quote is important, but others may prioritize differently or may not worry about expenses. And what do people think of a seamtress raising prices drastically and going to other businesses and request they do the same…seems shady to me.

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[Luckie]

My favorite place for alterations is Fits All, on California not far from Cafe Lladro. Always top-notch work, and always reasonably priced.

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[healnlaugh]

Thank you! I will definatly check that out next time I need alterations. Good to hear there is a place to take my clothes to that has a good reputation.

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[hj]

Coordinating prices with your competition isn’t just shady. It’s collusion.

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