Inconveniences (the dry cleaning rant)

Location: Switzerland

Day: last Friday

I had to get a suit dry cleaned for Monday so I stepped into the local dry cleaner here in Olten. They said, that they couldn't get it done before Thursday. I was like ok, how about the express service? "Wednesday" she responded. I thought to myself, that I'd have a better chance to get it done in a major city so I ventured to Basel on Saturday. To my disbelief, they told me, that it would take a week to get the suit done. Again, I inquired about the express service and she told me Wednesday. Apparently, Wednesday is the "national get back your suit day" ...now, I had to ditch plan A and move on to plan B. I have a couple of suits and chose a very decent black suit which needed pressing. I figured, that Monday morning before I attend the meeting, I'll head over to the train station and get my suit pressed. As I stepped off the train in Zurich, I proceeded downstairs to the "shopville" or whatever it is called. To my disbelief, there is not sign, legend, or any other form of indication where which store is located . My scavenger hunt turned successful and I got the suit pressed. Now, out of curiostiy, I asked them how long it will take to get a suit done in "express mode"....the response was staggering. 2 days!

This real-life experiment was conducted in 2 major Swiss cities....is it possible, that there isn't a 1h cleaners in all of Switzerland?! Why are there no sign indicating a store's location at the ZH HB?!

Because, everybody in Zurich already knows where everything is in Shopville! Gosh, how dare you be so darn foolish?!?

Or, at least that's the response I got when I first moved to Zurich.

Good to know about 'express' service- I just unpacked my suits from our shipment and they're in need of a pressing. Now I know not to wait until the last minute when I get an interview.

So you didn't have a decent suit for the meeting in the end?

LOL and did you pay 100CHF for it?

Another episode of the series "lost_inbroad and his hardships".

..when I think, how back in the days, I got my suits dry cleaned in an hour at a fraction of the price of what you pay here to get it done in a week.

No, I did...but I had to get it pressed.

No, no...5chf for the jacket.

Thank you, you're the only one who truly understands me.

Also it might be an idea to check where the dry cleaners are in Basel before you go. Don't get me wrong I don't mind being serenaded by your dulcet tones

..you mean like checking train schedules?

I guess the amount of time needed to dry clean your suit depends on how much KFC grease is on it.

I check train schedules. I then ignore them and take the wrong train which leaves earlier but arrives later.

Now how does THAT make any sense?

Or maybe I just wanted to sleep on your sofa (nohomo)

Have you tried at the airport?

Did you check the dry cleaners in Basel SBB?

They advertise "Service Urgence (1h)" (though it doesn't say what service (perhaps it's not dry cleaning)).

http://www.5asec.com/pressing/fr/pay...nfoshoppays=CH

Yes, that's where I went to.

Nah, I didn't try the airport...

Gits.

if I remember correctly; they have, at the very least, a 1 day service.

When I had my last job interview I made puppy eyes to the dry cleaner in Stäfa, explaining my future jobs hangs in the balance, and they made my suit ready for that afternoon (took about 6 hours though).

Maybe you need to train your puppy eye look?

In the HB Zürich there is a big map with a plan with the stores in the main entrances to the underground (there was one next to the light fountain thingy). Maybe you took a smaller entrance?

I walked around looking for a sign..but couldn't find it. I'll double check the next time I'm in Zurich.

The dry cleaner at the Zurich HB Shopville was very difficult to find until I totoally accidentally bumped into it. Of course, once I was done, I immediately saw a map of the whole place neatly showing me where everything was.

Anyway, the dry cleaner in the St Gallen train station was much more polite, got my dress cleaned and ready in two days (normal service), and cost a third of what the Zurich lady was asking. St Gallen anyone? I'll get you a drink while you are waiting for your dry cleaning.

What a kind post...ehmm, is this an open invitation for a date?

ps: I must tell you, that I'm taken already. *sigh* sometimes I really feel like a modern day Don Juan De Marco.