It took 9 days

[Bramblerose]

So for 9 days I have been learning to work the Shirt Press- a trifecta of metallic heat that destroys soul and body.

importing things to know- we have three sorts of laundry- Rush- drop off early and finished that day (before 4), home store, drop-off-sack, # location and Streetcorner location. The plant works m-f, clothes can be dropped off and picked up Sat

Friday- lovely day- was a co-worker's birthday. As teh whole laundry crew were partaking in a celebratory lasagne, the phone rang. Turns out it was a two-fer.

Sucky customer:

Well I didn't know about the time restriction, but my husband needs clothes for MOnday Morning. I am out at (place I don't know where is) can I still do this today?

Yes, that's right. Because your spouse needs clean clothes we're going to come in and turn on the whole plant on a weekend just for you, not to mention drag in our employees who thought they were gong to have a quiet weekend with family.

Happily she got an honest answer- "Our launderer has the last load laid out. IF you can get here quickly, yes."

comes teh Cursing Out Coworker:

"well, M said I could"

M is out at a storefront because she is bleeding useless at any other job, but not enough to get her ass fired. M shold have told her no.

M should have told her to find some nice rocks on the riverside and to steam it in the shower.

[Horsetuna]

hello fellow Martinizer! I too work in a DCer.

I get those cutomers right away. we are open monday to saturday - small operation, less than 12 people.... if you bring it in after 10 am, its 'next day' after 5, except friday - if you bring it in after 10 am on friday its 'monday afternoon'. Before 10 am? same day after 5.

I /always/ get people who bring in suits who ask 'can I get this for tomorrow morning?" I seriously had one lady come in 5 minutes to close asking if she can get her suit back the next day - at eight AM. We only have the machines warming up that early.

Also, I can't stand corduroy pants. I can't press them in the presser of course and I still have scars from the steam. I know how to do shirts and its a tough thing of what I would rather do - cords or shirts.

My sympathies.

[Jay Fear]

I work retail at a major DCer(40+) staff, and I try be realistic with customers about what they can expect from us. My worst are usually the snide businessman who believe that saying they have a flight somehow means that the pressing and cleaning staff can do something overnight/right away/super cheap for them.

No.

Or they come in at 5 minutes after close with a whole bundle of crap they need first thing the next morning.

No.

And of course the lovely people who think shirt pressers like yourself should do their silk/mother of pearl shirts, so they can pay the much cheaper cotton business shirt price for them.

Yes. If you sign a waiver absolving the store and staff of any liability for damage caused to your precious Versace!

I always think its best for both staff and customers in such a business to know some of the actual logistics of your job, so they don't have unrealistic expecations of what can be done.