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Arlenes Cleaners
Category: Local Services Dry Cleaning & Laundry Dry Cleaning & Laundry [Edit]
2986 College Ave(between Ashby Ave & Webster St)
Berkeley, CA 94705
Neighborhoods: Elmwood, Claremont
(510) 548-6138
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 6 pm
Sat 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wi-Fi:
- No
135 reviews for Arlenes Cleaners
135 reviews in English
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Review from Max H.
Berkeley, CA
4/11/2012
The owner (I'm guessing Arlene herself) is the reason to come here, besides the great job as a dry cleaner.
She is such a mom type who is so sincere about taking care of her customers and making sure they are happy with everything. I've only had to bring a few things here but I won't go anywhere else now. I've learned my lesson about living in a dump or a commercial apartment building washer/drying room and putting my good shirts/pants in. I'll either hand wash them or bring them to Arlene.
So frustrating to put something you like into a washer and then some white substance appears. Not sure if it has ruined it like bleach and has taken off color or if the shirt/pants have to be tossed because the fabric has this crap embedded in it. One of the few small pleasures of life is going to a thrift store and finding something great (great color, 100% cotton, fits well, reasonable price) and then it's ruined after wearing it and then you go to wash it.
Hand wash it for a few months then bring it to Arlene's people. My best advice for your good clothing. -
Review from Melody G.
San Francisco, CA
4/8/2012
Who knew I would write a review on a dry cleaning place!
But, Arlenes Cleaners deserves 5 stars! Love Arlene! She goes above and beyond to provide personal and efficient service. Thank you! -
Review from Mickey C.
Emeryville, CA
2/23/2012
I never thought I'd be yelping about a dry cleaning service, but Arlenes Cleaners deserves my praise. They are truly a gem stamped on the heart of Berkeley!
Their services are quick and legit. I got my slacks, shirt, and vest back in a matter of two days. They were well cleaned and pressed and good to go! They also seemed a tear in my pants with superb excellence.
While all this is great, my favorite part about Arlenes is their customer service and care. Arlene is a character. She is so kind, sociable, and genuinely full of joy. She gave me a handful of candy and an ice cold bottle of water wrapped in a paper towel as I waited.
I recommend Arlenes to anyone who needs clothes cleaned quick and well, with great customer service! Arlenes is excellent. -
Review from Britt L.
Oakland, CA
5/22/2012
Absolutely the best dry cleaners I've ever worked with. Their cleaning is great and alterations impecable. I even trusted Arelene's with cleaning my wedding dress. I purchased a sample and the bottom hem was filthy. When I got it back it was spotless.
This sounds like an overstatement, but I guarantee it is not: one of the male staff member's service is so on point he could work in the front of the house of a fine dining restaurant. When I come to pick up my dry cleaning he always asks if I need help to the car, offers me bottled water... I literally signed up for Yelp today just to comment on how awesome he is.
Don't waste your time going anywhere else in Oakland/Berkeley. -
Review from K M.
Oakland, CA
4/24/2012
The staff is so friendly and nice at Arlene's Cleaners. They even offered us delicious ginger tea on a cold winter day. Their wonderful customer service is what keeps us coming back. They've cleaned and pressed my husband's three piece suit several times, and the suit always comes back looking fantastic/ brand new. Their prices are very reasonable, and I would recommend her services to others.
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Review from Jeffrey W.
Oakland, CA
5/3/2012
Friendly, prompt, and efficient service. No problems whatsoever.
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Review from Jaclyn W.
Berkeley, CA
2/11/2012
Arlene's somehow got black shoe polish out of my ivory wool coat. And it had been on there for at least five weeks and was really rubbed into the fabric. I am completely in awe. They always do a wonderful job, but this was over the top impressive. My coat looks brand new. They also gave us a delivious cup of tea that was delicious when we picked up our clothes - cherry on top.
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Review from Jenn L.
Oakland, CA
1/1/2012
Dry cleaning is relatively new to me. I spend way too much on clothes, but when it comes to taking care of them... not so much. Until two years ago, I was shafting my lovely garments by either not cleaning them ever (gross, I know) or by hauling a garbage bag of them to the closest dry cleaner's on an annual basis with an over-inflated sense of accomplishment. Thankfully, those days of never washing and therefore never wearing my dry-clean-only clothes ended when I discovered Arlene's. I've used their dry-cleaning, laundering, pant-hemming and other alteration services many times over the last two years and never been less than pleased. Once, some delicate shell buttons on a cashmere cardigan broke in the process of cleaning, and Arlene called me and said she was on a hunt for identical buttons at various sewing shops, and in the end she found replacements that were much better than the originals and sewed them on for free. Another time, I sent a blazer in to be cleaned and she noticed that one of the gold nautical buttons was missing and replaced it for me without even mentioning it. Alterations are pricey ($20-60 depending on what you want done) but comparable to what you'd pay at a tailor's, and her seamstress has done a better job than either of the two tailors in Berkeley I previously frequented. She even made a heavy wool coat that I foolishly bought online on final sale a full size smaller--definitely a difficult job, and it fits wonderfully.
On top of all that, Arlene and her team are so sweet and attentive, and Arlene's fashion sense continues to mesmerize me: pink hair! fur collar! Bill Cunningham would double-take. Thanks to them, I can consider my dread of dry-cleaning successfully dissolved.
p.s. If you don't go during rush hour, you can usually find free parking on Webster (turn at the corner just SW of the shop). -
Review from Reynold X.
Berkeley, CA
1/29/2012
The staff is incredibly friendly, and gets the dry cleaning done.
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Review from Rebecca H.
Berkeley, CA
1/11/2012
Quick Highlights:
-low price ($18 for a filthy Columbia ski jacket)
-price remained as estimated despite multiple cleanings
-perfectly clean product without damages from cleaning
-environmentally friendly cleaning products, I hear
-free carrying bag offered with clean jacket
-AMAZING customer service. I've never met a kinder woman than Arlene. Her assistant (daughter, maybe?) is also extremely nice.
My Experience, In Detail:
I've actually joined Yelp just to review Arlene's Cleaners. And my new dentist. But that's another story.
My mother gave me a white Columbia jacket a little while before she passed away. It was a big deal, because we didn't have a lot of money (and a new Columbia is pricey!). It was also kind of a symbol that I should go off and explore the cold wilderness of Alaska and Colorado and such (cheesy, I know. But just being honest). Well, I lived in Minnesota for two years and completely loved that jacket. It kept me dry and warm despite a circulatory condition and, well, despite Minnesota.
Anyway, I made some plans to visit Tahoe this coming weekend, and my girlfriend suggested that maybe I should clean the jacket (it had horrible salt and mud stains on it--it really did look more grey in color). I hesitated, but I'd heard some good things about Arlene's and figured I'd have to clean it eventually. And for reference, when I took her my jacket, I never told her how important it was to me--I always assume that kind of thing diminishes customer service rather than help it.
Arlene came over and looked at the jacket right away, and she was completely honest about the fact that such bad staining might not come out (an honesty I appreciated). She gave me an estimate--just under $18 (I had explored some other cleaners, and they said that cleaning such a filthy jacket would cost closer to $70). She told me to come back in about 1 week and gave me my ticket.
Early the next week, a few days before pickup, she called my cell phone. She said she wanted to run the coat through again because it hadn't gotten fully clean, if that would be alright with my schedule. I said yes and thanked her for trying.
I came back the following week at the new pickup date, and my jacket was stunningly white! (cream colored, actually, as it should be, but not a single stain left!). I thanked her profusely and gave her a hug. I'd like to bake her a plate of cookies (and think I might actually, next time). And despite the extra runs, I still paid the original estimated price of under $18. I think I will keep Arlene's as a cleaner no matter where I live in California. She's just so incredibly kind! I understand now why people have insisted on paying more than she asks for their cleaning. -
Review from Annie S.
Berkeley, CA
9/10/2011
I dunno, maybe it's because i've been spoiled by my newfound neighborhood cleaner. But Arlene's seemed to be just a normal cleaners to me.
Don't get me wrong, Arlene herself is precious. Maybe it's because she's so busy, but i didn't feel like my clothes necessarily got all the attention they needed. I'm used to them scouring my garments for any spots, tears, defects, so that they can mark it for some TLC.
She did give me and my friend a discount when we picked up and paid...but considering how much we ended up spending there, it was really just a drop in the bucket.
plus...you have to pay for parking on college. boo.
sunny cleaners is the cleaner for me. -
Review from Kathryn Y.
Berkeley, CA
5/31/2011
Arlenes Cleaners is absolutely the best dry cleaners I have ever been to. I went to her with 15 separate pieces for dry cleaning and she immediately gave me a discount because I brought in so many pieces.
I had a fragile shirt that was fraying in several places. Despite the multiple repairs she still only charged me $15 for mending and dry cleaning the shirt. One of my cardigans had blue jeweled buttons and unfortunately they came off in the wash. I know that accidents happen so I wasn't that upset about it. Arlene on the other hand was extremely upset about it and took it off the bill. She also went to the store and found the exact same buttons within the week to repair the sweater at no charge. I wish more businesses treated their customers the way Arlene does. -
Review from Tiffany N.
San Jose, CA
8/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Most definitely beats the diy dry cleaning kit I bought from Walmart.
As amazing and unfathomable as that feat is, Arlene's has met (more like surpassed) all three of my minimum criteria: to clean my clothes and do a good job at it, to be affordable (they've given both my friend and me first timer discounts), and to be friendly.
They also have lollipops. -
Review from Evelyn S.
5/26/2011
Everyone already said this already, but Arlene is THE sweetest lady EVER. I came in with 4 skirts, 2 pants, and 7 shirts, and she gave me a college student discount! She also gave me a free lint roller too at the end (:
If you need it by a certain day/time, she'll definitely try to fulfill your request and rush it too! -
Review from A. P.
Berkeley, CA
5/26/2011
I have very little to add to all the amazing reviews for Arlene - just that she is a total sweetheart and when I was in a rush she turned around 5 pairs of pants to be hemmed and 3 shirts to be laundered in 30 hours!?
So friendly - and her son/grandson who seemed to be in training or fairly new was also super super courteous.
This is how a customers should be treated by all businesses. -
Review from Chris B.
Oakland, CA
9/11/2011
I am the first to think the dry cleaners are a commodity business; they are all the same. But Arlene changed my mind.
The clothes are clean, but almost everyone can do that. The service alone is worth the extra drive from Rockridge and the crappy Elmwood parking. She is SOOOO nice and sweet (and that kind of thing never sways me). She takes credit cards which is almost a requirement to get me to be a customer.
Arlene's Rocks! -
Review from Diana S.
3/11/2011
I can see why this place has gotten 5-stars. I went in to get 4 pairs of pants altered--each pair was $13. After reading reviews below, I took the advice of not getting the original hemming. When I went to pick up my clothes, the tailoring on the pant legs were so good that they looked like the original hemming.
Also, I can tell she has an amazing character. When I went in to pick up my clothes, I totally had forgotten my wallet. She actually let me take my clothes and said that I can come back whenever and pay for it.... WHO DOES THAT?! God, she's too nice. Even when I went in to take my clothes, she handed me a free lint roller saying that she likes to give them out to students when she has extras. ksjadfkjashdkja. She even walks customers out the door and waves. hahah sooo sweet
- excellent service
- amazing skills
- kind lady
i am a loyal customer for sure. -
Review from Sophia L.
1/24/2011
So I was considering going to C&C Cleaners nearby but I saw that Arlene's had 5 stars and wanted to know why. I brought in 3 blouses and 1 business skirt, and told her I needed them by Tues, so Arlene told me they'd be ready by Mon 5 PM. However, on Monday I called asking if I could come get my clothes earlier due to time conflicts and another lady told me I could come now so I was so pleased!! :)
When I got there though, they only had my 3 blouses and couldn't find my skirt which worried me because it was $80 :( and the lady tried to compensate by telling me "the line I drew" aka my EYELINER was very beautiful and I was thinking "lol ok thanks but where is my skirt??" so I paid $7.50 for the tops and she ended up teling me to come back at 5 because it probably hadn't been delivered yet.
So when I came back at 5, Arlene was there and asked why I didn't come pick up the skirt the 1st time (because I told her I already got the 3 tops) and I told her it wasn't ready yet and she quickly tried to shove me out the door saying it was free because that's not how she does business. I did the whole Asian thing and tried to argue but she kept pushing me out hehe SHES SO CUTE!!!!! So basically, I paid $7.50 for 4 items to be washed/dry cleaned and I'm happy so moral of the story is: GO TO ARLENES IF YOU WANT YOUR CLOTHES CLEANED!
*Also, the store closes at 6 PM on Fridays and I came strolling in at ~6:10 once because the door was still open and she still accepted my clothes AND turned the computer back on just for me. I love her.Listed in: Five Stars
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Review from Anna L.
Berkeley, CA
8/11/2011
I've only gone once, but the first time was quite the charmer.
Technically twice, of course. Once to drop off, and again to pick up.
Last week, I dropped off my coat to a younger girl - very sweet, polite, and attentive. I told her when was most convenient for me to pick up, she gave me my receipt, and I was on my way. Quick and pleasant.
Today, I went to go pick it up and there were two older women. One was helping another customer, and the other came to me with a very sweet smile. After getting my coat back to me, she told me it was $9.50. I gave her $9.50 in cash and she gave me a dollar back! Did I hear wrong? I looked at her, puzzled, and she just waved her hands at me to take it. I'm still confused. As I walked away, I had wondered if there was a tip jar or something. But all I know now is that I must go there from now on for drycleaning, at least to return the gratitude! -
Review from Audrey C.
2/5/2011
I've been to another dry cleaners on College right near Ici, but decided to check this place out and see if it's actually 5 star worthy. Turns out it pretty much is. The lady at the front was extremely cheery and attentive to know how I wanted my dress altered.
When I called in to see if my dress was done they were busy and said they'd call back but they forgot...so I just called back again and she couldn't stop apologizing.
It cost about $30 to hem my lace dress and take in the sides. Considering it had two layers I think it was a decent price. -
Review from Stephanie W.
Oakland, CA
11/1/2010 3 Check-ins Here
My hunt for the best eco-friendly dry cleaner in the East Bay has been an ongoing adventure for the last 3 years.
Thanks to you fab Yelpers, I made my way over to Arlenes to try out their services and FINALLY feel like I've found a reliable, reasonably priced, friendly, eco-conscious, dry-cleaners...even if I do have to drive all the way over to Berkeley for the experience.
The woman at the counter is nothing but sweet every single time. In fact, when they mistakenly forgot one piece of my clothing, I received a hefty credit on our bill. Incredibly thoughtful and GREAT customer service.
They are definitely enviro-friendly (at least as best as I can tell) and sell fab reusable garment bags by Reusenik, to tote your clothing to & from the cleaners (bye bye plastic wrap!).
A must try if you live anywhere in the Elmwood vicinity. Hell, if you live anywhere in the East Bay! It's worth the commute. -
Review from Thao T.
9/8/2011
She is absolutely adorable. Arlene is so friendly and nice, it's hard not to want to come back here. I got a men's suit and peacoat cleaned for $25 and she gave me a free laundry bag too. Everything came out clean and I like that everything is environmentally friendly. I came here because of the great yelp reviews she's gotten and I definitely concur!
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Review from Eric C.
Berkeley, CA
8/12/2011
I've been dropping off my dry cleaning here pretty regularly for the past two years and I constantly wish there was more competition in Berkeley.
There's no arguing that the woman who is always there is really nice and I have a closet full of lint removers to prove it, but I do have one big problem with this place.
How come there aren't any prices listed anywhere in the store? I have dropped off the same combination of items multiple times and have been charged a range of prices. Whenever this happens and I politely ask her how much each item costs, she'll reach into the drawer and give me a couple bucks back. I'm not asking for a discount, just consistency and transparency! For the past year they've been telling me there will be a sign up with prices, but it's still not there (I checked when I was there this morning).
Also, this isn't really a problem, but a slight inconvenience. They have recently stopped accepting American Express. -
Review from Megan P.
Berkeley, CA
11/26/2011
I went to Arlenes because of all of the wonderful Yelp reviews and I'm happy to report that the great ratings are totally, totally justified. Their customer service is out of this world. I've needed clothes cleaned quickly and also been happy to wait a few days and they're accommodating to every request I have. We have a couple of kitties and on our way out one day, they offered us a free pet hair roller (which didn't feel like a passive-agressive gesture, by the way). While they're not the cheapest place around, it's worth the price for the service and the beautiful job they do with all of our delicate garments. Thank you, Arlenes!
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Review from Stacie V.
Berkeley, CA
12/8/2011
Talk about overpriced. $5.50 to dry clean 1 dress shirt. (Jaw drops) She wouldn't even give me same day service.
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Review from Alex H.
Atlanta, GA
7/23/2011
I'm mostly writing today because I'm moving out of town in a week, and since I can't frequent this place again, I thought I'd at least Drop Down My Word as Judgment and say nice things!
I wanted to have all my suits dry-cleaned, all my clothes washed and folded nice before I pack them away, and found Arlenes through Yelp. I was in a hurry so I didn't even read the stellar reviews, I just called and asked Arlene if she did same day service, and she said yes, as long as I brought my clothes in first thing. Because, apparently this is rare, the first five places I called were short with me and would say "pick up next day!!", it was a relief to hear a friendly voice on the phone explaining what I had to do. So, sure enough I took my clothes out there on a Saturday morning at 8:30 (which by the way, is the best time to find parking on College Ave), and she came out to the front and was just really sweet and helpful. I didn't need for her and her helper to come out to my car to get my giant suitcase o' laundry but they kind of insisted. She called me that afternoon to say my clothes were ready, and I could just park in the loading zone. I did so, and they came out to my car with my clothes and gave me a free laundry bag and lint roller too. I really don't know how much you'd normally pay for that service because I hardly ever get that done, but it was totally worth it. I think if you live in the Oakland area and need dry-cleaning, give Arlene your business! -
Review from Vlad P.
Berkeley, CA
12/4/2010
Arlene is such a customer friendly person. She will often give you a free lint roller or a discount on the dry cleaning to make sure you come back.
My only pet peeve is that once I had a stain on my cream pants and I didn't mention it to her. Yet the cleaners tried to get it out and failed yet they left a larger white spot around it. I'm not too upset about it since those pants had a stain anyway but now I feel that they made it a little worse. -
Review from Garett N.
Berkeley, CA
9/12/2011
Great service and quick. Will come again.
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Review from Heather M.
Oakland, CA
12/21/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Wow! That is some friendly service! Arlene offered to carry my clean items to my car when I came to pick them up (they will bring them out to the car if you call when you pull up out front). I didn't need this service, but the offer was appreciated.
I had 2 down comforters dry cleaned for $70 and dropped them off on a Thursday and picked them up on the following Tuesday. It seemed to be a good deal since they use eco-friendly products and were so friendly.
Thanks for the free lint roller since it was my first time coming in - functional gifts like this are cool.
It looks like I found a great eco-friendly dry cleaner near my new place - thanks for guiding me here Yelpers! -
Review from Nichole W.
San Francisco, CA
1/17/2011
This place is great. I had two coats that I hadn't had cleaned since I bought them.
They finally had gotten dirty enough that I felt it was time to take em in so I yelped a place and found this and headed over. The owner is super sweet. Like ridiculously sweet. she took my coats and I picked them up the next week and I couldn't believe how clean they were. One of them had a stain on that I wasn't expecting her to be able to get out but she did! And it was a lot cheaper than I expected.
And it's eco friendly! And within walking distance to my house! (which I realize means nothing to you but I'm pretty happy about that)
You really can't beat this place. It's pretty legit. -
Review from Kara R.
10/29/2009
The service at Arlene's goes beyond what's reasonable for good service, and even passes pure excellence. As a receptionist at a busy medical clinic, and after having worked retail for nearly a decade (god I'm getting old), I have a great deal of patience when I can tell people are working hard.
At Arlene's, I was greeted in a very friendly manner and thanked ahead of time for my business. Upon picking up my clothes (only $26 for a suit jacket/skirt/pants and two silk blouses!), I had to wait oh maybe 5 minutes for them to find my clothes. The wait initiated both a discount and later a phoned apology from the owner explaining that making their customers wait is "not how they do things." My service was so seamless and friendly that even I, the stingiest person alive, tried to turn down the refund she offered. Plus, my suit is as good as new.
I can't wait to have to wear the suit again for a multitude of reasons, but one of them is so I can head back to Arlene's Cleaners and experience how service should be. -
Review from Jennifer B.
Oakland, CA
12/8/2008
This is my new favorite dry cleaner.
Alene, if that is in fact her REAL name, is incredibly sweet, something I saw in her genuine compulsion to fix a loose thread on my sweater when the seemingly forced pleasantries confused me.
Two sweaters and a dress for $13. Green laundering. Personalized service. Laundered the next day, or same day if you're in by 11. That's uncommon.Listed in: Maintenance
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Review from Christine L.
Berkeley, CA
8/16/2011
Now my go-to cleaners! Service is friendly and helpful. I dropped off 2 wool skirts, 2 silk dresses, another skirt, and 3 silk tops, and the total was only $55. Amazing. Not to mention, the cutest grandma-like lady stuffed a handful of Asian candy into my hand before I left.
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Review from Ada T.
4/8/2009
I was directed to this place by Yelp, and I was not led astray! Arlene is so nice and helpful; she really knows how to make customers want to come back. For three skirts (one that needed to be re-hemmed) and one pair of pants that needed repairing, I paid $25. When she asked if this was my first time at Arlene's and I said yes, she handed me back $2. There's a 20% discount for any dry cleaning order of more than one item.
My only gripe is that this place takes awhile. My items took a week. When I looked concerned, she told me she could try to fit my time frame, but I didn't need my clothes urgently so I just went back a week later. -
Review from Mae H.
Berkeley, CA
1/22/2011
Amazing customer service! Definitely 5 stars.
My cat peed/pooped on my down comforter. I was devastated and brought my smelly comforter to Arlene's. I expressed my anguish at my cat and also my concern that the chemicals used in dry cleaning will destroy my comforter, me, and the environment. Arlene reassured me that chemical wise, they only use biodegradable stuff because the normal chemicals are so harsh. Yay. She took a look at the stains and told me that they will try their best, but sometimes the stain may not come out :( She told me to come back in a week and since parking is hard to find, I can pull up right outside the store, call their number, and someone will bring it out to me.
A week later, I came back to get my comforter... which was perfectly white again, no funny smells (cat or chemical). It cost me $39 and she offered to carry it for me and walk me to my car. Very sweet of her. It was just one comforter, so I said no thank you.
She also gave me a $5 back as I left... just as a thank you, please come again.
I love Arlene's. -
Review from Matthew P.
Berkeley, CA
Updated - 7/2/2009
Well, I forgot to write the second half of my 1st review and I've had hundreds of messages begging me to finish... I can't let the fans down!
I have picked up and dropped off a handful of items over the past few months. If they have a stain they can't get out, they offer to bring the item to your house.
I've brought in clothes I've giving up on: a pair of nice white shorts that got soaked in chocolate syrup (it was a good night) that I've worn around the house and I wanted to see if I could wear them out sometime. I got them back and while I could see a few stains, it was because I knew there were there.
I've been happy with the prices and the how the clothes turn out. Mainly I return to see "Arlene's" smile and service. I've had a few items hemmed there as well.
It's worth the hassle of finding a parking spot on College.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/6/2009
Arlene's PART 1....... (the dropping off of clothes-- I'll update with the price and turnout when I… Read more »
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Review from Lisa C.
1/16/2009
If you want to experience +100% customer service and meet the nicest, most cutest lady ever, then bring your clothes here to dry clean. Heck, even if you don't normally dry clean your clothes, spill something on your jacket and come here anyway!
Arlene is such a sweet heart....she even made my day when I was feeling a little out of it. I brought two jackets in, one had a horrible margarita stain on the sleeve. I came back a few days later to get my articles; but only one was ready. She said she couldn't get the stain out the other jacket and wanted to try again. A few days later, I come in and she tells me the stain is permanent. She was so apologetic about it (when it wasn't even her fault) and didn't charge me for the second jacket. 5 stars for going above and beyond. Plus, she even offered me a quarter for the meter!
Very affordable ($7.50 for a wool jacket) and definitely a sincere business who genuinely cares about their customers. -
Review from Maneesh S.
San Francisco, CA
3/12/2008
The owner - Arlene is such a friendly lady who is genuinely concerned about customer service that it makes it a no-brainer for selecting a dry-cleaner in the elmwood/claremont/rockridge area.
Firstly, she apologized profusely for being on the phone when I entered the shop and when I returned to pick up my clothes she apologized again because she thought that it was a bit expensive and dropped the prices by 30%, gave me a bunch of lint removers and laundry bags. I exited the store feeling guilty about not having paid her more.
I have now moved to Palo Alto, but the customer service I experienced here has left an indelible mark.Listed in: Rockridge Days
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Review from Thomas C.
Fresno-High, CA
5/7/2008
Arlene's Cleaners is fantastic! On a Wednesday, I brought in four dress shirts and a two piece suit to have laundered and was able to pick them up on Friday after 5! Arlene called me later to inform me that one of my shirts had some additional spots that would take longer from the rest of my clothing to be cleaned. However I came on the Saturday of that week in the afternoon and everything was ready to be picked up! Thank you for your hard work Arlene.
I really have to wonder if Arlene does all the cleaning or if she has help because she is doing an amazing job. My shirts were lightly starched and nicely pressed and had a refreshing clean scent. She was able to get the lipstick off on one of the shirts as well. Since I was a first time customer, she even gave a bit of a discount off the bill and provided a lint roller as a gift too!
Great customer service! Arlene seems to take pride in her job and doing it well--a rarity in today's business world. Thanks so much Arlene. I'm recommending her to anyone who needs a good dry cleaner. I wish I was staying longer in Berkeley to be a returning customer but it looks like graduation is going to take me elsewhere. Support Arlene with your patronage! -
Review from navi g.
San Francisco, CA
2/18/2011
The sweetest lady! I think I'm single-handedly keeping her business afloat this month since I'll be in for the 3rd time in a few weeks.
The first time I went to her she asked me where I was from and I said Oakland, and I guess she was really grateful that I drove an extra 10 minutes more to visit her than go to closer dry cleaners that she gave me one of those cloth dry-cleaning bags for FREE!!! Yes for FREE - who does that anymore? No one really, or at least no freebies that huge. Plus I was kind of eyeing it right when I got there since I don't want to keep wasting plastic, so I got excited.
Again, sweet lady and my clothes look brand new. Go check her out and support such good service.
