I'm going out of town for two weeks tomorrow morning, and I'm running late on my packing. I also haven't blogged in a long while. Then, why am I taking the time out to write this? It's because I can't look at my open luggage bag without remembering the events of this afternoon and I have to get this off my chest. I even went to the gym specifically to "work it out," but my blood still boils when I remember this, so maybe venting about it publicly will help me rid myself of this negativity.

I, a graduate student, have a very small number of long button-down shirts that are good enough to be worn for family events, specifically my girlfriend's family with whom I will be spending the holidays and for whom I need to appear well dressed and having more than one nice shirt. Two-thirds (i.e. two) of said shirts are currently at Village Cleaners. I was stupid enough not to pick them up until today and not to check what time they closed. I realized very late that they close at 4pm on Saturdays instead of 6pm. So I hopped in my car and got there as fast as (safely) possible. I pulled up at 3:59 (according to my iPhone) in front of the shop. The lights were still on, another car was pulling out and another client was loading his clothes into his car. I got out of the car to find that the door was locked. The employee behind the glass made a sign that they were closed. I smiled and made a begging gesture hoping to change her mind, but she SHOOK HER HEAD. I tried, in mime, to explain that I was leaving town tomorrow morning (including emulating plane wings with my hands). She saw that, but shook her head more, TURNED OFF THE LIGHT AND WALKED AWAY. How mean is that?!?!?! I gathered what little dignity I had left, got in my car and called Maggie (I wanted to time-stamp the moment in my next cell-phone bill just to make sure I'm not crazy! Maggie said her Sprint phone got my call at 4:00).

I'm not saying that they wronged me. They don't have to open past their closing time for anyone. I did, after all, show up late. If fault is to be assigned for me not having my shirts (and for me to buy new ones so that I can wear something for the holiday dinners) then I should take the blame for not getting there earlier. I also know that businesses have to enforce business hours, and that employees have to go home to their own families on time and that books and registers need to be closed. I know all that, and again, I'm not saying they faulted me, but REALLY? Did she REALLY have to treat me that way??

I have been a patron of Village Cleaners for more than 7 years! It's a good mom-and-pop business. The employees know me and I've had nothing but good experiences with them, until know. One person who works there, Jerry, doesn't even ask me for my name anymore! He writes down my weird foreign name on the ticket with no spelling errors. How awesome is that? One time I pointed out that the buttons on the cuffs of one of my shirts were melting. The next time I brought that same shirt, and without saying anything, THEY CHANGED THE BUTTONS. Again how awesome is that? That's why I loved that place and kept coming back. That's also why I felt so upset this afternoon. It's like a good friend suddenly turning mean on you. Did you really HAVE TO turn down a desperate-looking client acting like a mime-clown behind the glass on 4pm on a Saturday night in the holiday season?? Really?? I'm not complaining that they did anything wrong per se, but this is a sure way to alienate a loyal client and to squander YEARS of mutual good will. In an age where rich powerful corporations in Detroit and Wall Street are being hung to dry for incompetence and bad products, small businesses need to capitalize on their charms and personal relationships to hold on to consumers not lose them. Now if you'll excuse me, I will be using the money I saved on this trip from cheaper gas to buy me some shirts for the holidays.

My name is Firas Wehbe, their name is Village Cleaners, and they are located at 2010 Acklen Ave Nashville TN 37212 by the post office. I hope every search engine on the internet indexes this post and I approve this rant.

Labels: nashville, rant