Pick-Up/Drop Off dry cleaning service - why?

[RitaZ.]

This is more curiosity than anything about this. I am assuming that pick-up and drop-off dry cleaning services cost more than just dropping it off yourself, is this correct?

The reason I ask is that two of my neighbors use this service. About once a week I see the guys hang the bag on their door and then see the van pick-up and drop-off their dry cleaning. Both of their wives stay home and have kids who are in school. The moms rarely leave their homes during the day. I know because I stayed home the majority of the last 8 months. Why on earth would they not just go to the dry cleaners themselves? I am just wondering if this kind of service does something special or something because I cannot imagine needing this if you stay at home.

Yes, I know this may offend someone, but I just think it is silly.

These conveniences are about making one's life easier. Time is valuable. If there is a service that is beneficial to a SAHM mom and her family and they're willing to pay the cost, why shouldn't she take advantage of it?

 

[DVCLiz]

What always interests me in any discussion like this is the assumption that a stay at home spouse - man or woman - has no business paying anyone to do any type of service that could conceivably be done by that person at home. Whether it's a working mom vs stay at home mom or a dad who travels and doesn't want to spend his weekends doing yardwork vs a dad who does his own lawn, it seems to be a real issue for some people.

Personally, ther are a lot of chores and errands I don't like doing and I would and do happily pay someone else to do them for me. I have someone do my yardwork, clean my house, and do my laundry. I'm home full time and I could easily do all those things myself - but I just don't want to. I would rather spend the money to pay someone else to do them. If my neighbor wants to observe and comment, well, hey! that's OK with me!! I'm still not going to mow my own yard!

In the case of dry cleaning, if I could just put it out on my porch and have it magically show up, I'd be all over that. No more having to remember to pick up the cleaning - it's all done automatically. That's a time and gas saver for me. I'd look at it as something else I had automated, like electronic bill pay.

I think some people just don't like the idea of someone taking what they see as the "lazy" way out, but I'm all about lazy so any time I can take advantage of that I will!

 

[luvmy3]

I am not jumping to any conclusions. Neither of these women are handicapped in any way. People are getting so bent out of shape as if I am talking about them. I am not. I am talking about my neighbors. You (general you) are jumping to conslusions that I don't know either of them and that I sit around all day watching them, I don't. I just notice things that any other neighbor would notice. They live right next door to me so sure, I notice things hanging on their door. I also notice that both of them have cleaning services that come every week to clean their homes.

OP, just some friendly DIS advice, never ever start a thread asking why a SAHM can't just do something because they stay at home all day. And a little more friendly DIS advice, never ever ever start a thread that appears you are judging your neighbors, and never ever ever ever say in a thread that someone is not handicapped just because they appear not to be. If you follow those rules, you will thoroughly enjoy the CB
Good luck

 

[luvmy3]

What always interests me in any discussion like this is the assumption that a stay at home spouse - man or woman - has no business paying anyone to do any type of service that could conceivably be done by that person at home. Whether it's a working mom vs stay at home mom or a dad who travels and doesn't want to spend his weekends doing yardwork vs a dad who does his own lawn, it seems to be a real issue for some people.

Personally, ther are a lot of chores and errands I don't like doing and I would and do happily pay someone else to do them for me. I have someone do my yardwork, clean my house, and do my laundry. I'm home full time and I could easily do all those things myself - but I just don't want to. I would rather spend the money to pay someone else to do them. If my neighbor wants to observe and comment, well, hey! that's OK with me!! I'm still not going to mow my own yard!

In the case of dry cleaning, if I could just put it out on my porch and have it magically show up, I'd be all over that. No more having to remember to pick up the cleaning - it's all done automatically. That's a time and gas saver for me. I'd look at it as something else I had automated, like electronic bill pay.

I think some people just don't like the idea of someone taking what they see as the "lazy" way out, but I'm all about lazy so any time I can take advantage of that I will!

Why do today what can be put off till tomorrow or can be picked up and done for you

 

[allison443]

I am not jumping to any conclusions. Neither of these women are handicapped in any way. People are getting so bent out of shape as if I am talking about them. I am not. I am talking about my neighbors. You (general you) are jumping to conslusions that I don't know either of them and that I sit around all day watching them, I don't. I just notice things that any other neighbor would notice. They live right next door to me so sure, I notice things hanging on their door. I also notice that both of them have cleaning services that come every week to clean their homes.

No, actually you did jump to a conclusion....in your first post you stated:

"I am assuming that pick-up and drop-off dry cleaning services cost more than just dropping it off yourself, is this correct?"

This assumption that pick up costs more then led to your wondering why sahms would do this.

However, as several posters have pointed out, your assumption was not correct, as this service is often (maybe even usually?) provided for free.

If it costs the same would that answer your question about why someone would use this service? I mean, no one can deny that it is certainly more convenient.

 

[kaytieeldr]

My parents had six kids, and my mom didn't work outside the house until we were all in school. AND she had a car. But every week, the cleaner came to the house and picked up the dry cleaning and my dad's shirts; the next week, he'd return that stuff all set to go and pick up the new load. It was one less thing my mom had to do. She did her own laundry, but I remember for a couple of years, she used to take it over to some other lady to... iron!!! And the other lady didn't pick up or deliver! And when the 'new' supermarket opened, and was open 24 hours? My mom thought she'd died and gone to heaven. She'd put us all to bed and go grocery shopping - KID-FREE - at midnight!

You do what you've gotta to for sanity. If using the dry cleaner's pickup/delivery service works, go for it! My employer offers that service, I just stopped buying dryclean-only clothes years ago!

 

[carj]

I am not jumping to any conclusions. Neither of these women are handicapped in any way. People are getting so bent out of shape as if I am talking about them. I am not. I am talking about my neighbors. You (general you) are jumping to conslusions that I don't know either of them and that I sit around all day watching them, I don't. I just notice things that any other neighbor would notice. They live right next door to me so sure, I notice things hanging on their door. I also notice that both of them have cleaning services that come every week to clean their homes.

People pay for convenience. It is really no different that ordering pizza, why have it delivered when you can go pick it up, or better yet, make it yourself? Convenience!

We pay to have someone take care of our yard. I hate yard work, my husband hates yard work. Just because we have the time to do it, doesn't make either of us hate it any less. It is well worth the price that we pay to not have to stress over the stupid grass. Perhaps those moms feel the same way about the dry cleaning.

I only take our clothes to the dry cleaners that has a drive through. I don't want to get the kids in and out at the cleaners. So...because of that convenience, that cleaners gets our business.

Now you guys have got me thinking! I need to see if anyone offers pick-up and drop off dry cleaning.

 

[golfgal]

Well, the pick up/drop off dry cleaners we use is LESS expensive then our local cleaner and they do a better job. I email them when I have something to pick up and a week later they drop it off. They do an automatic draw from my checking for the bill. That is why I use the service.

 

[Carly_Roach]

This is more curiosity than anything about this. I am assuming that pick-up and drop-off dry cleaning services cost more than just dropping it off yourself, is this correct?

The reason I ask is that two of my neighbors use this service. About once a week I see the guys hang the bag on their door and then see the van pick-up and drop-off their dry cleaning. Both of their wives stay home and have kids who are in school. The moms rarely leave their homes during the day. I know because I stayed home the majority of the last 8 months. Why on earth would they not just go to the dry cleaners themselves? I am just wondering if this kind of service does something special or something because I cannot imagine needing this if you stay at home.

Yes, I know this may offend someone, but I just think it is silly.

There are many statements in your OP that can lead a reader to believe that you're belittling or making judgments about your neighbors. Unfortunately, women like your neighbor are very common as you've experienced here, therefore you've been brought to task for accusing a person who stays at home but uses a dry cleaning drop-off/pick-up service of being:

• lazy
• spendthrift
• silly
• wasteful

I am not jumping to any conclusions. Neither of these women are handicapped in any way. People are getting so bent out of shape as if I am talking about them. I am not. I am talking about my neighbors. You (general you) are jumping to conslusions that I don't know either of them and that I sit around all day watching them, I don't. I just notice things that any other neighbor would notice. They live right next door to me so sure, I notice things hanging on their door. I also notice that both of them have cleaning services that come every week to clean their homes.

AAAAAAnd once again, we have what could be construed to be a judgmental statement about your neighbors who stay at home but use a cleaning service every week to clean their homes, indicating that you probably think the neighbor SAHMs are:

• lazy
• spendthrift
• silly
• wasteful

You'd have been better off simply asking a question about the cost of pick-up/drop-off dry cleaning service and what people's experiences were without the derogatory comments about your neighbors.

Learn well, newbie. Try not to do it again.

 

[ilovesugar]

There are many statements in your OP that can lead a reader to believe that you're belittling or making judgments about your neighbors. Unfortunately, women like your neighbor are very common as you've experienced here, therefore you've been brought to task for accusing a person who stays at home but uses a dry cleaning drop-off/pick-up service of being:

• lazy
• spendthrift
• silly
• wasteful

AAAAAAnd once again, we have what could be construed to be a judgmental statement about your neighbors who stay at home but use a cleaning service every week to clean their homes, indicating that you probably think the neighbor SAHMs are:

• lazy
• spendthrift
• silly
• wasteful

You'd have been better off simply asking a question about the cost of pick-up/drop-off dry cleaning service and what people's experiences were without the derogatory comments about your neighbors.

Learn well, newbie. Try not to do it again.

Sorry - but don't tell me what to do and what not to do. I find that bully-like behavior and I don't put up with that. This is a public message board, is it not? Then I am free to post whatever I feel like I want to post without people telling me what is acceptable to talk about. I read the rules and nowhere does it say that you cannot post anything that I am talking about.

If people are taking offense to what I am asking, I am sorry but there is no reason to take it personally, I am not talking about you.

 

[Christine]

What always interests me in any discussion like this is the assumption that a stay at home spouse - man or woman - has no business paying anyone to do any type of service that could conceivably be done by that person at home. Whether it's a working mom vs stay at home mom or a dad who travels and doesn't want to spend his weekends doing yardwork vs a dad who does his own lawn, it seems to be a real issue for some people.

I think that comes from our own personal perceptions. For me, if I were a SAHM, I would be doing so with much peril to my family finances!! I would not be able to have the luxury of the convenience type of stuff like delivered dry cleaning (if it were more expensive than getting it myself) or having my house cleaned. I just couldn't do it. Heck, I can barely do it with two incomes. Sometimes it's hard to remember that there are one income families who actually make a decent enough salary to have things done for them.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Because they can use the service. No explanation needed.

 

[kwelch10377]

Sorry - but don't tell me what to do and what not to do. I find that bully-like behavior and I don't put up with that. This is a public message board, is it not? Then I am free to post whatever I feel like I want to post without people telling me what is acceptable to talk about. I read the rules and nowhere does it say that you cannot post anything that I am talking about.

If people are taking offense to what I am asking, I am sorry but there is no reason to take it personally, I am not talking about you.

I believe the comment was meant in a somewhat joking manner.

Just as you are free to post what you would like, we are free to respond how we would like. People are simplying responding to the fact that your post came off as very judgemental. You also asked for our opinion and even said that you were sure you were going to offend people, so my guess is you knew that some of the responses would be what they were.

 

[ilovesugar]

I believe the comment was meant in a somewhat joking manner.

Just as you are free to post what you would like, we are free to respond how we would like. People are simplying responding to the fact that your post came off as very judgemental. You also asked for our opinion and even said that you were sure you were going to offend people, so my guess is you knew that some of the responses would be what they were.

Yes, I was ready for those responses, but I also know that some of the posters think that they are able to tell people what to do and what not to do. Just because I am new at posting, does not mean I have not been reading for a long while.

 

[clarabelle]

I Love my home delivery service. It is a little more than the discount cleaners but not much.

I will explain to you why -resenting it the whole time -but here we go.


I HATED going to the dry cleaners. I was always forgetting. My husband needs to look halfway decent for work -and if I got behind he would wear something rumpled and crummy looking.
I always had clothes in my car that needed to go. The dry cleaners that was most convenient to me closed down. So I had to drive out of my way.
Haul in my stuff (at times with toddlers) and go through it with the clerk.
Who I was
What I wanted
I had some rude clerks wait on me and I had a clerk tell me I didn't want to get a silk blouse hand washed -it was too expensive.

I don't like ironing and I am not very good at it. When the kids were little it made me nervous -I was always worried that someone was going to pull a hot iron down on themselves.

So now I just throw my stuff in a bag. I don't have to explain anything -they read the tag. If I need something extra -I write a note.
I am never behind. Our clothes look great.

I am helping the economy giving someone a job.

I read once that in Africa -if you have the money -that there is a societal pressure to hire people to work for you. Gardeners, cleaners ect....
To help out the economy.
Here we make out that anyone who hires help is lazy.
What is wrong with paying someone to do a task you find difficult or distasteful?

 

[golfgal]

When I was a SAHM my DH wore suits/dress shirts every day. If I did his ironing as well as what I had for myself or the kids, it would take me at least 4 hours/week, well, guess what, I chose to spend those 4 hours doing something else because I hate ironing. It isn't about what you can do, it is about what you WANT to do. Budget wasn't an issue so I had the luxury to be able to have someone else do my ironing for me , just like we have someone do our lawn. There are those of us who don't need 2 incomes to live a nice life.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Sorry - but don't tell me what to do and what not to do. I find that bully-like behavior and I don't put up with that. This is a public message board, is it not? Then I am free to post whatever I feel like I want to post without people telling me what is acceptable to talk about. I read the rules and nowhere does it say that you cannot post anything that I am talking about.

If people are taking offense to what I am asking, I am sorry but there is no reason to take it personally, I am not talking about you.

It's the subtle nuance that you're either missing, choosing to ignore or outright exploiting while saying you're not outright exploiting it. (the old "I'm sorry, but..." disclaimer that people like to use)

If someone posted that, in their opinon, most police officer's wives are fat, lazy and stupid, I might take offense to that since I'm a PO's wife. They may not have been talking directly to ME, but their sentiment would be implicating me by its very nature. I may post an angry, "I don't know who you've been hanging out with, but I am neither lazy nor stupid!" remark back at the poster.

I believe the comment was meant in a somewhat joking manner.

Just as you are free to post what you would like, we are free to respond how we would like. People are simplying responding to the fact that your post came off as very judgemental. You also asked for our opinion and even said that you were sure you were going to offend people, so my guess is you knew that some of the responses would be what they were.

Thanks for getting it, kwelch.

Yes, I was ready for those responses, but I also know that some of the posters think that they are able to tell people what to do and what not to do. Just because I am new at posting, does not mean I have not been reading for a long while.

I'm sorry, but (see? I can do it too) your posting habits on this thread could be seen as a little trollish. Especially as someone who's supposed to be "new at posting".

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Simple - convenience!

I have shoe repair pickup/drop off
Laundry drop off
Department stores deliver - Saks, Neiman Marcus etc
My vet does house calls

 

[ilovesugar]

It's the subtle nuance that you're either missing, choosing to ignore or outright exploiting while saying you're not outright exploiting it. (the old "I'm sorry, but..." disclaimer that people like to use)

If someone posted that, in their opinon, most police officer's wives are fat, lazy and stupid, I might take offense to that since I'm a PO's wife. They may not have been talking directly to ME, but their sentiment would be implicating me by its very nature. I may post an angry, "I don't know who you've been hanging out with, but I am neither lazy nor stupid!" remark back at the poster.

Thanks for getting it, kwelch.

I'm sorry, but (see? I can do it too) your posting habits on this thread could be seen as a little trollish. Especially as someone who's supposed to be "new at posting".

So everyone that is new at posting who disagrees with you is a troll? How are my posts "trollish"?

 

[golfgal]

Simple - convenience!

I have shoe repair pickup/drop off
Laundry drop off
Department stores deliver - Saks, Neiman Marcus etc
My vet does house calls

That would be SOOOOO nice. My dog HATES the vet, for good reasons but still. She had a major surgery at the vet and still associates the vet with that. She was fine going to the vets before that so I am pretty confident that is her problem. They are really good with her and understand but I think she might be more comfortable in her home.