I went to this cleaners based on the good recommendations given below to have my "formal" dress cleaned. All I can say is that I am utterly disappointed. FYI- Hilkers charges $50 to clean a "formal" dress and $175 and up to clean a "wedding gown." Apparently, even if a dress "looks" like a wedding gown, then it will not be cleaned for less than $175.00. I specified that I did not care about getting all of the stains out and that I just wanted it simply cleaned. It did not need to look brand new again and I had planned on cutting the bottom off where most of the stains were anyhow. I specified that it was okay to run the dress as a "formal" dress and I would be more than happy to pay the $50.00 to do so. My dress has no beadwork, no train, and is a polyester material and is by no means a delicate and/or fancy dress. My disappointment lies in being told that the dress can be run as a "formal" dress, then getting a call saying the dress cannot be cleaned for no less than $120-$175. It sounds to me like "Arifa" (head cleaner) wanted to make an extra $125. My dress barely costs this much! And an even more disgusting argument to make is that if the dress had been a different color other than "ivory," then it could have easily been cleaned as a prom dress/ formal dress or whatever/ no questions asked. After speaking over the phone with Arifa and expressing my disappointment, she offered to clean my dress for the $50 and offered her apologies. After all that...I went through 3 people and now she finally offers to do this. Why in the world would I take my dress back to her- I wouldn't trust my dress with her at this point.
Hilkers Cleaners just lost two customers (my husband and I) by trying to price-gouge us. It is unfortunate that companies are not more focused on their customer service. I was not trying to "set" a price. I simply wanted the dress ran as a "formal" dress. No special treatments needed. I suggest Hilkers Cleaners develop some sort of liability waiver to offer to their customers and also perhaps some sort of rate schedule based on the degree of "formal" dress that it is. Otherwise, there is a great deal of vagueness.
Pros: none
Cons: price-gouging (Falls of Neuse location)
more