heretyk@abnjh.UUCP (S. Heretyk) (02/08/84)
In clothing stores women have to pay for alterations while men get theirs done for free. I guess the best thing to do is write a letter to the president of the store. Also women could boycott getting their alterations done in the store and take the work to someone else - inconvient but effective. Shelley Heretyk
saquigley@watmath.UUCP (Sophie Quigley) (02/08/84)
A few years ago, my mother went to a particular cleaner to get her lab coat cleaned, as a friend of her had told her that it was only $3.00. When she gave the coat at the reception, the lady wrote down "dress $5.00" so my mother mentioned that she had been told it would be 3. The lady insisted it was 5, at which point my mother pointed out that this was a lab coat and not a dress. "Oh!! this will be $3.00 then". Similarly last summer, I had to go to a wedding of a friend of mine. My boyfriend and I went to the same cleaners (at different times) to get our clothes ready. He got his pants and shirt washed and pressed, and his jacket pressed, all for $5.00. I had a very simple white dress that needed washing and pressing: $6.00. There definitely is a sexist trend there.
features@ihuxf.UUCP (M.A. Zeszutko) (02/09/84)
The same situation (women paying ofor alterations for clothing, men getting theirs free) existed in two of the larger prestige stores in the Chicago area. When a number of women complained about the inequity, the stores just changed their polidcy. Men, too, now have to pay for their alterations. (The justification for the old way was that, of course, all women knew how and loved to sew...) A nice men's store (also in Chicago area) will alter any clothing for anyone who buys their merchandise. One woman I know says it's the best value for her clothing dollar. She gets well-made, tailored stuff at the store, and the alterations are still free. One only has to overcome the psychological barrier in going into a store like that... (providing one can possibly fit into the clothing in the first place!) Mary Ann Zeszutko AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
garys@bunkerb.UUCP (Gary Samuelson) (02/09/84)
Regarding women paying extra for alterations, whereas men do not: It depends on the store. Most (I think) places which sell men's suits (you remember them; pants and jacket match, optionally a matching vest as well) charge extra for such things as finishing the cuffs on the pants. The pants come with a pinked edge (not a color, a zigzag cut made by 'pinking shears'), and when purchased, the tailor measures the pants while the customer has them on to determine where to make a cuff. One store in particular charges extra for each item: cuffs, waist, rise, sleeves, and I don't remember what else. Therefore, I would not complain about discrimination. I would complain about any case where, after purchasing an item, I have to pay extra to have the item rendered usable. This includes clothing, tires (valve stems, without which the tire won't hold air, are extra, as is balancing the tire, without which it will wear unevenly and/or wobble), computers (where user software is extra), and anything else where the purchase price doesn't include making the product usable. Now I realize that I have overgeneralized. For example, I might buy a computer with the express purpose of developing software for it, in which case I would not want to pay for software I won't use. But I think my point is clear enough. I dislike finding out that so-called bargains have so many 'extras' and 'options' that I get nickeled and dimed to death. Especially cars... but I am far enough away from the original subject. Gary Samuelson ittvax!bunker!bunkerb!garys
srradia@watmath.UUCP (sanjay Radia) (02/11/84)
In comparing the prices of clothes I have found that when buying clothes discounted at end of the season or during a sale, my sister gets much better bargains than I do. This is probably due to womens clothes going out of fashion much faster and also due to cheaper costs because of mass production. Maybe there is a logical reason why women get charged for alterations while men do not; maybe the stores find out that they get away with charging a woman for alteration while not a man; maybe the markup is higher for men's clothes. I realy doubt if a store discriminates - its sole aim is to make money and they will not charge men less just to discriminate against women. Also, next time a store charges you for minor alterations tell them that you will only buy it is the alterations are free and they will often agree just to make a sale (even though they have policies about not bargaining). Many poeple in North America are quite scared to bargain. I realize that this does not end the discrimination (if it exists). sanjay radia.
jrt@hou5g.UUCP (Jaime Tormos) (02/12/84)
Men get free alterations??? Why can't I ever find a store that offers that? All the stores I frequent charge for alterations of any kind. If anybody has a list of stores in N.J. area please let me know. Is this problem one that is isolated to specific areas? (** FRODO **) alias hou5g!jrt
preece@uicsl.UUCP (02/17/84)
#R:abnjh:-44600:uicsl:16400040:000:794 uicsl!preece Feb 16 12:09:00 1984 Certainly it used to be the case that men got alterations free at most stores. I couldn't say what the practice is now because I haven't bought any dress clothes for a long time (I guess I'll have to get back into that, soon). Another discrimination against women is in clothing sizes. Men buy shirts and pants with two sizes specified (collar and sleeve length, waist and inseam). Women buy clothes with a single size. I suspect the justification would be that stores carry a lot more individual items for women and would have trouble with the cost of a two dimensional inventory. Nonetheless, my wife (5'11") has a lot of trouble finding shirts with sleeves even close to long enough, while I (6'2") just buy the size that fits. Doesn't seem fair. scott preece ihnp4!uiucdcs!uicsl!preece