We Focus Solely On Quality
RAVE
FabriCARE is not a "competitively priced" or "value priced"
cleaner. We do not offer volume discounts, specials, or
Groupon-like coupons deals.
At RAVE FabriCARE, we deliver extraordinary care for fine
garments and household textiles. And we price our services
accordingly.
As the leader in quality care for fine garments and household
textiles in Arizona, our prices are set at a level which affords us
the opportunity to concentrate solely on the quality of our
work.
By contrast, the focus of the vast majority of ordinary cleaners
can be summed up in two words: quantity and speed.
Essentially, this means pushing more and more garments
(quantity) faster and faster (speed) through their
"production system." They're in by 11:00 and out by 5:00; picked up
on day 1 and delivered on day 3.
At
ordinary cleaners, production efficiency is the holy grail of their
entire operation.
Of course, no ordinary cleaner will admit to this. Every cleaner
will tell you that they produce "top quality at a competitive
price" or "exceptional quality at a fair price". But given their
consistently lower price structure, it's clear that the
long-term economic viability of their enterprise depends on
quantity and speed. Not quality of work.
Which is fine if you're manufacturing
standardized widgets. But absolute heresy when
you've been entrusted with the custom cleaning and
finishing of a client's fine garments and household textiles.
Especially their fine bespoke, made-to-measure, designer, high
fashion, specialty and couture garments.
It's for this reason that we always tell our clients that while
it's important to know what you're paying, it's
even more important to know what you're paying
FOR.
We Don't Cut Costs By Cutting Corners
Garment care at the bespoke, made-to-measure, designer,
high-fashion, specialty and couture level involves expensive,
specialized equipment. And lots and lots of technically skilled
labor. If you encounter low to moderate prices at the bespoke,
made-to-measure, designer, high-fashion, specialty and couture
level of garment care, you can be absolutely
assured they're cutting costs by cutting corners. In
every facet of their operation -- from cleaning
and finishing to inspection and packaging.
It's a simple concept: The Four Seasons or the Ritz Carlton
cannot consistently provide a first class hotel
room for the price of a Sheraton or Holiday Inn (unless they
severely cut the quality of their product and the quality of their
service). Morton's or Ruth's Chris cannot
consistently serve a prime quality steak for the price of
a Sizzler or Lone Star (unless they severely cut the quality of
their product and the quality of their service).
Our Prices
"At ordinary cleaners, clothes are
loaded into a cleaning machine). 'Cleaned' clothes are glanced at,
and the stains that are left in the clothes are minimally attempted
to be removed ... Finishing is done at the rate of 25 pieces per
hour (per presser)...
The CLASSIC level of
drycleaning is the high-end, top quality level. Not many
plants fit into this category ... Charging $15 for a pair
of pants is common ... Drycleaning will incorporate
blowing steam across the clothes and all stains that pop up are
removed. Soaking in digesters and whitening agents are performed
and the garment may go through several days of work before it is
sent to the finishing (hand pressing) department ... (Drycleaning
at the classic level) ... is done right."
Kenney Slatten
Dryclean Industry Consultant and Columnist
Western Cleaner & Launderer
May 2002, page 10
At RAVE FabriCARE, we do not have a single price for a specific
category of garment, say slacks/trousers or blouses/shirts.
Prices will vary according to factors such as fabric,
construction, color, trim, soiling, and the like. For example,
there will be a significant variance in price between a Tommy
Bahama black long sleeve silk blouse and a Chanel black long sleeve
silk blouse with white collar and cuffs, signature buttons, and
pleated front placket.
Should you so wish, we'd be happy to provide you with a price
quote upon physical inspection of your garment. Please be patient
as the pricing step may take a few minutes, particularly if the
order involves multiple pieces.
As a guide, our average price is $20.00 for a
drycleaned, hand-finished item and $6.75 for a laundered,
hand-ironed shirt. Many are more; some are less. (To calculate the
average, we take the total revenue per year divided by the number
of pieces cleaned.)
We Don't Add An Environmental Surcharge
We don't follow the industry standard practice of adding an
environmental surcharge (a.k.a. EPA tax, ticket charge, waste
surcharge, disposal fee, etc.) of 3% to 6% to each invoice. That's
because we view compliance with federal, state and local
environmental laws and regulations as just another business
expense, not an additional revenue source.
Unfortunately, the term "environmental surcharge" is misleading
and has led many consumers to believe that this surcharge is a tax
that must be collected by cleaners and forwarded to a federal,
state or local agency. Truth is, there's no such tax in Arizona.
It's merely a "stealth mechanism" designed to generate additional
revenue.
Adding an environmental surcharge to your cleaning bill is like
a restaurant charging for the use of the restroom.
We Don't Provide Telephone Quotes
We regret that we are unable to provide price quotes over the
telephone.
In this regard, a true quality drycleaner is much like your
dentist. Your dentist cannot provide a price quote over the
telephone without first X-raying your mouth and examining your
teeth to determine the extent of the work to be performed. While we
may be able to provide a "best guess" or "ballpark price range," we
must, nonetheless, first examine the garment or household textile
to determine the nature and extent of the soiling, the cleaning
process or processes to be used, and the degree of the labor
involved.
Summary
At RAVE FabriCARE, setting prices is the easy
part. Consistently delivering on our commitment to
extraordinary care -- every item, every order -- now that's
the complicated part. And that's the difference between
true quality fabricare and ordinary cleaning.
We trust you will find our prices commensurate with the
extraordinary care we deliver.