My neighborhood dry cleaner shows in their records that I picked up my
recently laundered duvet cover (new a value of  $300). However, when I
got home I realized I received  all the other items, sheets and pillow
cases, but NOT the duvet cover.   They don't have it and I don't have
it.  Right now it's my word against their word.

They are a reputable family business I intend to continue doing
business with---but they have not offered to compensate me in anyway.
What recourse do I have? What might I suggest?

---

Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 04 Dec 2003 09:41 PST

In what state are you located? Are you interested in knowing more
about potential LEGAL recourse?

regards;
tutuzdad-ga

---

Clarification of Question by prp-ga on 04 Dec 2003 13:09 PST

I'm located in CA; however my question is not so much legal--but
what's fair in business practice?   Does a dry cleaner carry insurance
for such things; do they assume they will incurr a certain amount of
loss, etc.

Yes, perhaps I should have checked and opened the blue bundle of
linens, but I never have before and I have been doing business there
for years.

A mistake somehow was made--and they have "thoroughly " searched there
site already. No what?

Perhaps you can ask them to perform a physical search for your duvet cover.

Not to be too harsh, but it seems to me that you should have checked
your pickup while you were still at the cleaner.  I imagine when you
dropped off your cleaning, they gave you a receipt acknowledging they
accepted "x" number of pieces.  If, when you picked it up, they
delivered "x" minus 1 piece, I think its the responsibility of the
customer to verify that they received what they dropped off.  My
opinion, its similar in some respects to when a cashier gives you
change.  Once you get home and discovered you've been short changed,
its a bit too late to demand anything.

However, cash has no identify.  Your duvet cover does.  I imagine its
still on their premises 'somewhere.'  Be nice and ask them to do a
thorough check.  You can make up some story that it has some
sentimental value.  If you're too demanding or rub them the wrong way,
I don't think they'll be as likely to look too hard for it.

Just my two cents.

Another possibility is that it got mixed up with the items of some
other customer. Maybe asking them to put a little announcement
describing the duvet and kindly asking its return might help.

Thanks.
endo

Does your dry cleaner have a "lost items policy."  I've seen websites
for drycleaners who do have a policy to deal with this inevitable
contingency.  They typically say that their maximum liability to the
customer for a lost item is 10 times what they paid to clean it.

This article may be of interest.  Person who sued the dry cleaner for
a lost item and won.
http://www.smartmoney.com/consumer/index.cfm?story=tenthings-march03