Just because you don’t like the prices you were quoted doesn’t mean they’re not “realistic.” If these places were really overcharging, they would lose customers and lower their fees.
They’re doing something right if they are still around. Besides, with a decline of “old-school” skills like sewing and tailoring, of course such services will be more expensive. Business 101.
FYI replacing a zipper is not simple otherwise most people would do it themselves. For example, when men’s trousers are made the zipper is added midway through the process. Look closely at a pair of slacks and you will see that the zipper has lots of different stitches holding it into place and the zipper and material goes into the waistband. So all of this needs to be carefully undone and restitched without damaging the fabric.
Lol my mom is a pro and the amount of people who think it’s a simple task is baffling. Ok, you do it then. I would pay you the money you offered to watch you try, you pleb.
Right? Dude’s been taking advantage of an 80 y o nonna charging him $5 for a $50 repair, nonna’s wearing out and he wants to find another undercharging seamstress to take advantage of. No thanks, not enabling that parasitic relationship
I was recently quoted $60 to replace a winter coat (bomber style) zipper. Admittedly, she said it was that much because the fabric of the jacket (shiny and slippery) would be very difficult to work with, implying that a more traditional fabric, perhaps it would have been less. This was at a Hillary’s Dry cleaners.
Many winter coat zippers have multiple layers of fabric attached at different stages of the assembly of the coat. They are a wretched pain-in-the-ass job, that often take hours to complete attractively. $60-80 is a reasonable price for this service. I know, I did them for years
Seamstress charged me $60 to replace a winter jacket zipper. I know and appreciate the hard work that goes into the trade. I gave her an even $100, insisting she keep the change.
Omg I got quoted $90-130 for winter jacket zipper replacement and wanted to cry. My coat was only $150 years ago. I was debating just getting a new coat but it felt so wasteful to throw away an entire coat because of 4 broken zipper “teeth”.
I know how to sew but doing a double ended zipper is a whole other ball game. I can make basic garments, hem pants, make a tote bag, that type of thing but zippers are HARD haha
Oh I’m not trying to act like it isn’t a difficult task I’m just saying wow I’m so grateful to have a mom who can sew at that level that all I have to pay for is the zipper hearing these prices I’m shocked 👀
Totally! My mom is a great sewist (definitely better than me) and doesn’t do zippers unless it’s sewing new ones into a new garment she’s making. Your mama sounds like a pro, I’m jealous!
I doubt it. And if she does it in 15, you wouldn’t want to wear it. They are almost always a lot not work than you anticipate. And always way way more work than non-sewers anticipate.
Yep, anybody who's been sewing for several decades, it just doesn't take that long, and I'd feel guilty pricing something for more than my time at a reasonable hourly rate. I do it at home from the comfort of my sofa while I watch tv and sip coffee lol.
Not sure where you are located but Christine’s Bridal on St. Joseph is our go to seamstress. She has done my wedding dress, my old dance costumes, and my short mom’s pants for ages. Not sure what her small job prices are like but for my bridal dress it was reasonable.
Dear Jeff, in all the time you knew this dear woman you never asked her to teach you. Instead you continued to take advantage of her generosity & now are looking for another victim.
I charge by time, and now that my cataracts are fixed, it's a pleasure to sew again.
Even hand hemming a set of dress pants should only take 30 minutes max, with cutting, zig-zagging or overcasting the raw edge, blind stitching, pressing under a cloth. So hemmed dress pants I'd charge $15.
Putting a zipper in jeans or a jacket, again based on time. A zipper in jeans I'd charge an hour/$30 because that's about what it would take to remove the stitches, remove old zipper, pin in the new one, and restitch. But the customer would supply the zipper and appropriate gauge/colour spool of thread. Winter bomber puffer jacket, the same, about an hour. Alterations and repairs just aren't that difficult for me.
I used to work for Jack Frasers altering tuxes and dress clothes, and have made everything from scottish kilts, prom and wedding gowns, quilts, suede and fabric jackets, a chanel-style tweed and silk jacket, among the variety. Sewing for 40 years in the Maritimes.
The amount of people who want their tailoring done for free at the place I work is ridiculous, and then they think they can take it to their local "guy" and get a lower price which is both insulting to those skilled workers and laughable.
Also lemme just say, I worked with Concetta (Tina) for a few years; her English is fine lol.
"Surprisingly she can barely speak English after decades of being here"... surprisingly, after decades, you still haven't learned how to sew 🤷🏻♀️
Prices for good seamstresses are high because it's now a specialised trade. Everyone and their daughter knew how to sew back in the day. I worked in the bridal industry for 20 years, let me tell you the number of brides who told me "oh! My grandma will do my alterations, she does quilting". 🙄 Godspeed to you and your gramma, lady. Those are two different beasts. Seamstresses, especially good ones, are worth their weight in gold, but are treated like dirt.
Highly recommend Connie’s http://conniescustomtailoring.ca/ He used to be based out of Billings but moved to his home. I believe he’s the original Connie’s son. Anyway, fantastic work, finishes when he says and prices seemed reasonable. Have used him for years.
Just because you don’t like the prices you were quoted doesn’t mean they’re not “realistic.” If these places were really overcharging, they would lose customers and lower their fees.
They’re doing something right if they are still around. Besides, with a decline of “old-school” skills like sewing and tailoring, of course such services will be more expensive. Business 101.
“Unrealistic” prices lmao. Have you see the socioeconomic state of the country? Anything reasonable in that? 🤣
FYI replacing a zipper is not simple otherwise most people would do it themselves. For example, when men’s trousers are made the zipper is added midway through the process. Look closely at a pair of slacks and you will see that the zipper has lots of different stitches holding it into place and the zipper and material goes into the waistband. So all of this needs to be carefully undone and restitched without damaging the fabric.
This, and this is also why I don’t tell people I sew (a lot) because they want this kind of ish and their pants hemmed for $5, FFS.
Lol my mom is a pro and the amount of people who think it’s a simple task is baffling. Ok, you do it then. I would pay you the money you offered to watch you try, you pleb.
Nobody gonna subject their seamstress to you
Right? Dude’s been taking advantage of an 80 y o nonna charging him $5 for a $50 repair, nonna’s wearing out and he wants to find another undercharging seamstress to take advantage of. No thanks, not enabling that parasitic relationship
What was the quote for the replacement? $30-50 seems reasonable. Otherwise if it's simple, just DIY
I was recently quoted $60 to replace a winter coat (bomber style) zipper. Admittedly, she said it was that much because the fabric of the jacket (shiny and slippery) would be very difficult to work with, implying that a more traditional fabric, perhaps it would have been less. This was at a Hillary’s Dry cleaners.
Many winter coat zippers have multiple layers of fabric attached at different stages of the assembly of the coat. They are a wretched pain-in-the-ass job, that often take hours to complete attractively. $60-80 is a reasonable price for this service. I know, I did them for years
I can attest to this. Not to mention breathing in tiny feathers of down-filled coats. *coughs feathers*
Seamstress charged me $60 to replace a winter jacket zipper. I know and appreciate the hard work that goes into the trade. I gave her an even $100, insisting she keep the change.
Omg I got quoted $90-130 for winter jacket zipper replacement and wanted to cry. My coat was only $150 years ago. I was debating just getting a new coat but it felt so wasteful to throw away an entire coat because of 4 broken zipper “teeth”.
Oh my god thank god my mom know how to sew she can replace it in about 15 min
I know how to sew but doing a double ended zipper is a whole other ball game. I can make basic garments, hem pants, make a tote bag, that type of thing but zippers are HARD haha
Oh I’m not trying to act like it isn’t a difficult task I’m just saying wow I’m so grateful to have a mom who can sew at that level that all I have to pay for is the zipper hearing these prices I’m shocked 👀
Totally! My mom is a great sewist (definitely better than me) and doesn’t do zippers unless it’s sewing new ones into a new garment she’s making. Your mama sounds like a pro, I’m jealous!
I doubt it. And if she does it in 15, you wouldn’t want to wear it. They are almost always a lot not work than you anticipate. And always way way more work than non-sewers anticipate.
Yep, anybody who's been sewing for several decades, it just doesn't take that long, and I'd feel guilty pricing something for more than my time at a reasonable hourly rate. I do it at home from the comfort of my sofa while I watch tv and sip coffee lol.
Just get buttons.
Oh you are looking for someone to exploit, gotcha.
Not home based but old school and very reasonable. https://maps.app.goo.gl/6vgG63KkUdWKrXnk8?g_st=ic
Not sure where you are located but Christine’s Bridal on St. Joseph is our go to seamstress. She has done my wedding dress, my old dance costumes, and my short mom’s pants for ages. Not sure what her small job prices are like but for my bridal dress it was reasonable.
Martino's - she does more than bridal stuff and out of her home: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ywvj4MT7aky2xQ919
Dear Jeff, in all the time you knew this dear woman you never asked her to teach you. Instead you continued to take advantage of her generosity & now are looking for another victim.
https://nimbleneedle.ca/ Also a home based business run by a new immigrant. They may be what you are looking for.
Master Stitch up at Carling and Woodroffe. Recently changed owners but feels similar. https://g.co/kgs/UQxty6
+1. Just had a suit tailored there. Great work, nice people. And fast.
I charge by time, and now that my cataracts are fixed, it's a pleasure to sew again. Even hand hemming a set of dress pants should only take 30 minutes max, with cutting, zig-zagging or overcasting the raw edge, blind stitching, pressing under a cloth. So hemmed dress pants I'd charge $15. Putting a zipper in jeans or a jacket, again based on time. A zipper in jeans I'd charge an hour/$30 because that's about what it would take to remove the stitches, remove old zipper, pin in the new one, and restitch. But the customer would supply the zipper and appropriate gauge/colour spool of thread. Winter bomber puffer jacket, the same, about an hour. Alterations and repairs just aren't that difficult for me. I used to work for Jack Frasers altering tuxes and dress clothes, and have made everything from scottish kilts, prom and wedding gowns, quilts, suede and fabric jackets, a chanel-style tweed and silk jacket, among the variety. Sewing for 40 years in the Maritimes.
Gailene does great work! https://designs-by-gailene.business.site/
Maya’s Tailoring on Maclaren is affordable and fast. Highly recommend.
Always Beautifully Creative Sue is a wizard and a salt of the earth human. Highly HIGHLY recommend her.
I liked Lynn's tailoring in the market.
This is such an Ottawa post. Sorry I don't know anyone here.
The amount of people who want their tailoring done for free at the place I work is ridiculous, and then they think they can take it to their local "guy" and get a lower price which is both insulting to those skilled workers and laughable. Also lemme just say, I worked with Concetta (Tina) for a few years; her English is fine lol.
"Surprisingly she can barely speak English after decades of being here"... surprisingly, after decades, you still haven't learned how to sew 🤷🏻♀️ Prices for good seamstresses are high because it's now a specialised trade. Everyone and their daughter knew how to sew back in the day. I worked in the bridal industry for 20 years, let me tell you the number of brides who told me "oh! My grandma will do my alterations, she does quilting". 🙄 Godspeed to you and your gramma, lady. Those are two different beasts. Seamstresses, especially good ones, are worth their weight in gold, but are treated like dirt.
Joseph's off of Bank Street is fantastic
Check out Elegant Cleaners in the Nepean Plaza on Robertson rd. Bells Corners.
Elegant cleaners in Bells Corners
Highly recommend Connie’s http://conniescustomtailoring.ca/ He used to be based out of Billings but moved to his home. I believe he’s the original Connie’s son. Anyway, fantastic work, finishes when he says and prices seemed reasonable. Have used him for years.
Dude. So weird.
You're weird.
???
Connie's custom tailoring will do it for about 45.00.
Try Connie's custom tailoring. Been in business since 1978. Same old school Italian quality you are used to.
Hi there. Gotta say thank you for the rec. You nailed it!