Dry Cleaning Store Ruined My New Balance 9060 Suede Shoes and Refusing Compensation
Recently I gave my very new New Balance 9060 purple suede shoes for cleaning to a local dry cleaning/shoe cleaning service. Before giving them, the shoes were perfectly fine with proper purple suede overlays. After their cleaning process, the entire purple colour was gone and the suede turned white/faded.
When I confronted them, instead of accepting responsibility, they started saying it is a “manufacturing defect” and that this issue is “very common”. But the funny thing is — the shoes were completely fine before cleaning. The damage happened only after their service.
I requested reimbursement because:
• the shoes were very new,
• these were my first branded shoes,
• and honestly we cannot afford to buy such expensive shoes again easily.
I tried talking politely and professionally multiple times. At first they kept replying, but after I asked for reimbursement properly, they completely stopped responding.
I even told them:
“If this was really a manufacturing defect, why did the discoloration happen only after your cleaning process?”
No proper answer till now.
I have:
• before/after photos,
• purchase invoice,
• cleaning receipt,
• chat screenshots.
I’m planning to raise a complaint through National Consumer Helpline now.
Has anyone faced something similar with suede shoes after dry cleaning? Also, if anyone has experience with consumer complaints against such services in India, please let me know what happened and how long it took.