Alteration Charges

[a tailor]

Originally Posted by TCN

I've got a few things at each of the local tailors that I use, but with all of the recent sales, they're swamped (looking at 2-3 weeks turnaround time). Also, they're good, but a little pricey for my latest acquisition, which is just an inexpensive chino suit from J. Crew that only needs sleeve and pant leg shortening plus some suspender buttons put in. So I went to a little no frills alteration shop that came highly recommended.

I just dropped the suit off, and they seem fine, but I was a bit shocked that such a bare bones shop (think dry cleaner-esque) charged so much ($25 for trouser shortening and cuffs, $20 for simple sleeve shortening, and $8 to put suspender buttons on). Their prices were the same or even slightly higher than what my usual places charge (which are very nice clothiers with experienced tailors and higher overhead).

I'm curious what you guys pay for alterations in your areas.

Here's a list of common alterations, and what I seem to pay here in metropolitan Detroit. By the way, the worst tailor/seamstress I've ever been to is here in Detroit, a place called "Metropolitan Tailoring", so I would urge caution to anyone going there.

Trouser cuffs: $20 to $25
Shortening jacket sleeves: $14 to $20
Taking a jacket in: $25 to $35
Functioning sleeve buttons: $10 per buttonhole
Trouser waist alterations: $10 to $15
Trouser seat and thigh alterations: $20 to $30

I haven't had shirts altered in ages, so I won't post old prices.

the cuffs, way too high.
sleeves, cheap.
i think you have those prices transposed.
the rest seem usual.
clothiers take in alterations as a service and a loss leader to bring in business. thats why there is a long wait. the profit comes from clothing sales not from alterations. the small tailor must pay for all of the overhead from what his hands produce.

 

[TCN]

Interesting perspective, thanks (at least I know the prices are in line with what they should be); although strictly as an FYI, I would submit that the "alterations only" shop is literally a closet behind a building with two young Eastern European women manning a table, while the tailor/clothiers are significantly larger operations with multiple employees, etc.

They also seemed expensive whenI asked (for my wife) about shortening women's jeans and putting the original hem/end back on, $35 versus $15 (where she goes now).

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by TCN

Here's a list of common alterations, and what I seem to pay here in metropolitan Detroit. By the way, the worst tailor/seamstress I've ever been to is here in Detroit, a place called "Metropolitan Tailoring", so I would urge caution to anyone going there.

Trouser cuffs: $20 to $25
Shortening jacket sleeves: $14 to $20
Taking a jacket in: $25 to $35
Functioning sleeve buttons: $10 per buttonhole
Trouser waist alterations: $10 to $15
Trouser seat and thigh alterations: $20 to $30


The prices are somewhat consistent with what I pay, except trouser cuffs are around $15. He does a superb job and has done a few quick fixes for free, so I don't complain.