NORGE CLEANERS TAKES HIGH HONOR Quality and Service Recognized
by Award of Excellence
With so many dry cleaners in the Albany/El Cerrito area it's not easy
to tell what kind of quality you're going to get. Buttons missing, bad
attitudes at the counter, and "sorry" stickers are taking the
joy of out of having someone else do your cleaning.
Dry cleaning customers
can expect better service from Norge Cleaners, 398 San Pablo
Avenue, CA 94706 and as one of several assurances to support that claim,
owners Janis and Steve Sadler are offering a money-back service guarantee.
In October, Norge Cleaners passed a rigorous set of cleaning evaluations
to achieve the Award of Excellence for Quality Garment
Cleaning & Customer Service.
The Albany/El Cerrito cleaner worked hard to earn the honor, and Janis
and Steve Sadler proudly accepted the award. "I know it's very tough
for a customer to know who's a good cleaner, much less find one," Janis
Sadler said. "In having met the Award of Excellence requirements,
the AOE seal gives for the first time an independent verification of our
commitment to quality customer service."
"It's very easy to
differentiate yourself as a dry cleaner by price or speed," Sadler
added, "But it takes a great deal of knowledge and expertise to differentiate
yourself by achieving the Award of Excellence,"
Qualifying for the
Award of Excellence is just the first step. In order to remain
in the program, Norge Cleaners must adhere to rules designed to ensure
customers get the service and quality they deserve on every trip.
A New Standard in Cleaning and Service
A dry cleaner must complete a
stringent application process to become an Award of Excellence
cleaner. Because of these requirements, Award of Excellence cleaners
will remain few compared to the general population of dry cleaners. Requirements
include:
- Meeting
or exceeding a specific initial level of education and training
on an ongoing basis.
- Acceptance and good standing in a national
dry cleaning trade association that offers education, research,
monthly periodicals, training and technical support.
- Annually passing
a Cleaning Quality Performance Test to ensure good cleaning.
- Annually
passing the Stain Removal Test, comprised of six difficult
stains on white silk.
- Displacing
and upholding a set of customer service principles that guarantee:
- Prompt
attention to your inquiries or concerns.
- Technical competence
and professional quality.
- Return of your garments when promised.
- Adherence to non-gender-based pricing.
- A commitment to environmental
responsibility.
- Free
cleaning of the American flag.
- A money-back service guarantee.
If Norge Cleaners fails to ever live up to the pledges outlined
by the Award, the Customer Service Principles poster encourages
customers to bring the matter to the attention of the store manager
or the Clothing Care Council itself at the toll-free number listed on
the poster.
"Finding a good cleaner that will consistently treat you like a
valued customer shouldn't be a guessing game." said Clothing Care
Council spokesperson Bill Fisher, a 40-year cleaning Industry
veteran. "Having
become an Award of Excellence cleaner, Norge Cleaners is proof
that quality cleaners do exist—and now customers know where to look."
The Clothing Care Council (CCC) was formed to represent the
interest of the cleaning industry clothing manufacturers, and
consumer advisors in identifying those cleaning plants that provide
the level of clothes care that should always be met. The group
began accepting applications for the Award of Excellence & Quality Garment Cleaning & Customer
Service in June 2005.
