Leather sofa damaged by cleaning company

[dsoelter]

Washington State:

Took a leather sofa to a highly recommended cleaning company for removal of a grease spot, and touch up. They spray painted the entire sofa which no longer looks or feels anything like leather, or matches the love seat that sits next to it.

Their response to our complaint is that the limit of their liability or obligation under Washington State law is to refund the price we paid for the "repair."

Can this be true - that they can destroy the value and usefulness of a customer's property and not be held responsible?

Thanks!
DSWhat is the name of your state?

[shortbus]

File a claim in small claims court and find out. It's called an exclupatory clause. Many times, courts will not enforce them if they're unreasonable. So if it's clear the negligence of the cleaning company damaged your couch, you may have a case.

[xylene]

If you contracted for spot cleaning and it didn't get it out or discolored the spot, they would be right as to your damages

If you authorized them to restore the couch, and they did this color process, but you ended up unhappy, then they would be right....

If you authorized them to clean the spot, and they then recolored the whole couch, and ruined it... you might well have claim for the depreciated value of the couch.

So. Did you authorize the entire couch to be recolored? Or just the spot? Or was it like "fix my couch, it looks terrible...."

[dsoelter]

Sofa had a head sized (less than one foot square) oil stain on the back cushion in one corner. Cleaning company was contracted to "remove oil stain and touch up." That is exactly what is stated on their estimate and invoice. They indicated that this was a common repair they had done "hundreds of times," and never suggested that they would end up painting the entire couch "Hershey Bar Brown." We had been using a throw to cover the stain, and would have continued to do so - had we known that they would end up destroying the natural leather character of the entire couch. Not until we got the couch home and unwrapped, did we recognize the damage wrought.

They have offered to refund the amount we paid for repair, but this doesn't get us anywhere near "whole." We are left with a vinyl look, cardboard feel couch that looks WAY out of place next to it's formerly matching loveseat.

DS

[xylene]

A leather couch is an expensive item.

I suggest you carefully read all the terms of the invoice and:

Consider filing a small claims suit for the depreciated value of your couch (not the cost new or the replacement cost...)

Depending on how much this couch is worth, consider talking with a lawyer.

You were expecting treatment of the soiled area. If the cleaning did not work or further damaged the couch, well that is one thing.

If I took my car into the body shop to have a door ding fixed, I would not expect them to paint the whole car to better match the touch up job...

What have other leather-workers you have talked to told you about your circumstance?