Two stars — would not recommend

I went to a brand new laundromat about a year ago. The Now Open banner was still up. It was such a fine laundromat that I decided to use it again yesterday.

There was a man about my age and two young men washing their clothes. I picked a washer and loaded it. Then I got some soap. I had to try twice because the coin slide was sticky on one of the choices. The other choice worked fine but the box fell in a very hard to reach spot. This was foreshadowing.

I poured the soap into the hatch and started feeding quarters into the washer. The amount owed counted down. Then it stopped counting down. I pushed the coin return button. Nothing. I pushed it again. Two quarters came out. I put a coin in the slot but it didn’t make the usual clacking sound and the readout didn’t change. I hit the coin return again. And again. The coin finally came out. I inserted a different coin, giving it a little extra shove. Same result.

To hell with this. I tested the coin slot on the next machine. It worked fine, so I transferred my things to that washer. Then I had to buy more soap and try to get it out of the dispenser again. But the wash started and I went out to the Rolling Steel Tent that was parked at the curb, because the parking lot was small and cramped.

When I walked back to the laundromat there was a car parked in the middle of the lot, blocking the other cars. Inside, a pair of women had some newly bought quilts and sheets they were unpacking and loading into washers. They had monopolized all the carts (there were only three in the place) and counter space as if they had never shared public spaces before. They were quite put out when I asked if I could use one of their hoarded carts. I realized later they were the ones parked in the middle of the lot.

I got my things transferred to a dryer and tried inserting coins. Something was wrong and I eventually realized the coin slot had been installed upside down. Ergh. So I transferred my wet clothes to another dryer. 

Fortunately, the women were gone by the time my clothes were dry, so I didn’t need to beg for a cart or counter space. As I folded my things I thought about my problems with the machines and how quickly things can slide downhill. And I thought about how the situation had been further degraded by the two women who had acted like the world exists solely for their convenience. Oh well, it’s a good thing I don’t need to do laundry very often.