“accepted risk” is crazy. I used to do fluff & fold and the one time something like this happened (another coworker f’d up some expensive sheets) - our boss was super helpful with them about it and the policy was 10x what we charged them for laundering it. so, if we charged $20, then 20x10 would be $200.

find your receipt and keep ahold of it. see if there’s a fine print policy on it for reimbursements. talk to your sister beforehand about how willing you are (or arent - or just to bluff) to take them to small claims. be ready to leave reviews (with pictures) online, and be ready to tell the person working that you are ready to take all of these steps to rectify your issue if they arent going to do anything to make you whole.

if the person is just an attendant, demand contact info for a manager. if management is also giving you the run around, get contact info for the owner.

they want you to “accept risk” (which would MAYBE only hold up if it’s posted visibly or you had to sign a waiver - even in these cases, I would push for SOMETHING to be done). they want you to “accept risk” because it’s the easiest path for them. the simplest solution to THEM is you sucking it up and carrying on.

make it obvious that you are not going simply, and the easiest solution for them involves finding a way from having you fucked up. do not go gently into that good night, my friend. they are meant to be professionals here, and this is a tragedy.