Bad Experience at The Wedding Center in Commack, NY

jpaganini81

I didn't check any online reviews of this establishment until AFTER I ordered my bridesmaid dress for a friend's wedding.  There are many people complaining on various websites that this store purposely orders dresses too big so they can charge more for alterations.My worst nightmare became a reality when I tried my dress on and it was swimming on me!  When I confronted Bob the owner and asked how could this happen, he got really defensive.  I said if you're going to use the internet to promote your business, you should be vigilant of what people are saying about you.  He told me if I don't like it, get out of his shop! WTF?!?!The staff here did not guide me to the right size when I was fitted for my bridesmaid dress.  It was not explained that the dresses were "off the rack" sizes.  In addition, the dresses did not come when promised.   Since we received our dresses late, we had no time to return them to the manufacturer and had limited time to have alterations done.  Parts of the dress were in complete disarray, between missing buttons, shoddy sewing and loose fabric!!  Furthermore, the entire wedding party was affected by the Wedding Center's mistakes.  Not one dress fit properly!  That can't be a coincidence. My dress needed $120 worth of alterations done within 5 days time, in order to be ready for the wedding!  Given the mistakes the staff made, and in the spirit of good business, I asked Bob (as a professional courtesy) to be partially reimbursed for the monetary inconvenience.  I thought it would be fair for the Wedding Center to cover 50% of the cost of repairs.Bob told me that it's not his fault I got ripped off for the price of alterations, it's not his problem that the dress doesn't fit, and it's not his problem that the dresses were poorly designed.To top it off, he hung up on me!!I was nothing but polite and rational with this grumpy old man, and for a "businessman of 45 years", he had no class or tact.PS BOB: Yes it is your problem because you are selling a defective product and are not standing behind it.Shame on you!

Juhgail

sorry about your experience.

tatiana379

I also had a bad experience at The Wedding Center, but thankfully I did not purchase anything.  I went this past Saturday, 4/23.  I was being "helped" (and I use that term loosely) by an older woman named Carol.  I showed Carol a picture of a dress that I found online and told her that I really liked the way it look and if I could find a dress that looked similar to it, it would be great.  Well let me tell you, this woman brought me everything but.  I was nearly in tears when I was trying on the dresses.  I mean some really ugly dresses she was bringing me - like something that may have been in style back in the 1980's.  It was bad.  Finally after the 6th dress I tried on that I absolutely hated she told me to re-try on one of the dresses that I didn't say I outright hated.  She then proclaimed that this dress was "the one" for me.  I nearly started to cry.  I told her that I did not feel like a bride in this dress, I hated the way it sat on my body and it wasn't at all the style I was looking for.  She then huffed and said that if I'm getting married in December then I better hurry up and pick something soon because it could take months to come in.  Then she had the nerve to say to me that she's busy and can't help me with other dresses so she recommended that I go to another store, try on more dresses and if I find the dress I want then call her and she will order it for me.  Umm, WTF?!  Yeah, I'm so disappointed in that place.  I'm so glad that I didn't order anything from there. 

mzaglin

Having lived in Commack for 25+ years, the first place I thought to recommend to my fiancée was the Wedding Center.  The only bigger mistake I could have made was going with her for the purchase, and seeing the dress before the event.  The manager/owner Bob boasts that he has been in business for 46 years, however the attitude, attention to detail, and professionalism of the staff would suggest 4-6 months. 

The day that my fiancée’s mother and sisters traveled from upstate to Commack to see the last daughter try on the dress that she fell in love with started off askew and went south from there.  The place was packed - a Saturday, so it was to be somewhat expected.  It was so packed that brides as well as staff were inadvertently knocking into each other and elbowing each other just to try on their dresses and stand on the pedestals for measurement and to present themselves.  However, for someone who boasts about the length of time they have been in business, one would think they would also have the foresight to make dress appointments, or at the very least to give the brides more room as to not be stumbling over each other.

The next sign was that a group of sales people began to bad mouth and complain about a bride in the other room in front of all the other brides in this room.  This is unprofessional to say the lease.  Who knows what these sales people were saying about the brides in this room in front of the other room?  I understand that not every customer is easy to assist, but to voice that in front of other potential customers in unacceptable, and either illustrates the poor customer service they offer or the poor judgment of the owner in the choice of staff.

After this, my fiancée was required to pay a special fee for a specific measurement.  She was given the reason that once this measurement is taken and the dress is made, it CANNOT be altered.  She paid the fee (along with a deposit on the dress).

Fast forward to 2 months later when she received a call from the store that her dress was in, and could be picked up at any time.  Fantastic!  She drove over there the next day and was shocked to find out that what the 46-year establishment neglected to tell a 1^st time bride was that she needed her shoes with her because she was expected to try the dress on.  In hindsight, yes this makes sense however this being her first time getting married and purchasing a dress like this, it was not something she thought to do.  Regardless, it is the job of the staff to notify every bride, brides maid, mother, and anyone else who purchases a dress from them that they should bring proper shoes to try the dress on.  This brings us to the next debacle.

Back several months, when my fiancée paid extra for a “special measurement that once the dress is made CANNOT be altered” she left with confidence in the Wedding Center.  After all, they have been in business for 46 years.  Well, upon coming home and trying on the dress, it turns out that this “special measurement” that was made and paid extra for, was measured incorrectly.  The dress is now too short, and doesn’t cover her feet the way she wanted it to, and was supposed to.  Again, one would think and assume that a business that has been in operation for 46 years would be able to handle a simple measurement that they have probably had to do a few times in the past 46 years, but apparently this was too complicated. 

My fiancée was and still is heartbroken over this mistake as it was yet another thing that the Wedding Center failed at.  She had decided that she was not going to return here for her fittings as she no longer trusted the staff or the business itself.

Since she paid for part of her dress with a credit card (as a side note, the Wedding Center REQUIRED that final payments be made in cash, certified check or money order, clearly in some scheme to not have to pay as much in taxes), her plan was to call the credit card company and recoup the fee for the “special measurement” that clearly was not done correctly.  Alternatively, she decided to give the Wedding Center one more chance to redeem themselves and actually scheduled a fitting.

The fitting was scheduled for 8:30pm as that was the only evening time slot available during the week.  My fiancée drove out to Commack, and arrived 6 minutes late due to traffic.  She walked in and the first words that were spoken to her were “Do you have an appointment?” Fiancée, “Yes – I know I’m a couple of minutes late, and I apologize” Seamstress, “Well, we close in 15 minutes, so…” Fiancee, “Ok then, thank you very much” and turned around to walk out. Seamstress, “Well, I can do it for you if you’d like” Fiancée, “No thank you, I don’t want you to do anything for me.” 

She went into the main building and asked to speak with the Manager.  It was here that a businessman who boasts about his 46 years of operation began to show just how he approaches a situation where a customer is upset.  The immediate defensive position he took combined with his dismissive attitude spoke volumes about his business. 

When she informed him about the problems she encountered, the unprofessionalism of the staff, the poor customer service she encountered to date and the fact that she had to pay extra for a “special measurement” that couldn’t even be done properly, his only response was that the business had been there for 46 years.  When she informed him that she was planning on contacting the credit card company and requesting a charge-back, his only response was (in a threatening tone) to tell her not to threaten him.  At this point she was past her limit, but stayed calm.  He begrudgingly refunded her card for the “special measurement”, but made her sign a release saying that she wouldn’t pursue anything more from them.

In summary, if this hasn’t been clear – avoid the Wedding Center of Commack at all costs.  Thank you for reading.

 

snetus82

I had the same woman *help* me so I know exactly what you are talking about. When I pointed out to her that my wedding was nine months away she huffed and informed me that I didn't know what I was talking about. Then I informed her that I come from a long line of seamstresses and that my great grandmother made dresses for the Vanderbilts so I do have an idea of how long it takes to make a dress. Needless to say she got aggravated with me and then started to try and pressure my mother into putting money down on the dress. This part happened while I was in the dressing room changing. It amazes me that this place is still in business. I unfortunately found a dress that I loved there though and was going to order it untill I read the online reviews. Coupled with that woman's horrible attitude I made the decision to go someplace else and luckily found the same dress.  And on the last post put up that "business man" Bob, I wouldn't trust him as far as I can throw him sopping wet with cinderblocks attached to both ankles.