Won something from the bridal show! Question....Is it a scam?

JeremyHeartTrena

Hey all!

I just got a call saying my fi and I won either a mini-moon to a variety of locales, or free wedding bands. The only hitch is to go to a cooking demo. I made absolutely sure that there is no financial obligation, and she assured me there is not. Fi is really good at turning down salespeople, so I'm not worried about that, and the lady also said that there is no timeshare thing or hiccup like that. We figured it doesn't hurt to at least check it out. It seems legit, especially since it is endorsed by the Bridal Show people. And if they ask us for any private info or to pay, we'll just leave. But a mini-moon is worth it IMO!

Has anyone else won something like this? What were their experiences? 

J&K10910

You know the "Bridal Show people" are there for the sole purpose of making money right?

I wouldn't bother.

kennazebrowsky

Same thing here, they supposedly only give you said gift if you buy their pots and pans . I googled them. Also they repetativly called me about the gift and I'm pretty sure a legit place would have gave up after maybe 2 calls. This was weekly for 4 months

JeremyHeartTrena

Did the lady really just outright lie to me then? She said there is no financial obligation, and no timeshare push. That's sad that they truly lie. Well, thanks ladies for the heads up. Good to know

ElleB87

Don't waste your time.

jennipea382

I wouldn't necessarily write it off, but definitely be skeptical (which you already are, that's good). Just remember that no matter how legit it is, you will have to pay taxes on it. We won a cruise and it's kind of a similar situation where we have to go to their warehouse. They also said no obligation to buy, and I'm going to stick by that. They told me straight up what was paid for and what wasn't (cabin and food paid for, extra excursions and going to a different restaurant costs more). We also have to pay for airfare but that's not an issue for me (I get cheap airfare).

So make sure you get every detail possible. Google the company and check out the BBB to see if there are complaints. I was lucky that I had a friend that won the same thing so I'm able to talk to her if I have any doubts.

Good for you for being skeptical. If it's all legit then congrats!

em01092

This happened to one of my BMs. She went to the show and bought a 1.5K cookwear set so she could get upgrades on her cruise. They told her she had to pay taxes and port fees, NBD. Then she tries to book for right after her June wedding and they say the voucher is not good during peak times. No mention of this previously. They also said she must book within 90 days of the sail date, and she did not want to wait until that close until the time. She called several people, contacted the BBB, but has gotten no where and the company won't return her calls. I can't remember the name of the pots and pans people but the travel agency with whom she had to book was the company that gave her the problems. So the cookwear people may just pass you on to someone who didn't make the same offer/promise, you know?

Avion22

I've also heard that the pots and pans are of very poor quality.   Like, something you could buy at BB&B for a hundred dollars....

penguintina

I went to a bridal show and "won" the same thing. When I looked the company up (whatever the pots and pan company is called), all the reviews said it was a high pressure sales pitch. I decided not to waste my time and called the next day to say I wasn't interested. The lady I talked to pretty much would not let me say no, kept trying to pressure me and was trying way too hard to change my mind for the actual presentation to be "no pressure". Plus they continued to call me multiple times for a few months after.

redheadfsu

It isn't really a prize. It is like any carrot that pulls people in for any high pressure sales presentation. You "win" a day long high pressure presentation about something (timeshare,cookware,etc) and if you stay through the entire thing you may get a free night stay at an ok hotel.

achiduck

It's not worth it.

angele4200

I agree with PPs, don't bother. Even if you don't have to make a purchase to "win" something, the mini moon you described will likely be something you never use. DH and I went on one of these things a few years ago and "won" three different "vacations." We didn't end up using any because they are only valid for times you REALLY wouldn't want to go, i.e. Caribbean in hurricane season, etc.

Mrs.B6302007

Everyone at the BS "wins" and while there may not be any financial obligation, there are still strings to get your "prize".  Just skip it and book your HM when you want, how you want, and where you want.

mbody

Everyone is a winner at a bridal show!!!! One place kept leaving me the same message telling me my "prizes" are onlt available for a limited time. I've been getting them once every few weeks for months now. I wouldn't bother.

froggatt.clare

Hey!

Thanks for asking this question - I won something similar (bands, mini moon, and invite to look at their products pressure-free)/  Glad to know it isn't what it sounds like.

BttrSkoch0604

FI and I went.  They try to sell you pots and pans.  They are AWESOME, but SUPER expensive.  I did, however, just order the wedding bans.  They are nice...from what I can tell from the website.

adktd2boots

Once one of my good friends went to a cooking show to "win" a trip to somewhere.  She ended up buying some cookware.  I was at her house one night cooking dinner and she told me I couldn't use the pans on high.  I thought, I'm boiling water!  But these "special" pots couldn't tolerate high heat.  My cheap sets boil water just fine on high, so I didn't know why these high dollar ones couldn't. 

And I don't think they ever really got a trip somewhere, just a bunch of overpriced cookware.

adktd2boots

Another bridal show scam I encountered:  I "won" third place in a drawing for a laser hair removal place.  So did my friend.  When I went to a consultation, the "third place prize" was $500 off a package.  The packages I thought I might do were over $4000.  While $500 helps, by no means did I win anything.

JeremyHeartTrena

So I found out via someone else that did go, the free rings is a code. A code that -get this- anyone can use! haha they gave it to me. I'm not going to use it because I wanted something with a little sparkle, but they said they are good rings. I gave the code to a friend who really needs it so she can spend that extra money for her wedding, or house, etc. 

The website is jvljewelry.com and the code at checkout is "brides". You only pay shipping ($25/ring) and any engraving. My friend is going to check it out. I hope this might help someone else too who doesn't want to sit through a live infomercial basically.

ashley1721

I had the same thing. We went to the show and did not buy anything, we then got the voucher for 4 day 3 nights in Bahamas, haven't used it yet and it states the blackout dates on which it cannot be used directly in the information kit. we haven't really decided when we would be using it but they said we have like 5 years to redeem it.

Bri+Dmac

I actually went to one of those. It was REALLY funny, because my fiance works for a major cookware competitor that the company hated. We made it quite entertaining.

We watched the show, the guy found out who my fiance worked for, and he basically kicked us out after giving us our free trip voucher. You have to play taxes & fees and such, but it should work as far as I know. I haven't used it yet. We didn't get any pressure to buy anything either. :]