Botched dress purchase in Colorado

delywood

So, I purchased a beautiful Pronovias gown (Haiti design) that I absolutely loved. The owner of the store gave us a several hundred dollar discount, so we ended up spending about $1200. It was supposed to be made and delivered last week. However, a very long story short, the shop closed down and the owner disappeared - and my dress was never even ordered. I am among approximately 20 other brides mixed up in this whole ordeal. Needless to say we are pursuing criminal charges against the owner, but that still leaves me with no dress. Luckily, my wedding is not until next July; however, now I must fork over even more money for a different gown. Since I know that dress exists, I feel disappointed trying to start searching again. I've considered trying to find it in another store in the area, but knowing that we got such a discount, I don't think I could find it for as cheap again. I've tried to contact the maker themselves, but they still want over $900 for them to make the dress for me directly. But this is in addition to the 1200 already out of pocket. I cannot afford that much, it was all I could do to splurge on the 1200! I really don't want to completely give up and start looking for a completely different dress. This whole experience has turned me off of gown shopping, taken the fun out of it, and now makes me very leery to order another dress, even from a couture designer. It's definitely put a damper on the entire wedding process that I was truly enjoying! Any ideas?

Nukke

That is an absolute nightmare!  I'm so sorry this happened to you.  I'm pretty sure there is nothing you can do as far as trying to get that dress you already paid for.  Continue with your charges/class action lawsuit, but that isn't getting you your money back (any time soon if at all), and definitely won't get you your dress.If you're really stuck on that dress, you're just going to have to bite the bullet here.  Maybe consider looking for a dress on a site like www.oncewed.com or www.preownedweddingdresses.com. Another option is to have a dress maker make it for you, but you'll have to shop around to get someone who can work within your budget.Again, I'm so sorry for you.  It sounds like that business owner gave you the discount because she KNEW she couldn't give you the dress.  She was trying to make as many false sales as she could before she hightailed it out of there.  Good luck and take care. 

ktjanesmom

http://www.preloved.co.uk/fuseaction-adverts.showadvert/index-1031927462/bdf2fb09.html Heres one.

Lalanav

How did you pay for the dress originally?  If you paid via credit card, there are laws in place that protect your purchase.  You can call your credit card company and get the money refunded directly, so then you'd be able to do the $900 to get it from the manufacturer themselves.Otherwise, trying to find it pre-owned is excellent advice, as pp have suggested.  If you do end up going with another store and ordering another dress, I highly recommend that you don't pay in full when you order it.  Traditionally salons only ask for a 50%-60% deposit to order the dress, with the balance due once it comes in; don't order again from a place that asks for 100% just to order.

Googs79

I am so sorry to hear about this.  This man STOLE $1200 from you!  I really hope this man has to pay all of you back and MORE!  Scary.  But remember, most of us order dresses and nothing bad happens!  Your experience is an anomaly.  Ask your local board for reputable stores in the area.  Don't let one experience color your outlook about gown shopping.  And more importantly, don't let this criminal have this much power over your wedding experience!  Hasn't he taken enough? Okay, I think it's good to consider all of your choices: 1) Find $900 and buy the dress from the maker.  Is this impossible or just really hard on your general budget?  You could eat canned soup for the next year... 2) Find an affordable preowned dress.  Your dress is popular enough that I'm thinking someone is selling it out there.  (prewonedweddingdresses.com; trash to treasure board) 3) Try looking to see if there is a sample sale in your community.  I've known girls to get 50% discounts at sample sales!4) Buy another dress that you can afford.  I know it's disappointing, but maybe if you try on some other dresses, you'll fall in love with something else.  Who knows?  Good luck with everything.  You have plenty of time, and no matter what happens, you are going to get married next July and it will be your special day to shine in whatever gown you're wearing.