Flaws on $5,000 dress - is this normal??

poster12

I need advice on how to deal with my current dress dilemma.  I purchased a fairly pricey gown through a high-end bridal salon who placed a custom order with the designer.  When I took my gown to the first fitting and looked closely at the garmet with my seamstress (not affiliated with the bridal salon) I began to notice a lot of sloppy work including the following problems

1). Straps were mismatched, one was a full inch longer than the other.

2). A section of lace had been patched in and the stitching work was sloppy and crude. 3).The seams in the underlayers of the dress were largely unfinished and were already frayed and unraveling. Either someone forgot to finish it or just figured nobody would ever notice. 

When I took the dress to the bridal salon to point out the sloppy work they told me that these flaws weren't anything out the ordinary. They basically said that the issues I was complaining about were pretty much normal and gave the impression that I was overreacting.  I am sorry - I just simply refuse to accept that unravelling seems and mismatched straps are normal for a $5,000 dress. Would love to hear people weight in on the issue of dress quality. I would never buy a dress with defects from a normal store - it seems rediculous that I should be okay with substandard work on the most expensive garmet I will ever own. 

Spunky414

I'd be pissed if any new dress I purchased had defects like that regardless of price point. I've never bought formalwear with those kind of issues. 

Avion22

Yeah, that's not normal.  My dress was much less expensive, and had NO defects.   And I still would have been pissed if it hadn't been perfect.

Heck, $5000 is a small used car.  That's a lot of money for mis-matched straps and shoddy stitching.

csweaney

Um, I would be so angry. You paid good, hard earned money for that gown and they owe you an excellent piece of work for that money. I would march back in there and demand either A) They contact the designer and have a new dress made for you or you get a significant amount of money back to compensate for the excellence you expected and didn't receive. 

sabrinagretchen

Personally, I'd take it back and ask for them to exchange it (if you have time for a new one to be shipped), or ask them to alter it free of charge. There's no way you should have to sacrifice the beauty of your wedding dress for someone else's convenience. 

Giaspo

There has to be some sort of refund or compromise. I wore a gown in that price range and every single detail was perfect, and then some. The service I received was also extraordinary, and yours should be no different. The salon needs to react. Honestly unless it's a knockoff from China, a gown of any price should be perfect, or at least finished. You have every right to be upset. Is there a way to take it up with the designer directly? She may act if she thinks her reputation might be tarnished.

achiduck

Regardless of the cost I'd be pissed. I spent a lot less than $5K on my dress and if it had those defects you can bet I'd be raising hell.

Leenie10

Agree with PPs. I'd recommended going back to salon manager and in a calm, yet very firm manner tell them what you need them to do (either discount it or free alterations or whatever), and don't back down until you are satisfied. They should have addressed your concerns immediately (especially given your price point), without you having to do this but they will get the message that you are not going away.

Jen6862

Take pictures to document and make sure you talk to the manager and or owner.

colstj1

I agree with PP's that I would be so mad! No matter the cost of the dress there should be no defects if you are buying it new. I hope you can get things figured out whether it will be a refund of some sort, free alterations or a new dress. Good luck!

Peledreamsofrain

Oh. NO. they. didn't.

Do not stand for this.  Even a low end costpoint dress should be finished, even, and perfect.   If this had happened to me, I'd stand in their store until closing time, demanding that they make things right. 

Contact the designer, asap, take this as high as you can absolutely go.

artisticjewishbride2013

I would get a hold of the designer ( call dont email) and give them a peice of your mind about all the issues your dress has and demand they fix it. sometimes it pays to be a B and this is one of those times 

TheSlowskys

I purchased a mid to high end designer sample and there were a couple pulls but no issues with the seams. I'd be mad if I were you as well. Pp gave some good advice, but no one mentioned your method of payment? If by credit card you can take it up with your cc company as well if the salon will not replace the dress. Take pics, but I would not try and do any alterations until the matter is resolved.

cwaggoner07

That's absurd! I paid way less for my dress, and like PP have said, it was in perfect condition.
There is something seriously shady going on.

theelusive1

I think I would call the designer and ask if they made that dress for that shop.  It really would make me wonder if they are not saying it is X designer and it is not ordered from some knock off site.  You pay lots of money they pay very little money and they make a lot off you.  I would go back to the store with the dress and if the designer says no we did not make it.  I would tell the store.  I would then get my refund.   I am sure they would rather refund that go to court over it.

Corgnilias

Agree with PPs. I got a custom chinese knockoff dress for $250 and it's near perfect; even my tailors commented on the good workmanship. For a $5,000 real-deal dress yours should be dang near perfect.