Second Weddings

Davids Bridal Manager Snubbed me for Being an encore bride vent

Ok, so anyone who has read up on "encore" brides knows that we , on average, spend more the second, third, etc, time around. I don't work in the bridal industry and I know this to be a fact. Alot of us are blessed to have careers, hopefully a great hubby to be, (since we saved the ebst for last!) and realize how truly special a second chance at happiness is and get a little excited. So here I go to David's Bridal in my hometown. I already heard horror stories from friends but I was willing to give them a chance, as they did ok on my first :) My first impression when booking my appointment over the phone was poor, as the girl stammered trying to find paper, pencil, etc, things a business that takes appointments should have handy by the phone. I made my appt for the very next day. I was awakened at 9:25 that night to a "confirmation call" from the girl. I was pissed. 9:25?!!!! We are all in the same time zone so I was floored. Still, I was on time the next day with my girls in tow. I addressed the late call with the manager who offered little apology. Next she begins yelling my personal info across the store to me, mind you, where she seated me. She then states,"Wow, I see you in here quite a few times!" to which my reply was,"Yes I have been married twice previously, thanks for pointing that out." My consultation went from bad to worse. I was treated so poorly by the consultant who apparently didn't hear a thing of what I was looking for that me and my friends went rifling through dresses on our own. On our first try we found exactly what I was looking for. Ok, so I'm quite the sucker for this dress and it was half off what it is in the current catalog because I took it off the rack. It was a deal at $400. The consultant then explained that their alterations dept would fix a tear at the back and get a few make-up spots off of it at no charge after I paid a deposit. I then asked for the repair work agreement in writing since I know all sales are final there. The woman laughed at me and said,"What do you want me to do, write it on a piece of paper?" Uh, yeah, that's what I said. She then had the alterations woman come over to assure me she was doing the work right then. The dress is still there, I have to pay the rest and pick it up this week. I think my biggest issue is that Im having buyers remorse now knowing I gave her and the manager a comission after being treated so poorly and none of their staff helped me to find a dress of anything. We did all the work. Opinions? Experiences?
Les enfants disent que les gens sont suspendus pour parler la v?rit?. Je n'ai pas peur, je suis n? pour le faire. Joan d'Arc R.I.P. Sophia please visit www.truthforsophia.com

Re: Davids Bridal Manager Snubbed me for Being an encore bride vent

  • melissamc2melissamc2 member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    A bride is a bride, period.  None deserve more or less respect, in my opinion, based soley on "if they've done this before."

    I see no need, myself, in even informing the consultants on if it is your first or tenth marriage. really.  I also wouldn't use the same place for another wedding, though.  It's not any kind of bad karma deal, I just don't like associating anything from the previous one to the next.  (Other than myself, I guess!)

    I'm sorry to hear you had such a horrible time.  I hope the dress turns out wonderful enough to make up for it.  Good luck and congratulations.

    Oh, and I got mine from Bridal and Beyond.  It's got two locations in the greater Toronto area, but isn't a "chain."  They were incredibly friendly, helpful, and went above and beyond to make sure I had exactly what I wanted. 
    10-10-10
  • edited December 2011
    UNbelievable!  You would think, with the economy being what it is, that salespeople working on commission would be bending over backwards instead of acting like wankers.
    I can't answer your poll.  My fmil(at the time) made my first dress - I got my second at a David's Bridal - they were nice enough, nothing special, but nothing like what you dealt with.
  • edited December 2011
    I had a similar situation.  I was newly engaged and 7 months out from the wedding.  My aunt was up from Fla for my sons wedding which was postponed by a blizzard.  Needless to say I took advantage of the situation and my aunt and I headed out to David's Bridal to get some ideas.  When we got there, they immediately took all my information etc, but, when they found out that I was just wanting to look and not try anything on they were insultingly rude.  I had just started my diet, I wanted to loose 15 lbs before I tried on a dress.  I didn't want to get discouraged putting one on and not looking the way I wanted.  I think the bridal industry is missing the boat here as was previously stated.  Encore brides, tend to know what they want, have the money to spend it and are a lot easier to work with.  We are all brides whether it's the first or the last, it doesn't change the fact that we're the bride, theres a wedding and we need a dress that we feel beautiful in on our special day.  And in my opinion not to put the first time brides down, but, for those of us who have been to he.. and back and have found the right one this is that much more special. 
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • edited December 2011
    So sorry that you had that awful experience!  My wedding is in November and I had been putting off looking at dresses for this exact reason!  I also went to David's Bridal but lucked out with a consultant who was an absolute gem.  She completely understood that I was just in the "looking" stage and she was more than willing to let me try on as many dresses as I wanted.  I kow that you are torn because you received such terrible service, but the bigger issue is the dress -- espcially since its one you love and ON sale.  The on sale factor would really motivate me to go back for the dress... but with that said, I know that I would go back with an attitude equal to theirs... 
  • edited December 2011
    I have not gone to even look at dresses yet because I do not want to be treated like a stepchild. I am horrified to be treated like dirt.  My fiance wants me to go look and go pick out a dress, every weekend he keeps asking me well have you gone yet. I keep telling him NO!.  I look online all the time I have not gotten the nerve yet.  This is my second wedding his first, so yes I am terrified. How dare they treat you like that?. Who do they think they are?  So we have color scheme, flowers, we think we have a venue.. an outdoor venue.  I am a nervous wreck.    Good luck to you.
  • edited December 2011
    Thank you ladies. In retrospect I probably shouldn't have told them right off the bat that I would not be buying accessories with them when they began to put their rediculously overpriced costume jewelry on me over my grandmother's mikimoto pearls. That's where alot of their revenue comes from are some of these items and I knew it. I still shouldn't have been treated this way though, and I still spent almost $450 in there. I am going to continue to be excited and not let this experience put a damper on my enthusiasum.
    Les enfants disent que les gens sont suspendus pour parler la v?rit?. Je n'ai pas peur, je suis n? pour le faire. Joan d'Arc R.I.P. Sophia please visit www.truthforsophia.com
  • MikesAngieMikesAngie member
    1000 Comments Third Anniversary Name Dropper 5 Love Its
    edited December 2011
    I haven't found my dress yet but was treated poorly by a local shop.  Decided not to do business with her and in this economy can she really afford to lose the business?  I don't care I will be treated with respect whether or not this is my first wedding.  This wedding is the one that should have happened 27 years ago when my FI first proposed, so it is being afforded all the trimmings as though it were a first - because it is.
  • edited December 2011
    Last night I was talking to my Fiance, we talk every night til about 2am. I know crazy but hey. I told him how terrified I am about going to try on dresses. For my first wedding I didnt do all that, the dress was picked out for me by my MIL(whom I cant stand)(long story) if I never speak to her it will be too soon(LOL).  I wouldnt know where to start, what to look for. He is such a gentleman, he says to me " You are going to know once you put in on, it doesnt matter to me.  In my eyes and heart you are beautiful. My eyes will be focused on you an no one else. Talk about pressure right?.

    I want him to be like DAYUM!!!!!!.
  • edited December 2011
    i find that this is a typical experience for David's Bridal - not just because you are an encore bride (i love that title & i'm stealing it).  both my sisters, a couple friends, and myself the first time around have always had very poor service at David's. 
    I'm sorry you got sucky service- but glad you got the dress you love.  they better have made that dress perfect, and since they already fixed the dress (hopefully) there is no harm in complaining and telling them you won't be back for flowergirl/bridesmaids dresses and will not be recommending them
  • edited December 2011
    I am so sorry that you had to go through that! It is a shame that they live down to their poor reputation sometimes.

    I just went to David's Bridal today, the same place I purchased the dress for my first wedding.  I was honest with the salesperson that I wasn't really sure what I wanted, I just knew I wanted it to be different from my first dress. :) She was very understanding and it worked out well.  I bought everything I needed!

    Good luck with the rest of your experiences with them, and with the rest of your planning!
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