Rant about my dress! (Sorry I am just so frustrated)!

Constance2012

Ok, I am just posting this to vent, I know there is nothing that can be done about it!

I ordered my dress last week from Bridal and Formal in Reading (after months of shopping and meetings with people to have a custom made gown).

I am only 5'1" so they said my dress would have to be taken up at the waist when it came in because of being short-waisted but they could order it in a 55 inch length and that way alterations would be really easy! (I am working on a small budget so every little bit of savings helps) Everything sounded great! We ordered it...

A week later they called and left a message to call them because they don't make my dress in that length anymore and wanted to know what I wanted to do about it.... So I called her back and couldn't get a hold of her! I tried again the next day and left three messages (once in the morning, afternoon and night)! So I called again yesterday and talked to someone else who said there really is nothing they can do about it and they already placed the order so I am going to just have to pay extra for alterations! But he would have this lady call me today to see if there was anything they could do about it!

In the meantime I talk to the lady who was planning on doing my alterations and she said what they call a "simple" fix is going to be far from that based on her experience with that designer and the pictures she saw of me in the dress.

So the lady just called me back and said she talked to the manufacturer and promises it will be an easy fix but wants me to come back into the store to show me that it wont need anything at the waist (like two other people in her store told me it would when I bought it)... I am so frustrated because I feel like they need to do something for all of the lies they told and the fact they do not know anything about the dresses they are selling and the fact I have to drive over an hour up there just to try the dress on again so she can "show us" what she is talking about!

All at the same time I have in the back of my head that there was a dress right across the street at Wendy's that needed less alterations - they actually pinned it in front of me so I could see it and for the same price that probably wouldn't be giving me as many problems! (Even though I like the one at Bridal and Formal a little better)

I just don't know what to do! Its so annoying! Thanks for listening!

DanceM

Breathe!!  It will be okay.

The shop should not have ordered a dress without your authorization.  They should be responsible for absorbing the additional alterations cost (IMO).
I also feel that you should be compensated for your time and inconvenience.  I would suggest speaking with a manager about a serious discount on the dress and alterations.

Tedfordl

I agree!  They should NOT order a dress with out you're direct "ok" to go ahead with the purchase.  My biggest concern for myself is trying to reducing my stress level, so if I was put in this situation I would just call it a day and go with the other dress at Wendy's.  But it is your call on what you want to deal with and how much you love your dress you've already picked out.  Good luck and don't stress out too much, everything will work out for the best!

RCK4485

ok, I got my dress from bridal and formal as well. I loved my consultant and my day of experience, but honestly, I think they are running a bad business. That contract that they make you sign is a bunch of crap. I started having nightmares abiut them ordering the wrong dress and me, helpless to do anything.  Needless to say, the right dress came in, but I didnt sleep for months because I was so terrified about it. Is that really how they want their brides to feel????

Anyway, I would def ask to talk to the manager, and push and push until they give you something. What about the lady who is doing your alterations? Can you explain it to her and see if she can work with you at all? Let her know that you tried to plan accordingly to your budget but B&F did something with out your confirmation. Is this the cheapest alterations place you found?

Also, if they are not going to help you, let them know you will be contacting the better business bureau about their company.

I am so sorry they have treated you this way, but dont be afraid to stand up for yourself and push them until you are compensated for something. Go as high up as you can, even higher than the store manager if you arent having luck. Everything will work out! You know us cincy knotties have your back! Good luck, keep us posted on how it goes!

ashmash8833

 I just ordered my dress there a month ago. I had a great experience with my consultant. When it came to ordering my dress they INSISTED I get a size bigger than the one I tried on but the sample fit me perfect. The contract is scary but aren't most places like that with their contracts?

Constance2012

Thanks everyone! I am hoping it all just works out! Idk if other places are like that, I know that most other places do their own alterations so they "guarantee" their dresses in some way but bridal and formal doesn't! But I don't know specifics about their contracts! I was just really frustrated after talking to them! (I have calmed down now haha)

Vendygirl921

Who is doing your atlerations? I would trust anyone that came out of that store. I had a horrible experience there and I find that stores with the seamstress attached just don't work out as well. I have heard so many horror stories. Best to find an independant seamstress. I am using Kim Dao's downtown. She is very sweet and resonalbly priced.

And they should NOT have ordered that dress w/o your express direction.

sloanaw

Hey! I ordered my dress from there as well. They screwed up a couple of times, and I complained a  lot and they gave me more off the dress again. You might try this. I loved my consultant though, but they do not teach their sales people to read screens correctly so I got told my dress was in when it wasn't. Their one manager is awesome! but some of their people are rather irritating. I would def call back and complain a lot and let them know how unhappy you are!

gabriel0915

I have actually bought 2 dresses. My first one was from European Bridal and I loved the ladies, but when my dress came in, I swear it looked like a sample gown. It was horrible. Ripped, things missing. They let me pay on it as I long as I needed to, but I would have thought they would notice that it was in such bad shape. It couldn't be fixed. I got my second one from bridal and formal and had a purchase there from something else and they put it all on the same sheet so it was confusing. But I will say that all the contracts have looked the same. It seems to be a normal thing. I think it seems extra scary because its your dress and it's so important. Talk to someone, they are really nice, and see what can be done. They have been great with me.