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Dress Meltdown

thurmanpowellthurmanpowell
500 Comments
in Attire & Accessories Forum
So, this sunday I drove two hours to visit a bridal store and try on dresses, They didn't have the dress style I really wanted, but they did have one that fit me well for a good price. They kept knocking down the price and making sure to "accidently" converse outside my dressing room and mention how great of a deal it was and how I should buy it... and I caved. It wasn't too exspensive of a dress, but it's not how I want to look at my wedding (and I don't have extra cash to spare). 

When I bought it I asked what they do if someone is unhappy with her dress and they said they "work it out." The very next day (less than 24 hrs!) I called and said I was unhappy, I really wanted the style of dress I was actually looking for... And they were less then helpful. First they tried to get me to find a seamtress to use the material to make a new dress (wtf?), when I asked to just return it they offered an exchange, and since I understand that they need to make money I tried to work with that.

When I emailed them what dresses I would like they said they didn't have them in stock and ignored my emails asking them to order them. Next, I tried to offer to exchange it for bridesmaid dresses... they had to "call me back" and won't! 

Along with the bad service, I'm starting to doubt the legitimacy of my dress. They are authorized vendors for this manufacturer, but for some reason the dress doesn't look the same as the pictures on their website (and not just fit wise, the details are different). As I was walking out (after I bought of course) I overheard a manager saying this store might soon sell knockoff shoes from New York...

What can I do? I feel so upset and unhappy about my own wedding. The dress and cake are the two things I really care about, and now one of them is ruined.
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Re: Dress Meltdown

  • achiduckachiduck member
    5000 Comments 5 Love Its
    I would call the BBB in this case and see if they can help you negotiate with the store.
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  • kennazebrowskykennazebrowsky
    100 Comments
    I would show up and demand an exchange or your money back, hopefully they will work with you but some places have a fine print "all sales final". I would also demand to speak to the owner or gm.
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  • mbishop7mbishop7
    100 Comments
    I'm so sorry about your bad experience! It shouldn't be like this for sure. I would do like the PP and contact the BBB. 

    As far as your dress is concerned, keep contacting the store and be firm with them. If they're just being ridiculous as it seems, look into your dress more and see if it seems like a fake. May I ask the name of the store? What's your dress designer?! Perhaps you could still the dress online, make your money back and start over? 

    Don't let people push you around. I'm assuming you're just starting your wedding planning and I can tell you now, you're going to get pushed around by vendors and you'll need to be strong! They can be so mean and rude. Just let some of the bad ones go, and be firm with the ones you want. Attach to the good ones and don't let them go!
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  • meganb1977meganb1977 member
    1000 Comments
    Ditto pp's about making a complaint with the BBB if your efforts to work things out have not been productive.  I was once able to get money back from the big bad phone company that I was overcharged on my bill, because I complained to the BBB.

    If you purchased your dress with a credit card, do they have any policies where they can help you seek a return/refund?
    Whoever said it was supposed to be happily ever after is a big fat liar.
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  • rlavachrlavach member
    1000 Comments Second Anniversary 5 Love Its
    Follow the PP advice. You have to be firm, though. From the sounds of it, they were able to manipulate you to make a purchase you didn't want to. That's not acceptable. If you know that you may not be able to hold your ground, there is no shame in bringing someone with you. Bring your mom, dad, sister, whoever you know that has a strong & persistent personality. You need to go in there like you own the place & not leave until the problem is resolved.

    Now, I'm not saying this is a license to be rude. Not at all. The nicer & calmer you are, the faster they will work with you. Nice, calm, honest & persistent. 

    Good luck!

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  • lilylylilyly member
    10 Comments
    I'm surprised they are giving you the runaround. Especially since you are willing to buy a dress from their store instead of just request a straight refund. Have a talk to the owner first rather than the salesstaff.
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  • thousandtreesthousandtrees
    10 Comments
    It might be worth checking laws in your state/municipality. Some places give consumers statutory rights regarding sales and returns, and a common one is reasonable expectation of quality product. If you suspect the dress might be a knockoff (especially if it was sold at a designer price), look closely at the seams and details, which can tell the tale. If they have falsely sold a knockoff dress under a designer label, that's illegal in many places. The BBB can probably help with this.

    Did they provide you with a return policy when you purchased? And if so, is it in writing on your receipt?

    If they refuse to deal with you, review them badly in public forums, so that other brides can avoid the same problem. You may be able to sell the dress to a consignment boutique - it's not right for you, but it might be perfect for someone else! I bought my dress in a consignment boutique and am really happy with it.

    Good luck - that's a really frustrating situation.
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  • thurmanpowellthurmanpowell
    500 Comments
    Thanks guys!

    I feel better just being allowed to vent!

    I tried calling again today, and the "GM is in meetings till the afternoon." It's already the afternoon, but ok, I'm trying to be nice here!

    I'm usually the person who never buys anything under pressure, wedding dress shopping is just so awkward and mildly sketchy (with the whole, "we can't tell you much info till you buy it," the fact that it's impossible to tell what's a decent price, etc) that it just kinda threw me. I will definitely ask again for a refund if they won't exchange it for what I want, and if that doesn't work, then I will contact the BBB. I have filed a claim with my card company, since those take months to work out and I can always inform them if this gets resolved soon.

    As far as paper work.. that was the sketchiest thing. I expected a full, itemized receipt, but I only got the slip from the card reader??? (of course, this red flag was too late!) Also, since I bought a sample (good excuse for them to not have any tags on the dress) and not an ordered dress, I was told that I did not have much paper work to sign and their forms did not apply to me. I only filled out my address info. They claim that I should have gotten a copy of this, so I will double check the bag even though I definitely didn't see them make copies.

    What pisses me off most is that I straight up asked about their return policy! "We work with the brides if there's an issue." seemed fair enough!

    What should I look out for in the seems? The dress is Allure.
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  • Amt2109Amt2109
    100 Comments Second Anniversary
    Which Allure dress is it? Also, can you take pictures of the dress (if its a sample, I assume you have it?

    Take a couple pictures of the seams... see what the stitching looks like. You said there were different details on the dress you bought - take pictures of them too.

    The ladies here are brilliant at knowing their dresses, with a few strategic pictures I'm sure they can help you out.

    Sometimes its as simple as the quality of the material or the embroidery. Are there hanging threads everywhere? Pearls falling off? I know its a sample, but really all that should mean is perhaps a little dirt and loosening of the dress (with wear - a brand new dress feels a little more rigid if its a corset type). The quality itself should still be the same as the 'real' dress.
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  • thurmanpowellthurmanpowell
    500 Comments
    It's style 8373. The issues bothering me are:

    - The belt is different than any other picture I've been able to find of it online. Online the belt is plain with beads on the ends. This one is plain on the ends with beads in the middle... the type of "mistake" I would think knock offs would have.

    - It fit's slightly differently than real bride photo's i've found online (it's got some distinctive boning in the cups that doesn't appear to be there in other people's photos)

    - I haven't noticed weird seams but I'll look closer when I get home. If I remember correctly there isn't much of a lining. I think it's just a one sided piece of satin (or whatever it's made of)

    My fear is that to save money they may have had knock off samples then order the real one from the manufacturer. Thinking about it now, there was a distinct difference in quality between some of the sale samples and the sample-samples. I don't even know where they pulled this dress from, I didn't see it on the floor at all and it was not properly marked.

    All these things didn't seem THAT sketchy at the time, quite a few knotties have happily bought from this store, and to be honest, if not for the blantant lying now (and the different pictures) I would have ignored most of this for simplying being subpar customer service (which, let's be honest, quite a few bridal stores are known for - I've gone to a couple other stores and it feels like buying a used car!).

    The fact that they are unwilling to order a dress for me to exchange only makes me more suspicious.
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  • midgemotomidgemoto
    Sixth Anniversary 500 Comments
    how did you pay..If you used a credit card file a complaint... the company  will  help get your money back because they are too hard to fight.  
    Otherwise just take back the dress, perhaps with a friend to back you up and get a little noisy.  hopefully do this on a busy day... they will cave... just don't accept less. 
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  • midgemotomidgemoto
    Sixth Anniversary 500 Comments
    And... go in person , all in hand with a few people to back you up.   squeak that wheel... this is an excellent time because families are together around the holidays and will be shopping together... Hit saturday or the busiest day you can . 
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  • thurmanpowellthurmanpowell
    500 Comments
    The other irritating thing is that anytime I send them an email that references anything they claim they will do (like exchange) they ignore it. I get a prompt response for emails asking about what they else they sell though...
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  • Grits8812Grits8812 member
    1000 Comments
    I agree with what midgemoto said.  Go on a busy day, with at least one other person who isn't afraid to speak up.  If you don't have anything in writing about a return policy, and you weren't told about one (other than "we work it out") you should be able to get your money back one way or another.  Don't go in asking to speak with a sales person either.  Ask for the owner.  If the owner isn't there, ask for the manager.  Explain the whole situation (emails not being replied to and all) and tel lthem you want your money back.  

    If there is a store full of other shoppers, what are they really going to say? If they want the other customers business, they won't get nasty about it.
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