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DO NOT SHOP: Bridal Boutique of NC in Cary, NC

Aruna222Aruna222
in North Carolina
For brides looking to purchase your gowns or bridesmaid dresses here:  DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY.  

I first visited last week to check out their variety of bridesmaid dresses for my wedding coming up next year.  I found it odd that they did charge a "registration fee" of $20 just to try on dresses---keep in mind I already bought my wedding gown 6 months ago so I only needed to look at bridesmaid dresses.  Foolishly, I went ahead and paid the fee because they said it can go towards my future purchases.  UNFORTUNATELY, that's not the case.  I returned this week to ask about some accessories and a color swatch (which was already overpriced at $15).  I wanted to make the purchase with my ridiculous fee from the week before.  Not only did the owner refuse me but even after I tried to bargain by offering to purchase a number of accessories in addition to the swatch, she just kept explaining that I was "told already" that the fee only went towards bridal dresses--which I was not.  After going back and forth for quite awhile, I finally left feeling disappointed, cheated, and incredibly dissatisfied.  

I never raised my voice.  I was perfectly reasonable.  I originally wanted to purchase bridesmaid dresses from the shop-----but after all that, I will never step into that store ever again.  All I wanted was a color swatch to be sure about what I was ordering.  The owner, an older Indian woman, never gave me her name (instead, told me to take a business card that conveniently lacked her name) and was very rude and walked away from this discussion.  The entire time I felt like I was talking to a recording of what their policies were, over and over and over again.  She was cold, insistant, unfriendly, and unreasonable. 

For all you brides out there, it's already so difficult to plan a wedding let alone pay for one.  The industry would be much better off without business owners out there like this that only cares about taking your money.

It's a shame that the only bright spot there were the salespeople who were helpful and far friendlier than the owner--go figure.
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Re: DO NOT SHOP: Bridal Boutique of NC in Cary, NC

  • squirrelcubesquirrelcube member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011

    I would report them not only to the Better Business Bureau, but possibly to the State of North Carolina as well, as I'm not entirely sure their "registration fee" is legal.  Any reputable boutique would not even dream of charging you just to try on their merchandise.

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  • Astrid821Astrid821
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011

    My sister and I went there when we were just window shopping for my dress. They told us about the policy when we walked in so I said we'd look around to see if they had anything I was interested in trying on. They didn't so we left. 

     

    While I can understand them not wanting any girl coming in off the street just to try on pretty dresses I think it's ridiculous to make anyone pay $20 to try on dresses that could be found in other local shops. While I didn't have any probles while in the store I agree that women should save themselves the headach and shop somewhere else. 

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  • pirategal03pirategal03 member
    Knottie Warrior 5000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_north-carolina_not-shop-bridal-boutique-of-nc-cary-nc?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:115Discussion:b61fb1be-eb7a-4ff6-ab1f-d93eb3d8726dPost:c78170df-8b82-4612-8b50-988d2e15fd46">Re: DO NOT SHOP: Bridal Boutique of NC in Cary, NC</a>:
    [QUOTE]<strong>I would report them not only to the Better Business Bureau, but possibly to the State of North Carolina as well, as I'm not entirely sure their "registration fee" is legal.  </strong>Any reputable boutique would not even dream of charging you just to try on their merchandise.
    Posted by squirrelcube[/QUOTE]

    Of course it's legal. What would be illegal about it?

    Whether or not it's good business is an entirely different argument. 
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  • NcsuPsychNcsuPsych member
    2500 Comments Fourth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    SquirrelCube: While it doesn't seem 'fair' for some shops to require a fee to try on the dresses, a LOT are starting to do this, especially the more high-end shops. It's not illegal, just disliked by some. I feel its more there to protect the shops from having girls come in and playing 'dress-up' and wasting the sells associates time.
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  • Beth0882Beth0882 member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    What might be "wrong" (I am not going to say illegal, because I don't know if it is, but might be worth a check with the BBB) is if they originally told you the fee went towards purchase of any dress and then later after you paid it, changed that to only bridal dresses.  That, I would look into and maybe complain about to someone higher up.  Is their policy inwriting anywhere?  Can you ask for a copy in writing?  Sure, its only $20, but in the wedding-planning-budget world, $20 here and there makes a huge difference!
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  • bellamisto43bellamisto43 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I purchased my bridesmaid dresses through them and they gave us by far the best deal.  We found them elsewhere so I never had to pay the fee to "try on" and we've had most of the alterations done there as well.  I was pleased with them and the service we received, knowing it is not a true boutique, services were as expected.  

    I'm sorry you had a bad experience with them.
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  • becka1126becka1126 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    My girlfriend bought her wedding dress there and I purchased a bridesmaid dress there because they offer a discount if three or more are bought.  But I agree (along with any of my friends who have went there) that the owner is very rude!  I myself would never go back there to purchase anything for myself because of how she acts but would send my bridemaids only so they can get a deal on the dress I pick for them to wear in my wedding.
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  • tarheelbabstarheelbabs member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I was there in 1/10 shopping for a gown. Only made one trip there because the owner several of you have mentioned was equally unpleasant to me. The sales women who helped me try on the dresses--since I was by myself--were very pleasant, though.
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  • Krissy106Krissy106 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I seriously wish I had seen this post before going there 2 weeks ago with my sister. The owner was just as rude to me and when I found a dress I liked the owner was really pushing me to buy it. I know it's a store and that's what they do, but I explained that I wanted to come back with my mother to show her the dress first. She just kept pushing me to buy it right now saying the dress was about to be discontinued (in 2 months) and they were closed the next day, and things like that. It's one thing to want to make a sale, but I didn't appreciate her rudeness, condescension, or the tactic of being scared in to buying a dress just so I don't miss out. It's my wedding dress! I'm going to make sure it's right! Hopefully other brides will see this in time, because it was no fun leaving that store and feeling bullied:-(
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