Do Not buy from....

Re: Do Not buy from....

• aimers1525 member

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  Which HOB did you purchase your dress from? I would say that right now they have the only dress that (I'm assuming) fits you and that you paid for so you want to at least walk away with that since it looks like your wedding is less than two months away. Ask politely if they will make the alterations you originally requested right away w/out charging you. Do you have your receipt or contract that details that you wanted the zip up instead of the corset?

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• TAMARAJOY516

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  I wanted the corset instead of the zip up and I do have that specified on the recite. I have an other option to get the same dress the way I want it with in 20 days for a whole lot cheaper then I paid at house of brides. That is one of the many reasons I am ready to just demand my money back. They do not deserve my business at all.

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• Love is Bald

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_not-buy-anything-house-of-brides?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:72Discussion:f2dc72a2-fb5c-4775-8f9e-f62207533b27Post:bbc351c0-ff2b-47b6-b842-40b01d8e7e6f">Do Not buy from....</a>:
  [QUOTE]I ordered my dress in October from House of Brides. Everything seemed just fine I loved my consulted. I specail ordered my dress to have a corset back instead of a zipper up fake button style. They told me my dress would be here the first week of June.
  
  <em>Through out the past 9 months I have never recieved a phone call from them letting me know that my dress is on schedule or anything.
  </em>
  <strong>I dont think they have a responsibility to call you to update you on the status.  If they told you June, they probably wont even know until a couple weeks before your scheduled date what the status is, as dresses are made according to wedding date priority and order dates.  Things can change beyond the stores control. I cant see that is such a daunting task for you to call and get a status update.  Also keep in mind that HOB stores do TONS of business and your dress being made 8 months away is not so much of a priority than it is for brides with closer dates.</strong>
  
  So I decided to called them about a month ago and make sure it would be here by the first week of June they said it would be there.  Then I called them a couple days after the 1st to see if my dress was there yet and they said it would be here on the 13th. Well that would make it a week late. Then on Monday the 13th I called and again it was not there and they said it would be here today (thursday the 16th). I was so mad. 
  
  Then today I call and call and call and I keep being put on hold then tranfered to voice mails and no one ever calls me back. So finely I tell the receptionist to go find the ordering lady and put her on the phone. Then the lady is kinda rude with me but I can tell she is trying to keep it in. She tells me that fed ex does not deliver until until between 2 and 5. (It would have been nice for them to tell me that last time I called!) 
  
  <strong>This is pretty legit.  If they told you Thursday, why not give them until the afternoon to check to see if it came in?  Assuming that the delivery was coming standard shipping, FedEx's requirements are to delievered by days end of business, as the priority and next day service will come first thing in the morning for shipments.  Granted, whoever you told should have been upfront about it instead of letting you get so angry.</strong>
  
  Anyways... so it's finally 6 o'clock and they call to tell me my dress is in. I go there to try it on and when we (my sister and I) take it out of the plastic we notice it is not a corset back! I felt like crying. So now we are demanding that the dress be fixed in the next two weeks or we want a full refund. But I think tomorrow I am going to tell the manager that I want a full refund right now becuase I do not want to deal with their crappy store anymore!  Does any one have any suggestions of how I should deal with this?
  
  <strong>This would upset me too, so I hear you on this one.  When is your wedding?  Is there enough time to let them try and correct the issue?  If they end up sending it to their seamstress to get it the way you want it, it needs to be up to your standards and I would have them put it in writing that as they attempt to alter the dress according to original specifications, if it is not met to the customers satisfaction a full refund should be issued immediately.</strong>
  Posted by TAMARAJOY516[/QUOTE]
  
  <strong>Honestly, your stuck in a pretty sticky situation.  But I do think you need to give them a chance to correct the issue.  Im sure the last thing they want is to lose your business.  But I also think you were acting a little zilla-ish before your dress even arrived at the store.  Keeping a level-head throughout this situation will get you further than taking a mean approach.</strong>

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• TAMARAJOY516

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  Thanks so much for the advise. I do know I was reacting a like a bridezilla, but it was like pulling teeth to try to get any info on where my dress was and when it would come in. I called and left messages several times and never got a response back from the ordering person. They have not been very professional on their part. The store manager is suppose to call me this afternoon hopefully it can be resolved. An other issue I was concerned about was the fact that I would have to pay extra to have my dress pressed or steamed. Everyone I have talked to said that when they went to try on their dress at pick up that it was already pressed. But last night my dressed looked like a train wreck it was so wrinkled. That is not acceptable right? Am I wrong in expecting my dress to be wrinkle free when I see it for te first time after buying it?

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• Eener23

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  Mine was steamed when I picked it up & they said I could bring it back to be steamed again before the wedding if I wanted, but I bought from David's. I've heard way too many HOB horror stories to trust them with anything.
  
  I hope they at least give you some sort of reimbursement for the mistake on the corset.

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• aimers1525 member

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_not-buy-anything-house-of-brides?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:f2dc72a2-fb5c-4775-8f9e-f62207533b27Post:3ddca378-2bf6-4413-bc4b-514e9a6fcce3">Re: Do Not buy from....</a>:
  [QUOTE]Thanks so much for the advise. I do know I was reacting a like a bridezilla, but it was like pulling teeth to try to get any info on where my dress was and when it would come in. I called and left messages several times and never got a response back from the ordering person. They have not been very professional on their part. The store manager is suppose to call me this afternoon hopefully it can be resolved. An other issue I was concerned about was the fact that I would have to pay extra to have my dress pressed or steamed. <strong>Everyone I have talked to said that when they went to try on their dress at pick up that it was already pressed. But last night my dressed looked like a train wreck it was so wrinkled. That is not acceptable right? Am I wrong in expecting my dress to be wrinkle free when I see it for te first time after buying it?</strong>
  Posted by TAMARAJOY516[/QUOTE]
  The person who altered my dress steamed it for me, but then she put it in a bag to transport it and such, so it was a little wrinkly. My mom bought me a $20 hand steamer and we used it the night before the wedding and it worked okay. Just check the fabric of your dress to see if you can steam it.

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• Love is Bald

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_not-buy-anything-house-of-brides?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:72Discussion:f2dc72a2-fb5c-4775-8f9e-f62207533b27Post:3ddca378-2bf6-4413-bc4b-514e9a6fcce3">Re: Do Not buy from....</a>:
  [QUOTE]Thanks so much for the advise. I do know I was reacting a like a bridezilla, but it was like pulling teeth to try to get any info on where my dress was and when it would come in. I called and left messages several times and never got a response back from the ordering person. They have not been very professional on their part. The store manager is suppose to call me this afternoon hopefully it can be resolved. An other issue I was concerned about was the fact that I would have to pay extra to have my dress pressed or steamed. Everyone I have talked to said that when they went to try on their dress at pick up that it was already pressed. But last night my dressed looked like a train wreck it was so wrinkled. That is not acceptable right? Am I wrong in expecting my dress to be wrinkle free when I see it for te first time after buying it?
  Posted by TAMARAJOY516[/QUOTE]
  
  I totally agree with you, your dress should be pressed at no extra charge... and with the big error in the dress, they should be throwing in the bells and whistles.  I think that once the alterations are completed is when the dress is pressed, but I could be wrong.  When I worked at a dress shop, the dresses were pressed before they left the store after the final fitting.  Pressing a dress is not that hard for the store to do and the only thing that is needed is the steam machine.  To charge for it is pretty ridic!   Afterall, they really should comphensate you for the troubles... I mean the dress not coming in correctly is a pretty big deal.  Best of luck, keep us updated!
  
  When is your wedding?

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• TAMARAJOY516

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  My wedding is August 6th, but I had also heard of people waiting until the week of their wedding to get their dress from HOB so I told them my wedding is July 2nd. So for all they know my wedding is in 2 weeks and they screwed up my dress.

  
  

  When you went for your first sitting was your dress completely wrinkled like it had just come out of the shipping box?

  
  

  
  

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• Love is Bald

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  When I went to view my dress in February when it came in, it was in the garment bag wrinkled.  I was told that my dress would be pressed after the alterations were completed.

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• amyb140 member

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  I'm sorry that you had such a bad experience!!  I bought my dress from HOB (Franklin St. location) and have had nothing but positive things to say.  I got engaged in March, bought my dress right away, and it came in in April.  They've also been great about alterations - I am having a lining put in the top of the dress because it's see-thru, so I've had to have more than the usual amount of fittings.  
  
  I'm sure the manager will work it out for you - you've still got a couple of months.  Hang in there! 

  

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• aimers1525 member

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_not-buy-anything-house-of-brides?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:f2dc72a2-fb5c-4775-8f9e-f62207533b27Post:4e4a1916-3e70-4c9c-b245-7827a5c48aed">Re: Do Not buy from....</a>:
  [QUOTE]My wedding is August 6th, but I had also heard of people waiting until the week of their wedding to get their dress from HOB so I told them my wedding is July 2nd. So for all they know my wedding is in 2 weeks and they screwed up my dress. <strong>When you went for your first sitting was your dress completely wrinkled like it had just come out of the shipping box?</strong>
  Posted by TAMARAJOY516[/QUOTE]
  When I picked up my dress from the bridal salon it was in the garment bag wrinkly. It wasn't a big deal to me since I knew I was getting it altered. I guess in your case I would expect it to be unwrinkled.

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• KATERS882 member

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  I bought my dress from HOB Schaumburg last August for my May wedding.  I had a great consultant at the Schaumburg location that put my wedding date down as the middle of April.  My dress came in at the end of February beginning of March.  They never called to follow up.  They called when the dress came in and again when the veil came in.  But I stopped by a couple of times to follow up regarding my dress and the last time I stopped by before my dress came in and that was sometime in late January and they said my dress would be in the 2nd week of March.  It ended up coming in earlier than they told me when I stopped in January.  I know a lot people have had a bad experience with HOB but I don't think it just depends on the store.....I think the consultant is really important. I had bad luck with Davids 3 different times with 3 different consultants (they helped people that didn't have an appointment instead of helping me into dresses or shopping and said they didnt have time, etc).   Im not saying HOB was right but I think if you talk to the Manager they should make the changes you want for no extra charge especially if your invoice says that you were supposed to have a corset back.
  
   By the way, I had alterations done there and at the last appointment I waited for them to press/steam it so I could take it with me.  I didnt pay a separate press or steam fee.  Maybe it was included in the alterations.  I don't know but I didn't pay a separate press/steam fee.  Since I bought my veil from them, they also steamed/pressed my veil since it had been a plastic bag since it came in.
  
  I wish you luck.

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• hz80408 member

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  If they don't fix your dress to the corset; I would threaten to contact BBB (Better Business Bureau).  Most likely, this may help convince them to fix the dress...do you have in writing that it should have had a corset back? 
  
  If you do, and they wouldn't give it to you; I'd definitely file a complaint with BBB (just search them and you can do it online).
  
  Also, did you have in writing about the dress being pressed?  While, yes it'd be ideal to have it ready to wear; if it's not in writing, there's really nothing you can do, other than post complaints/bad reviews).
  
  I personally think HOB-Chicago (Franklin) is awful.  I purchased my dress OOT.  HOB is the only place I gave my information to and within a week's time I received phone calls, emails and letters from various vendors in the wedding business (even though my wedding was ~200 miles from Chicago).  It was clear to me that they sold my information.  They also send me an "anonymous" letter about Eva's Bridal with a lie about poor service, etc...really?  Trying to outsell competition by stopping to such a low level?  Unacceptable to me.  In fact, if I remember correctly, I think I filed a claim with BBB for HOB giving out my information.

  Mrs. Blog | Ms. Bio
  
  

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• TAMARAJOY516

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  Ok Ladies here is the update!

  
  

  HOB called the manufacturer and they immediately started making my dress the way they were originally suppose to make it. 

  
  

  As far as I know it was not HOB's mistake since all the paper work I had and the order form said there was suppose to be a corset back. Either way it is getting fixed.

  
  

  I talked to the store manager and I told her it is unacceptable that I should have to pay for my dress to be pressed and that I expect it to be pressed when I pick it up! She said that it will be pressed for me before I come to get it.

  
  

  And finally the dress is suppose to be here the first week of July! I will update you all and let you know if it actually gets here by then. 

  
  

  Even though everything has hopefully been corrected I still would not recommend anyone getting anything from there unless you want to deal with the stress and aggravation right before your wedding!

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• Kare415

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  I knew it was a HOB story before I even opened up this thread. I worked there for a little bit and they have HORRIBLE business practices and customer service. I saw them call the police on a bride (who came in to pick up her dress but they refused to release it to her and she refused to leave and thus the police intervened); I've seen them place an order for a MOB's dream dress, only to get it a few weeks before her daughter's wedding in the WRONG color and thus left with a green non-refundable dress and left to scramble for a new red dress. Just so you know, the way they think over there is if you buy from HOB and something goes wrong, it's never their fault- it's yours and they'll be sure to let you know it. Beware!

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