Sent an email to a custom dress maker yesterday inquiring about cost (my exact wording was "I am curious about a price range for your work as well as general timeframes.").
Her reply back was "Would love to work with you. What is your budget?"
Oh HELL no.
I've already gotten a (VERY helpful) reply back from another shop (and this lady's prices are probably similar) so I'm considering sending her a snarky reply back a la "Thanks, but that doesn't answer my question about costs or time frames, thanks though" or "I don't wish for my personal budget to affect the pricing of your work." Or I could just ignore her email altogether as I'm obviously not interested in working with her now (I mean, she obviously doesn't take my concerns or opinions seriously).
Re: THAT'S NOT WHAT I FUCKING ASKED.
I tried to get with a custom corset maker and they never even bothered to reply. Talk about unprofessional!
"I'm thinking of keeping it under $100 (or some other ridiculously low number) all in, is this reasonable?"
Same thing happening with the gal I'm working with to set up morning after breakfast. Me "what's that gonna cost?" Her: "what's your max price per person budget." Seriously?
On an entertaining note, she addressed her follow up email to me as going to "mary." My name's not mary. Not even close. Think something more like "laura." She has my room block info, my initial price request info (complete with names and numbers), and she calls me by a completely different name.
In my response, I used my correct name. Wish I could have been there to see her face when she realized it...
Hello Jennifer,
How nice to hear from you and glad Yelp was informative.
Have you been to my website yet? www.hannahartnell.com You can see my general silhouette and approach to gowns. I do need to be clear that I only make my gowns...I am a designer, not a dressmaker...where you tell her what you want. I only make my designs, but try to find styles that appeal to the image you are trying to create.
I do work with lace and you will see in the website gowns that I use crystal embellishments as well. The website in just an introduction...there are many more gown styles here in my salon. All gowns are made to order, here in my studio by my amazing staff.
Most gowns in the silk charmeuse you see are in the $2800-3200 price range. That includes making the gown to your measurements- making your own pattern, fittings and basic alterations. If we end up 'redesigning' one of my gowns to create something more personal, there would be addition charges.
I also have gowns of lace, or lace in some areas, and they range from $3000 to $5500.
If you have photos of gowns you are drawn to, please send them to me and I'll see if I have dresses similar and get back to you with photos and ideas of how to achieve your dream dress.
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, Jennifer! I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Kind regards,
Hanna
And that, my friends, is customer service.
Aww, Ink, that's adorable!!! Not crazy about the puff sleeves, but we can make it work!
Again, it's impossible to know if her response was money-hungry or explorative unless we know exactly what your original inquiry was.