Not Happy with Dress

Ginny · 19-01-2015 08:34PM

What condition was the sample dress in? Worst case scenario could you take that at a ridiculously reduced rate and get it altered? Mine was off the peg, completely lace dress and was taken in 4 sizes with no difference in the shape or quality.
I'd put money on the shop being the place that closed down their 2 other shops and were supposed to be going under completely at one stage.

heldel00 · 19-01-2015 08:34PM

xzanti wrote: »

I didn't think to ask if the sample was still there but I have photos on my phone of me in the sample and they look totally different. To be honest it looks like I ordered a cheap copy of it from China. Even the satin detail around the midriff looks crap compared to the sample. I'd nearly rather she sold me the sample.

I think the sample was about a 12/14 and she pegged it at the back. She told me she was ordering me a 12 as it was easier to adjust a dress to make it smaller, which makes sense. I'm about a 10.

I've no real issue with the dress being baggy around the middle, I understand that it can be taken in. It just looks really weired around the top. I don't see how they can make the lace part longer. It's a combination of lace around the neckline, then satin and lace around the bust, and just satin around the midriff. They'd have to add more lace in order for it to look right.

I've been looking at photos of both dresses and the difference is startling tbh.
Yeah she had pegs at the back.

Not saying that this is what happened but a wedding dress supplier in cavan was found out by a customer that she was getting copies of designer dresses made in China and passing them off as the real deal. Only was found out when she fecked off on holidays,left a bride to be in the lurch and bride made contact with the dress company who hadn't had an order off shop owner in months and months.

LynnGrace · 19-01-2015 08:38PM

No Valium to offer, but just want to say well done on giving it to them straight. Fingers crossed you get sorted, asap. Might be worth throwing out a query on a few wedding sites re tracking down the dress elsewhere, if they can't come up with the goods.

Best of luck!

boogaloop · 19-01-2015 09:22PM

What a horrible & incredibly stressful thing to happen, so sorry to hear that. You are so right to just demand your money back and please don't panic over choosing another dress - you honestly do have enough time, even though the shop will no doubt try & scare you by saying you don't.

I'd love to see the photos on pm, hard to believe they could have ballsed it up that much on the measurements - sounds to me like it's a completely different design of a dress?

I really hope they will change their tune & pronto. I think first option might be to see if they still have the sample dress & can they give you that at a really reduced rate? (as in, give you all of your money back & then you pay something for the sample?). If there's no dice with that then I'd demand the refund & just leave. They obviously won't be in business for much longer with that kind of attitude.

Check out other wedding sites - there are some amazing dressmakers around that I bet you could make something really similar if you show them the photos you took of yourself in the right dress last February.

Best of luck with it all, you could really do without this kind of worry at the moment. Hugs!

pooch90 · 19-01-2015 09:27PM

heldel00 wrote: »

Not saying that this is what happened but a wedding dress supplier in cavan was found out by a customer that she was getting copies of designer dresses made in China and passing them off as the real deal. Only was found out when she fecked off on holidays,left a bride to be in the lurch and bride made contact with the dress company who hadn't had an order off shop owner in months and months.

I was blessed, I had an appointment to go there as they had an Essense of Australia dress I really wanted to try. Arrived at her garage (shop) and there wasn't anyone there. Glad I fecked off in a huff instead of waiting/rescheduling.

heldel00 · 19-01-2015 09:46PM

We may not be talking about the same person. A few ladies in cavan do a fine job from their own homes/ garages but this particular con-artist left a few girls high and dry. She had no shame in telling them "well I'm in Australia for a month so I can't do much for ya!"

michellie · 19-01-2015 09:47PM

pooch90 wrote: »

I was blessed, I had an appointment to go there as they had an Essense of Australia dress I really wanted to try. Arrived at her garage (shop) and there wasn't anyone there. Glad I fecked off in a huff instead of waiting/rescheduling.

Jesus that's awful. What happened with that shop in the end?

OP I feel for you, its awful to have this stress so close to the wedding when you have been dreaming about your dress all year. I only ordered my dress last week and the thoughts of this happening gives me a sick feeling in my stomach.I hope you get sorted, by any chance would you pm me the shop name?

xzanti · 19-01-2015 10:03PM

Ginny wrote: »

What condition was the sample dress in? Worst case scenario could you take that at a ridiculously reduced rate and get it altered? Mine was off the peg, completely lace dress and was taken in 4 sizes with no difference in the shape or quality.
I'd put money on the shop being the place that closed down their 2 other shops and were supposed to be going under completely at one stage.

The sample dress was fine when I tried it on but that was a year ago. I'd say it's seen a few bodys since then

I've emailed the designer themselves and asked them to contact me asap!

The more I look at the pics the more I'm smelling a rat. Really starting to suspect that it came from elsewhere

19-01-2015 10:09PM

oh no that's awful what a scam!!
i hope it works out ok

can you PM me the pics as well please?

cookiecakes · 19-01-2015 10:12PM

Oh you poor thing..I have no advice to offer but hope everything works out for you...

pwurple · 19-01-2015 10:18PM

Really hope this gets sorted. Such a mess when these things go wrong.

If you paid any part of that on credit card, see if you can cancel, or lodge a dispute.

rustyf81 · 19-01-2015 10:20PM

This is just so unbelievable. You poor poor girl, 9 weeks to go this is the last thing you want to have to deal with but good on you for following it up. You are absolutely right.
I was a bit uneasy when my dress came in because it was so out of shape but I was able to visualise exactly what it would look like when alterations were done.
And it turned out perfect.

Would you mind sending me on a pic please?

If you are going back into the shop, be absolutely certain to bring at least two ppl with you as back up - a dressmaker if possible too, someone to talk the talk.

Keep us all posted.

Shadylou · 19-01-2015 10:41PM

My sister is in the middle of sorting out something like this at the mo..pm me if you want more details

Toots · 19-01-2015 10:43PM

xzanti wrote: »

The sample dress was fine when I tried it on but that was a year ago. I'd say it's seen a few bodys since then

I've emailed the designer themselves and asked them to contact me asap!

The more I look at the pics the more I'm smelling a rat. Really starting to suspect that it came from elsewhere

That's a good idea! I'd imagine the designer would be less than pleased to find out that a stockist of their dresses was possibly selling something that wasn't above board.

amor3 · 19-01-2015 11:19PM

Wow, so sorry for all the stress this is obviously causing at this stage of the planning!

If you don't mind, could you pm the name of the shop, I've just started looking, I've been to 3 shops in dublin but I'd like to stay away from that one!

Good luck with the dress hunting..

Robyn_14 · 19-01-2015 11:42PM

amor3 wrote: »

Wow, so sorry for all the stress this is obviously causing at this stage of the planning!

If you don't mind, could you pm the name of the shop, I've just started looking, I've been to 3 shops in dublin but I'd like to stay away from that one!

Good luck with the dress hunting..

I'm so sorry to hear this, I feel I'll for you. Would you mind pm'ing me the name also, as I have just ordered my dress? And the photos too if you don't mind. Thanks so much and hope it all works out x

tinkerbell · 19-01-2015 11:46PM

Oh no!! What an absolute disaster. That is one of the most stressful things that can happen in the lead up to your wedding. Can you PM me the pics too? I'd be so interested to see them. Are you allowed PM the name of the shop? I've a couple of friends who've just got engaged so they'll be starting wedding dress shopping soon and would like to warn them. I have to say, when I went dress shopping myself the attitudes of certain shops were appalling. im so sorry this happened to you

It's a great idea to contact the dress designer directly - get on that first thing tomorrow. Did you pay via credit card? Lodge a dispute with the bank. I hope you can get this sorted.

Penny Tration · 20-01-2015 09:00AM

Op, did you pay cash or card?

You have rights here. What you were sold is unfit for purpose and not as described. Fcuk alterations, you're entitled to your money back.

If you paid a mixture of cash and card, and can afford to do it this way - ask your bank for a chargeback because the goods are not as described, go get a new dress, and small claims court for whatever you paid in cash.

Gatica · 20-01-2015 09:43AM

OP, could you please PM the pictures if you wouldn't mind?

Sorry that it had to come to this for you. Best you get your money back though as even if the dress turned out ok after lots of tweaking, you'd just feel unhappy in it as it's been such a source of stress for you.
Hope you find a different dress you love and can feel happy in too. It may not be standard time for getting a wedding dress, but there's plenty you can do with buying off the rack, seeing if you can get sample sale somewhere, Barnardos shop, and resizing another dress, which should only take a couple of days.

pooch90 · 20-01-2015 10:41AM

heldel00 wrote: »

We may not be talking about the same person. A few ladies in cavan do a fine job from their own homes/ garages but this particular con-artist left a few girls high and dry. She had no shame in telling them "well I'm in Australia for a month so I can't do much for ya!"

I'm assuming it was Serendipity Style in Virginia you were talking about?
Wasn't trying to tar anyone working from home with a bad brush, I got my BM dresses from a similar set up in Galway and my alterations too.

OP, awful for you but I have full faith you can get this sorted in time.
Big hugs!

Milly33 · 20-01-2015 12:04PM

Glad that you made the decision to call her up on it and not let her get away with it. By the sounds of it, it could be very well what people are saying that maybe she is getting the dresses made cheaper abroad.. The dress is hardly on JJS house is it or Alxi Express... Not saying there is anything wrong with them but if she is lie-ing to you, she should fess up.

Shameful of her to do such a thing I hope karma comes and takes a big bite out of her arse... Horrible people do not think doing stuff like this can be so nasty..

pwurple · 20-01-2015 12:37PM

It definitely looks like completely different lace and cut on top alright, and the waist is way too loose... Maybe pressing would change the way the lace looks, and alteration changes the waist, but it's so hard to tell!

Whether or not it's the dress or a mistake, the woman in the shop is some bloody idiot for making you try it on unpressed, or without clipping it behind so you could see what an alteration does.

I've been dress shopping loads of times with friends and family, that is the normal procedure. The customer does not leave the shop after some half-arsed look at a crumpled unaltered dress.

lazygal · 20-01-2015 01:01PM

OP I think maybe you should hold off on posting about this any more until you get sorted. There's a few accusations flying about here and it could make things difficult for you if you need to take a case about it. I probably sound paranoid but you don't want to give the shop any excuse to wiggle out of this. Sorry if the mods think I'd backseat modding btw.

heldel00 · 20-01-2015 08:07PM

pooch90 wrote: »

I'm assuming it was Serendipity Style in Virginia you were talking about?
Wasn't trying to tar anyone working from home with a bad brush, I got my BM dresses from a similar set up in Galway and my alterations too.

OP, awful for you but I have full faith you can get this sorted in time.
Big hugs!

I didn't like to name names but ...

xzanti · 20-01-2015 09:17PM

I rang her at open of business this morning, took me a good while to get through to her, was hanging on the line for ages and she eventually answered.

Started telling me the "Great News" that she had spoken to the designer and they were going to "Replace" my dress. I just told her no uncertain terms that I wanted nothing got to do with that dress or her shop and that my correspondence with her had come to an end, my Husband-to-Be was going in there at lunchtime and my money in cash better be ready.

Sure enough I got a full refund. No questions asked when the hubby went in.

I rang a place in Naas who very kindly fitted me in at lunchtime, I was all set to buy a sample dress when she pulled out a beautiful brand new gown, just happened to be my size and everything and within my budget. I bought that dress and she gave me a great deal on a gorgeous veil too.

I couldn't be happier

the dress is SO flattering on me and it's a style that I hadn't even tried on before picking the first dress.

Toots am I allowed to name the offending outlet on the thread or will I keep it for PM?

Thanks so much to everyone for all the kind messages of support

Penny Tration · 20-01-2015 09:19PM

What a fantastic ending to a horrible situation.

I'm so glad it worked out so well for you, and I'm sure you'll be a beautiful bride in your new dress

Stheno · 20-01-2015 09:20PM

xzanti wrote: »

I rang her at open of business this morning, took me a good while to get through to her, was hanging on the line for ages and she eventually answered.

Started telling me the "Great News" that she had spoken to the designer and they were going to "Replace" my dress. I just told her no uncertain terms that I wanted nothing got to do with that dress or her shop and that my correspondence with her had come to an end, my Husband-to-Be was going in there at lunchtime and my money in cash better be ready.

Sure enough I got a full refund. No questions asked when the hubby went in.

I rang a place in Naas who very kindly fitted me in at lunchtime, I was all set to buy a sample dress when she pulled out a beautiful brand new gown, just happened to be my size and everything and within my budget. I bought that dress and she gave me a great deal on a gorgeous veil too.

I couldn't be happier the dress is SO flattering on me and it's a style that I hadn't even tried on before picking the first dress.

Toots am I allowed to name the offending outlet on the thread or will I keep it for PM?

Thanks so much to everyone for all the kind messages of support

That's brilliant news, I'm delighted for you

xzanti · 20-01-2015 09:20PM

I actually haven't got the heart to name and shame them on the thread

I don't want to bring bad karma on myself.

Anyone who asked for the name, I'll PM them.

Just give me a little while

Penny Tration · 20-01-2015 09:20PM

Could I please have the name if you don't mind?

20-01-2015 09:21PM

i'm so happy! sorted out so quickly!

is it ok to see the new dress on via PM too?? I'm curious after seeing the other ones

Not Happy with Dress

Comments