I walked in the shop 2 weeks after getting engaged, alone, having no clue about the dress buying business. They seemed nice, and offered to let me try on the samples without special assistance or an appointment. When I didn't find anything I likes, they started bringing out full-priced gowns. FIne. I found one I kind of liked and then the full court press started. I have never been exposed to such high-pressure sales. \r
They told me, ""you HAVE to buy it today or else it might not come in time!"" (it was mid-july, wedding is in May. The dress came in December) Even when I was worried that my mom wasn't there they dismissed me. I felt so vulnerable in their clutches and they took every advantage. \r
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FInally I agreed to get it, and innocently asked how much alterations run. $400, I asked, thinking I was way high-balling it. ""Ha ha ha, no, not that much!!!"" but no one gave any sort of estimate of what it could run. (ended up being $380...no, not that much!) PLus I swear they took my measurements wrong so they could order a bigger dress -- I saw my hips listed as 42 inches. I recently got measured for another dress and they were 38 and I haven't gained or lost a pound since then. \r
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First fitting was fine. Second fitting was scheduled and after walking through the rain I found that the shop was closed. I had been scheduled for an evening when they were closed. And there was no apology, just a ""oh, we're not open on Tuesday nights -- as if I should have known that!\r
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The sales girls are less than friendly, but the seamstress is a sweetheart. She did an amazing job altering the dress. But otherwise...Just go someplace else where they will treat you the way a customer who ends up spending over $2000 on a freaking dress should be treated.
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