$360 for alterations?!?!?!?! UPDATE - Post 1

[meliss8599]

on a bridesmaids dress? The bridal shop I got the dresses from recommended a local cleaners/tailor b/c they were "reasonable". I have to disagree.

Now granted, I KNOW it will be a lot of work (what job isn't) but I just got charged $360 to take in and and hem two dresses (one of them a junior bridesmaid dress). I was told it is so expensive b/c "they are lined and I have to do two layers and it's a lot of work." I had a pair of jeans that I wanted the waist taken in and she wanted to charge $50!!!!! I've been charged $11 in the past!!!! The only reason I went to this place is b/c I was told it was "reasonable"!!!!! OMG

I just about DIED so she lowered it to $320. I am absolutely sick as I thought it would be no more than $200 max. When I got home I called other places and they stated it would be ~$60 each soooooo, I'm too emarrassed to do it so I sent DH to go pick them up and say I don't want the work done there.

UPDATE

Whew! DH picked the dresses up and he said the owner gave him the money and dresses back no problem (almost a little sheepish). I called around the neighborhood and found a local woman who works out of her house who just fitted us and...........

$168 total for two dresses and one pair of pants taken in!!! This woman will definitely be getting future business from me and I will be telling my mother and all the other bridesmaids to patronize her instead. I will also be making a phone call to the bridal salon who recommended the original place to tell them what a rip off place they sent me to and to NOT send others there. If they want the name/number of the person I went to, I will gladly give it to them.

Thanks everyone for making me feel better and not embarrassed about taking the dresses back!!!!

 

[JoiseyMom]

on a bridesmaids dress? The bridal shop I got the dresses from recommended a local cleaners/tailor b/c they were "reasonable". I have to disagree.

Now granted, I KNOW it will be a lot of work (what job isn't) but I just got charged $360 to take in and and hem two dresses (one of them a junior bridesmaid dress). I was told it is so expensive b/c "they are lined and I have to do two layers and it's a lot of work." I had a pair of jeans that I wanted the waist taken in and she wanted to charge $50!!!!! I've been charged $11 in the past!!!! The only reason I went to this place is b/c I was told it was "reasonable"!!!!! OMG

I just about DIED so she lowered it to $320. I am absolutely sick as I thought it would be no more than $200 max. When I got home I called other places and they stated it would be ~$60 each soooooo, I'm too emarrassed to do it so I sent DH to go pick them up and say I don't want the work done there.

DOn't be embarrassed. Go yourself and tell her you can get it done LOTS cheaper...thank you for your time, have a nice day.

I am about to deal with this. I will find out what the bridal shop wants to charge for altering DD's dress, and I have to go somewhere for my dress. I will ask the local tailor and a friend knows a really good seamstress.

$180/dress is WAY too much!! OMG...my DD bridesmaids dress only cost 200!!

 

[krcit]

That's insane!!! You can buy 3 new dresses for that!

 

[scrapquitler]

on a bridesmaids dress? The bridal shop I got the dresses from recommended a local cleaners/tailor b/c they were "reasonable". I have to disagree.

I would be picking that dress up FAST before they have a chance to touch it.

HOnestly, in my (limited) experience, I've never heard of a bridal shop that didn't take care of the alterations themselves, on the premises.

 

[ccgirl]

I had the same thing happen to me. A bridesmaid dress I was wearing cost $200. When I went for alterations, it was approx $300. That was more than the dress. I called around for estimates and they were all around that though. The problem???? I had done Weight Watchers (successfully) and the dress was now at least 3 sizes too big.

Has your DH picked up the dress yet? If not; I would call the place and let them know the other estimates you are getting and see if they will match it. I wouldn't be embarassed if I were you. The cleaners should be embarassed for charging you that much. Good luck.

 

[terri01p]

 

[Kae]

One time when I was a Bridesmaid out of town the Braidal shop got mad at me because I picked up my dress before alterations, they made this big deal about they never had anyone use anyone else. Well I went to the same gal that did them for my wedding & they ordered my dress too big which then put me into the plus size dress which was $20 more(I was not plus size then- but I am now) My gal showed me the size chart. which was funny because 3 mths later I went to get measured at a shop & the gal who did it brought out the chart to show me what size she thought would be the best. Which was 2 sizes smaller than my other one-same brand.

Kae

 

[Buckeye Princess]

I had a lined bridesmaid dress that needed shortened and taken in. I was quoted $250. So I did it myself.

 

[krcit]

One time when I was a Bridesmaid out of town the Braidal shop got mad at me because I picked up my dress before alterations, they made this big deal about they never had anyone use anyone else. Well I went to the same gal that did them for my wedding & they ordered my dress too big which then put me into the plus size dress which was $20 more(I was not plus size then- but I am now) My gal showed me the size chart. which was funny because 3 mths later I went to get measured at a shop & the gal who did it brought out the chart to show me what size she thought would be the best. Which was 2 sizes smaller than my other one-same brand.

Kae

It's a scam I swear! I was in a good friends wedding and when I went to try on the dress, the top was waaaaaay to tight(this was pre-breast reduction) I was a 14 on top and an 8 on the bottom and they ordered an 8. The girl got all snippy with me and told me that I must have gained weight. I flipped out and made her get my order form and re-measure me. Sure enough, all my measurements were exactly the same from the first time. The then had the nerve to try to charge me for alterations. I refused to pay for them and said " I will call my credit card and cancel payment and you can keep the dress. It's not my wedding so I don't care." I was bluffing..I never would've done that to my friend but I was so po'd about the snotty lady telling me I gained weight that I turned into a lunatic. They did the alterations for free but the dress was hardly wearable so I literally threw it in the garbage after the wedding.

 

[Hillbeans]

I think this is a huge racket! I was in a friend's wedding many years ago and wore an 8/10. The shop ordered me a size 18 dress because they told me over and over again the dresses run small. The dress came in and it was way too big and I was told "why did I order such a large dress", etc. Of course I had to pay almost the cost of the dress to get it altered in their shop - I think it's just their way of making more $$$ on a customer. It never happened again, i've made sure of that.

 

[meliss8599]

I think this is a huge racket! I was in a friend's wedding many years ago and wore an 8/10. The shop ordered me a size 18 dress because they told me over and over again the dresses run small. The dress came in and it was way too big and I was told "why did I order such a large dress", etc. Of course I had to pay almost the cost of the dress to get it altered in their shop - I think it's just their way of making more $$$ on a customer. It never happened again, i've made sure of that.

YES!!!!!!! This is so annoying but totally happens! They FORCED me to order a size larger for my daughter b/c she's "going to grow". I VERY reluctantly agreed and I am so mad. The dress we received was a full two sizes large. They try to scare you with, "You can always take a dress in but you can't make it much larger."

 

[Mrs. Charming]

My *wedding* dress was $60 to alter including hem, bustle, and beading on the bust. Granted I got a ridiculous deal.. but eeeeeep!! That's a lot of cash. I'm glad you got a more reasonable offer!

 

[lecach]

I worked in a bridal shop - and the dressed DO run small. What we would do is take the measurements and show the customer the chart. We'd recommend what size we thought but left the final decision up to the customer. Unfortunately you usually have to go with a size that it too large in one area in order to fit another.

 

[stsomewhere]

When my Sis got married i was pregnant with #2 who was due in Jan. and wedding was in June. I made them measure my sis and use her measurements. They were not very happy. I was the only one who did not need to have the dress altered.

 

[C.Ann]

Good grief! We didn't even pay that much for the alterations on my DD's wedding gown!!!!!!

 

[OceanAnnie]

I'm glad for the good outcome, OP. Good job!

Wedding party alterations are a scam in my book. The whole thing. You buy your clothes off the rack every day of your life and then for a wedding, it's imperative you have a fitting. I don't buy it. I *could* understand an occasional nip or tuck here or there. But the ordering a whole different size or sizes to re-create a dress (and pad pockets) is ridiculous.

 

[surfergirl602]

They probably recommended that place because they probably have a contract or something with them - sending business each others way, etc. It happens a lot, and that's why you should always do the research yourself and call around! I'm so glad that you found a person who would do it for so much cheaper.