Summer's Planning Journal 08/20 Update 08/10/07

[Summer-Caitlin]

Hi girls, well the pixie dust must have worked from you all as I found 'The One'. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of the dress. It is a Rosetta Nicolini ivory off the shoulder wedding dress, and it certainly has the wow factor. The skirt is huge and the train is really long, it is silk and the corset is zipped and buttoned at the back and is encrusted with crystals. There is gathering in the skirt too, just as I had hoped. Although I have had to buy new shoes and I will have to splurge on a new veil as my existing one is white. I have saved money on this dress as it was on sale. I bought it off the rack and the only alterations it needs are 2 inches off the hem and the off the shoulder straps have to be taken in slightly.
It is so gorgeous, and I can't believe I got it so cheap. I am going for my dress fitting tomorrow afternoon at 4pm after the alterations should be finished. I just dropped it off at the dressmakers just now.
I am so happy, I think it was meant to be, it is so much nicer than the other one, I'm ecstatic
I hope to take some pictures tomorrow so I can post them. I'll see what I can do.
I now need to buy Steven another shirt as he originally had white, so I spent all afternoon looking for a similar color, unfortunately it isn't the easiest color of shirts to buy. I did however get a cravat almost identical to the color of my dress. Although my dress says ivory it's more a whiter ivory than the darker ivory. I bought butterfly jewel encrusted flip flops for the wedding in ivory too, also on sale. I couldn't possibly wear the white ones as it would have been too obvious that the colors didn't match.
Thanks so much for the support, I have been so lucky today.
I have to go back to the bridal store with the other dress on Saturday.

Now the bad news. I have tried and have failed to get in contact with the store all day today and I cannot get a hold of anyone. I managed to get the answer phone just this minute and it says they are on holiday until August 21st, I was NOT told this, what do I do. I have just went out and purchased a new dress and I haven't been reimbursed fully for the old one. I am down $400 which I really need. I have no other contact number for her or anything. I don't know what to do about it!

 

[Sparkles9306]

Yeah!!! I'm glad you found another dress! Can't wait to see the photos. That's awesome that the alterations aren't too major.

That is awful that you can't get a hold of the other store. Do they have any other locations? Try using the web to search for another phone number, you may get lucky.

 

[Moonpie]

If they said they would be closed until August 21st... ...how would they have possibly helped you with the alterations, and changes you wanted with your first dress? ...didn't they say they would try and make those alterations for you? ...I would be very angry, and I would leave some strongly worded messages on their answering machine. ...AND what kind of bridal shop closes it's doors in August! Summer is the most busy wedding season!

 

[Glorydaz]

first off Summer, I am truly glad you found "the One" ! and I'm sure you are gorgeous in that dress as you would be in almost anything!

as for the other shop, I would be beyond furious!! I agree, how where they possibly going to help you fix their original mess if they were going on vacation??!! shame on them!! I would seriously think of sueing them if they give you the slightest bit of hesitation on a refund!! can you go down to the shop and see if there is an actual person there? and if they are treating you this poorly, what about their other customers??
keep us up to speed - but truly, they are a disreputable shop to say the very least and do not deserve to be in business!!

Michelle

 

[Kirsteen]

Woo hoo had to come on and check how you got on - that is brillant news - I am so chuffed for you. As everyone has said you will look gorgeous in anything so you'll look fab in your new dress.

I'm annoyed for you about the dress shop that is now closed - hello what kind of store closes in August and knowing full well the problems you are having. I hope they haven't gone on holiday so you can take the dress back and get all your money back - hit them for compensation and they might think themselves lucky just giving you what's rightly yours.

I'm v. v. happy that you found the one though xx

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

Thanks girls, this shop wasn't the one that was going to do my alterations for me. I had to go to a seperate dressmaker for this. However when I called the Sales Manager he said that I would need to go through the shop and he could get me a replacement dress, he would not deal with me one on one. As the shop is closed though, I would never have been able to get an exchange so i would have had no alternative but to buy another dress, leaving me out of pocket.
I can't see what I can do. I am away 7 days from now and won't arrive back until the 7th of September. Will I get my refund then? It's obvious I haven't used the dress as the tags are still on it. I'm so worried that I won't get the money back, even though I know legally I'm entitled. I just wanted this to be sorted before I went, as that $400 would certainly be handy right now.
There are no other telephone numbers or anything to get in contact with them. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[curiouser]

Summer I am so glad you found a dress you are in love with!! I can't wait to see photos!

That said, is there any sort of local business society that can help you get your money back? Over here we have the Better Business Bureau that can help you settle disputes with companies, do you have anything of that nature that can assist?

 

[Tabetha]

How did you pay the initial $400?

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

I paid cash to this store, Credit card to the other one

 

[Tabetha]

Ouch. That's a tough one. I don't think you're going to get your money back until they re-open. And even then they may be jerk-faces about it and not take the dress back... Bridal shops are notorious for that. Go back over your contract and look for any stipulation that would allow for a refund.

I think you need to put the money out of your mind for now, and deal with it when you get back.

When you do get back, think of any objection they can give you for refunding, and counter it. For example, if they say "It's not our fault, it's what you ordered", you'll need to have your invoice showing that they're wrong. If they blame the manufacturer, you'll need to get them to call the manufacturer in your presence and get the manufacturer to agree to take the dress back and refund the shop so they can refund you.

It's a tricky one.

 

[Tabetha]

Oh yeah, and congratulations on the new dress! How exciting!

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

Tabetha - I have NO contract I didn't sign anything

 

[Sparkles9306]

Do they have a website where you can review their policies? They should state somewhere what their refund/exhange policies are, Even if they're on the back of your receipt. You are entitled to you money and it will be obvious that you didn't wear it when it hasn't been altered, the tags are still on, and you'll have wedding pictures wearing another dress!

If they aren't forthcoming, threaten to hire a lawyer and sue, then see if they change their tone. You're studying to be a lawyer right? Use some leagl terms that they wouldn't know! As another poster said, is there any agency over there like the Better Business Bureau you can file a complaint with?

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

Hi Summer, I PM'ed you - don't worry, you have a lawyer on hand

 

[BayouPrincess]

Summer,
I'm so glad you found another dress! It seems as though your perseverance has paid off. I can't wait to see how drop dead gorgeous you look in the new one!

Now as far as this other mess with the other dress. MY GOODNESS! I don't see how they were going to help you fix the other one if they are on vacation. That makes no sense at all! How ridiculous....Sending you lots of Pixie Dust to help this come out alright!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I cannot wait for pictures!

 

[Tabetha]

Tabetha - I have NO contract I didn't sign anything

I think that's a good thing - they can't hold you to keeping the dress.

Write them a letter telling that they'll receive while you're on vacation outlining everything, and explaining that you'll be in to drop off the dress and collect your refund on xx date and that you'd prefer to have done this in person but they closed the shop for vacation afer giving you the wrong dress and you had no recourse but to buy another dress.

And cc someone on the letter - even if it's not a lawyer, let them think it is.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Summer, I'm leaving for WDW tonight/tomorrow (dep. on how you look at midnight). Just wanted to wish you my best for a fabulous day with no stress and all gorgeousness! I'll keep my eyes open for a real, live Disney bride!

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

How cool, Thanks for the well wishes, I hope I see you there, I'll be everywhere and you know where I am on my wedding day Have fun

 

[Kirsteen]

Hey Summer - congratualtions on the 2 lb loss!! You have done brilllantly. I joined Curves this week - I'm going for my first workout tomorrow night Fingers crossed I make it to the end of the circut! lol When are you going back to the dressmakers? Can't wait to see the photos of your new dress. Kxx