Complain about a product or service

Helen's Bridal Shop

Barrie, Ontario, Canada

Lori of Collingwood, OH, writes:
I got married August 14, 1999. I purchased my wedding gown from Helen's. I ordered it in January, paying for it on my credit card. It cost $800.00 Canadian. I was promised the dress in 2 months.

I was leery about leaving the dress in the possession of the Bridal Shop. I had heard of so many going under, with the woman who had paid for their dresses being forced to purchase something else.

I called every week from the middle of March. They kept telling me ... next week your dress will be here. On June 25 I received a call that my dress was ready and available for a fitting. I made an appointment for the next day.

I tried on my dress and it was 3 inches too short. This dress had very expensive lace on the bottom. The wanted to charge me extra for the lace that they had to order to extend the length of the dress. The dress was ill fitted. It was too large in the top, and waist. I honestly didn't lose any weight -- or height for that matter. They took exact measurements of me when I ordered the dress.

I told them that I wanted a new dress.. Guess what -- 3 inches too long!! What!! I asked could have happened. Oh don't worry, they said -- 6 days until the wedding. How's that for poor planning?

They ended up slicing through the middle and running a straight seam through the middle of the beautiful lace. Needless to say all the beading was falling off all over the place. It took my younger sister the better part of 2 days to secure all of the beading.

They had the nerve to inform me that they wouldn't be charging me for the alterations! The dress was still too long and I kept tripping over it. So much that I pulled all but one of the buttons off from behind my neck. I almost lost the dress!

Now I have this $800 gown that only makes me bitter. I wouldn't even pass it down to my children.

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