First fitting NIGHTMARE! WWYD? *UPDATED* *NEW UPDATE*

That is really rotten of them - I despair over the poor customer service stories I hear about bridal shops - seriously, the dresses are expensive and they are providing a service which relates to one of the most important days in their customers' lives. Whether or not it was their mistake, people in a customer facing role should be more polite in rectifying the situation. As it was their mistake, they should be doing much more to reassure and assist you.

I think you are doing the right thing in giving the manager a chance to address the situation, and I'd definitely ensure you raise the unsatisfactory attitude of the shop assistant.

Fingers crossed the dress can be replaced but if you end up taking the sample (and you are happy with that, don't let them push you into it because it's the easiest option for them!!) I wouldn't expect to pay any more than half the tag price.

I have my fingers crossed you get a good resolution from them!

OMG that is terrible! how could they do that and not even apologise? i would wait and see what they say on monday and go from there. what condition is the sample dress in and i would push for more money being taken off the sample dress

With it dry cleaned and altered if needed - and the possibility of some freebies thrown in if you push it a bit more

With 6 weeks to go this may be a little difficult but i would be tempted to see if you could get a sample elsewhere maybe? only because i wouldnt want to give them money. I realise this is probably unrealistic though.

Think you are doing the right thing giving them a chance to rectify the situation. I would expect a discount on the sample definately at the end of the day they will either return your dress or use it to replace the sample so wil still be making a huge profit and getting a new dress out of it .

Good luck and i hope you get it sorted

Hi, So sorry for you - nightmare indeed! Just for an idea of price for a sample dress - mine should've been £679 and I paid £250 for the sample. Will need to clean and steam it myself which will add a bit. £100 off sounds like they are trying to take the pee knowing you need a dress quickly.

Really hope you get it sorted. x

Yep that is really bad. I would try and get them to give you the sample for at least half price and then throw in a hoop or other accessories as well. My dress was supposed to be around £700 but got a sample for £200! If you don't get a satisfactory offer then demand your deposit back and go elsewhere. Even if you dont want to threaten it to see if they better their offer. Take a look at their sample sale if they have one and see what price they are selling them for, U could even call around other shops to see if they have it in and what they would sell the sample at.

Unbelievable.

For a sample dress which has been tried on by dozens of other brides, I would expect to be paying 50% of the RRP. For their mistake I would expect them to pay for it to be pressed and cleaned. If any alterations were required they should pay for that as well. Basically, I would expect them to make good on the losses you are suffering by taking a sample dress instead of your ordered dress.

That said, if the manager is on maternity leave it sounds as though someone is not dealing with it properly. Give the manager a chance to fix it (as you say in your OP) and if they fail to address the problem to your expectations, then name & shame.

Can't believe how badly you have been treated!

I would definately say to look at the things that Starstruck suggests as it may work out that neither you or the shop are at fault for the sizing of the dress. If they are at fault then my first reaction would be to look elsewhere for a sample but in reality this probably is the hardest option to take as not only have you got to make lots of calls and find time to go to other shops but I would think you would find it near impossible to get your deposit back for the original dress. I would definately look at making them an offer for the sample based on the deposit you have already paid so you don't have to lay out anymore and try to at least get the steaming done free of charge. I wouldn't expect to get the alterations for free as you would possibly need your actual dress altered anyway and they are unlikely to give you them for free if they have to pay their seamstress to do it (as far as I am aware most seamstresses are self employed)

Thanks ladies tehy are being absolute f-ers! I just feel backed into a corner as I wont have the time to get another dress I like, so they know I want the sample. Will try my hardest for a good price but I feel i'm not in a position to barter!

Starstucks answers as follows:

Do you have a copy of the measurements they took from you the first time, and then again today? - I don't but the shop does and I could ask for it. Basdically I am about 2 inches bigger on everything (and i've lost weight since then)

When you tried the sample on that they have, what was the fit of that like? Practically perfect and I even tried on the sample again just before I ordered it, so they knew that and I would have assumed they applied logic and took measurements but also looked at the sample size fit.

Did they actually measure your dress to ensure it has been made to the correct size? Yes the wrong measurements were took so they ordered the dress on those measurements, so that size they ordered would have been fine, as the measurements were wrong, the size was wrong.

Ps ive already paid half as a deposit and they wouldnt tell me the exact make + model, just the brand, so its not like I can shop around, and as I said I ahvent got teh time or patience!

OMG that's terrible. I would be making a formal complaint with the manager about the error and the way you've been treated. I bought a sample dress, my dress should've cost £1,300 and I paid £245 plus postage (£20). So I wouldn't be prepared to pay for more than £200 for the dress and as a gesture of good will they should give you accessories or alterations free if they want to keep a good reputation going. We're in a recession now and I'm sure bridal shops are struggling just as any other shop and should be making even more of an effort with customers.

I'd go in with your mum/dad and wipe the floor with them. Tell them also you are offended that they've insuinated you've put on weight, cheeky cow!

If you do have a sample dress don't worry as mine was immaculate - not a mark on it, not a bead missing was in perfect condition! x

Thanks ladies, will keep you updated. Feel physically sick today waiting for this call from the owner, and its not until after 2pm argh!

Not on at all. Really hope you get something sorted. I had a few blue marks on my dress (everything else was fine with it) and they refunded 50% of the cost. Compare that to the issues you're having, I'd expect a helluva lot more for your troubles.

Will try my best ladies. Still no call from the manager lady this morning, and ages to wait until the owner to call me at 2om!

It's after 2 - any news?!

You can also write to the designer him/herself. Maybe they can help out, or at least they won't stock there anymore in the future.

This sucks!!!

Any news?

Right spoke to the owner who was very nice, actually apologised, and explained the situation (without crying down the phone - bonus!). She has knocked £160 off the dress, which isnt ideal but I did fight my corner to the death, and she will get it dry cleaned, and drop it off at the seamstress for me herself. So situation resolved. PHEW. Still not 100% happy as they must have taken wrong measurements - I haven't put on 2 inches on my hips! But its sorted. i wont name and shame as the owner sorted it out, its just the acting manager who was a cow, and the owner is going to have 'stern words' with her. I hope she gets fired! Cow!

A big thank-you for all your comments, I posted this and withing 24 hours had over 15 useful replies, so thank-you ladies, Hitched so great for this! Big love to you all

...........and breathe

Excellent - glad you have it almost sorted. Are they going to pay for the alterations?

YAY! So glad it's sorted. Once the sample dress has been cleaned it will look perfect & although £160 off isn't a massive amount it is at least better than nothing. Best of all, you can stop worrying!

I'd still write a letter of complaint after your wedding to the owner. You shouldn't have to go through all this stress! Hope it all works out, and pleased that she apologised & gave you some sort of compensation.

Thanks I will defintely write a letter- also helps to get your thoughts on paper. Wish i'd had more compensation but hey - at least i have a dress to wear! x

I'm so glad it worked out for you. Def agree you should write a letter. At least you got some money back, bet that £160 will come in handy for some last minute bits and pieces! Sure you'll look gorgeous in your dress, can't wait to see flashes!

*NEW UPDATE*

The saga f-ing continues...........so went to my appointment with the fitting dress lady to find that they had 2 dresses waiting for me in the same size...OK right. It was the sample dress and a new dress in the same size. What had happened, and the owner hadnt even bothered to tell me, was that they HAD ordered my dress in the sample size 12, BUT on Saturday they gave me someone else's dress- and were pushing me to take what clearly was wrong!

OK so I think, what an f-up again on their part, but thats good as I have a new dress in my size. WRONG! The sample size was a bit snug and the dressmakes says she cant take it out due to the cut of the dress. So they STILL ordered a size too small, despite me losing weight. Dressmaker says always order a size too big as its easier to take in than out and its their mistake.

So where am I now? I find out tomorrow morning if they have a bigger size in stock. Small chance I feel. If not they have assured me I get my deposit back and I have back to square 1 with 8 weeks to go.

My plan is to bash the credit card and order dresses from online, get a high street jobbie. Just hope I can find something I like - and in time.

UGH - I feel cursed!

S x

If your looking for dresses from the high street I recommend Coast. I got mine from there and love it! it was a bargain for £450! There is nothing wrong with high street dresses, love Coast's collection. Here is the link: http://www.coast-stores.com/Bridal/package/fcp-category/categorylist?resetFilters=true

Hope you find a dress you like.

-Laura

If you really want to try the high street try debenhams, coast, BHS and monsoon.

But might you also be able to track down another dress shop and see if they have a sample of the same dress in a bigger size that they're willing to sell you?

You should try other local dress shops. A lot of them are now starting to sell off last year's samples. I got my dress, a 2010 Trudy Lee design this way. Its a size 14 sample (I am a size 12-14) and fitted like a glove. All it needs are alterations to the length. It was marked up at £800 as a sample, but I knocked her down to £590 - and that price included all my alterations and dry cleaning of the gown!!

I tried buying the internet jobbies and they just dont cut it with me - they never fit right, the quality is never as good and I think you are just leading yourself along the path to more disappointment.

Dont let one bad shop put you off. Go into other shops, explain how much time you have and what your budget is. Any decent shop will be able to help you!

PS: where in the country are you?

Oh no! I can't believe that they could make such a balls up and not even keep you informed! Right, personaly if i was you I'd tell the shop you want a full refund and go elsewhere.

Where abouts are you? I know there are a few ex sample warehouses around, maybe your dream dress is sitting waiting for you at a bargain price?!

Bloody hell - what a nightmare!

I'd suggest what Twists does in the first instance, phone around lots of local bridal shops and see if they have anything in your size!

If that doesn't work - Debenhams have a few:

http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Navigate?ps=default&storeId=10001&lid=%2F%2Fproductsuniverse%2Fen_GB%2Fproduct_online%3DY%2Fcategories%3C{productsuniverse_18661}%2Fcategories%3C{productsuniverse_18661_17627}%2Fcategories%3C{productsuniverse_18661_17627_81649_ms}&catalogId=10001

http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10001_10001_176010420385_-1?CMP=AFC-AWIN-60612&awc=2194_1310570477_9caaf3137565b72f57ff9eb73879d2f0

I didn't have enough time to order my dress (as the shop wanted a silly time like 6 months!) so I managed to get mine as a sample dress, if you love the dress you wanted try googling the name of it online or find a bridal store which is selling sample dresses. Mine is immaculate - not a mark on it or a bead missing! Good luck x

Blue - scour Preloved as there are loads on there and they are very reasonable. The way you have been treated by that shop is absolutely shocking.

Ok if you are near a oxfam wedding dress shop - definitely worth a visit! call round shops ans see if they have sample sales

No idea where you are in the country but i went to a Wedding dress outlet shop in burbage, leics that i would recommend if you are a size 14 or under over 14 there is not as much choice.....

Or what about wearing a hire dress?