Disgusted with Berkertex alteration package!!

Can you take it somewhere else for alterations if you need them?

They said i could take it somewhere else but then they wouldn't store it etc and would accept no responsibility if something went wrong with it (unrelated to alterations).

This is the reason i didn't get my dress from a shop as they wanted to charge me £25 consultation fee and then £250 for hem and £50 per side seam!! I was so shocked i rang around other suppliers and found my dress some where else who charge £5 per side seam and £25 hem!! Its so important to ask the question before you buy.

Sounds as if they knew exactly how to get you. Personally I'd see how much needs doing, if anything and take it somewhere else. Or if you weren't told this before you bought it you could try to argue it?

I would just do this to be honest, nearly £200 is far too much! Can you store it elsewhere?

How about storing it there 'til you need the alterations closer to the day, and then just arrange to collect it the day you can take it to another seamstress? I can't see how they can oblige you to pay for and use their alteration service if you don't need it..? But I wouldn't mention that I was taking it somewhere else to get altered. Regarding their dropping responsibility for the dress, if something was going to go wrong with it (obviously hopefully not) it would probably happen before it got to the shop, in which case I think they have to take responsibility for it..? Hope you find a solution, I really hate big companies ripping us off, for this reason I tend to avoid them myself. It's a horrible feeling.

I agree, you should tell them you don't want alterations, have them keep it in store until about 6 weeks before the wedding, then have it altered by a local seamstress. So much cheaper. Surely the dress will come in its own massive garment bag to protect it, and couldn't you leave it at your parents or MOH's house for storage?

Berketex Bride strives to provide the perfect designer wedding dress or bridesmaid gown to all our brides and/or their attendants. We’re deeply saddened when any of our brides are in anyway unhappy with our service, which we believe to be the finest in the industry. Therefore we ask that anyone who is in anyway dissatisfied to contact us directly as only this way can we improve our service and help our brides. At Berketex Bride we believe we are privileged to help tens of thousands choose their dream dress each year and can assure all our brides that they and their dress are treated with the utmost attention, professionalism and friendliness as our sole aim is to provide an unrivalled service and designer garment of the utmost quality, once again we sincerely apologise if you feel this has not been the case. Listening to more than a million brides over the past 50 years we know that every bride is unique and that only by continually improving our service, and providing the very latest in designer wedding gowns can we ensure that each bride receives the unique service and gorgeous gown that we aspire to provide.

A very scripted response from Berketex, how about helping/reassuring the OP!

I paid the £180 alteration fees for Berketex Brides as I am tiny and will need at least 6 inchies taken off the length probably altered arounf the chest etc, so that it was worth it rather than individual fitting costs If its £50 per fitting and I needed more than 3 then it wouldn't be worth it. However, I do think if some is a "standard size and is unlikely to need any or little alterations, I do think it is very steep!

Come on Bertertex, if you're going to comment at least make it relevant to the problem!

I had a similar experience with them, but the sales girls told me originally that my dress would be in store around a month before my wedding last year. We just happened to be back looking at styles for my BM dresses and the girl then told me that it wouldn't be available until a week before the day!

I too had to pay for alterations when I bought the dress - they also tried to make me add length to the dress because of my height even though the length was fine in the flats I was intending to wear. When I called them to ask about the delivery date they said would I like the dress to be delivered to a closer store - I agreed and because the other store didn't have their own alterations person they told me to write and request a refund. It took a while but I got one!

BTW - I didn't need a single alteration and the dress was actually ever so slightly long (it meant that with a few days before the day I started looking for a pair of low heels to wear during the day!)

To be fair, I paid up for my alterations because I knew after doing some research and asking around, that you will pay for alterations at any half decent bridalwear company/boutique. And I want my dress to fit perfectly advice for when dress shopping you should always ask about alterations and packages and if they are included in the price! Hope this helps people who haven't been dress shopping yet!