Ruined the wedding dress i was going to send back

i also had a very bad experience with John Lewis. I ordered several dresses from different places and one of them was from John Lewis. All were fine but When I opened the package from John Lewis I could immediately smell that the dress had been worn. There was a smell of BO and stale perfume. I immediately took it back to Waitrose to return to John Lewis. A week later a parcel was delivered and it was the dress I had sent back to them. When I telephoned JL to ask why this had been sent back I was told there was a problem as I had worn the dress. I was really angry. I took the dress to my. Nearest Waitrose and showed them the label that was still attached and the documents of receiving the dress and the fact that I had returned it the same day. Luckily I had an understanding Manager who believed me and took the dress. After sometime I did receive a refund. This was in 2018. I cant believe this is still happening. People working at John Lewis must be wearing the clothes and then sending it out to customers.

What a strange attitude you have

@Teenie22 unethical my arse 😂

Water wipe or baby wipe. Then send it back job done

Comments like that do make me laugh. Cheeky? Ridiculous. The stores allow it, actively encourage it. Honestly 🙄

If you like it enough, yes to getting it altered! So sorry this happened. What a shock.

In moving around the UK, I've found South Asian dress shops may have tailors and seamstresses who can do intricate work, and small family-run Eastern European alteration shops. Is there anything like that within reasonable travelling distance of you? There are also some chains that do mending or dry cleaning and mending but they are not as good and can be expensive.

Perhaps someone on Etsy who sews might be able to help?

Oxfam specialises in wedding dress resale but you might want a new one.

How is it cheeky? I’ve just ordered 4 pairs of jeans. Kept 2. Are you suggesting it’s less cheeky to order each pair as a separate transaction until I find the pair/pairs that suit? Bizarre.

Shaving foam removes foundation stains.

Absolutely agree with everything you've just said! Some ridiculous comments here.

Why is it cheeky to order multiple dresses? What a ridiculous thing to say.

That’s unethical - you can’t do that!

Of course it's OK, it is literally built into the business model. Once people have something physically in their possession they are more likely to feel the loss of it psychologically and not want to return is, as opposed to when they don't have it, they are more likely to be OK with passing op the opportunity to have it.
By encouraging online sales shops save a fortune on providing an actual shop, which needs staffing and security and cleaners.
Many shops encourage you to buy 2 sizes and return one. They make a few extra quid disorganisation tax from those who only get halfway through those 2 stages (plus sales that would have been returned but were involved in freak make up accidents.
I hope they accept it, OP!

Fucking hell there are some pretend 'holier than thou' posters on this thread. It's 'cheeky' to order multiple options to try on. 'A lot of work' will have gone into making the dress. Not fair of the OP to 'take advantage of JL's potential generosity'. And it would be 'so unfair' to the next person to buy the dress if OP had it dry cleaned and returned it. Why???? It would be clean!!!

Honestly you lot, have a day off. I know none of you actually think this bullshit, you just love having a dig on AIBU.

This is just one of the many reasons why with an important purchase like a wedding dress it's so much better to go and try on in-store! Even if you had had to pay for a night's accommodation for say you and your DD to wedding dress shop, it would probably have cost you less than this.

Is the dress your dream dress if it was cleaned and altered?

A tip for anyone trying these kinds of things on at home: put a clean flat sheet on the floor first and stay on it when wearing the dress. Don't wear make up and wash your hands first.

Wait wait this sounds ridiculous but have you tried micellar water? I recently dropped foundation on my carpet and I poured some on and rubbed with a tissue and it came out!

How on earth is ordering multiple items cheeky? It’s no different to trying multiple things on in a fitting room.

What’s the back of the dress?
Mine was too small but I loved it so dressmakers took out the back zip and replaced it with a lace up corset style back
i loved it and it wasn’t that expensive

friend of mine had similar but had two lace panels inserted on the side

if it’s only a little bit tight different underwear might be all you need !

@whathaveidonehelp if you like the dress, get 2 or 3 quotes from well reviewed tailors to have the dress altered and a price for beading/detailing to be added. I hope you get it sorted and have a lovely wedding day ☺️

I'd look and see if you have accidental damage cover within your home insurance that could cover it.

For those suggesting ordering multiple dresses was cheeky (which it definitely was not!) or is not the same thing as trying on multiple dresses in a shop (it basically is!)

I'm assuming you've misunderstood. OP ordered high street dresses from John Lewis. These are not made to order dresses. They're off the rack standard wedding dresses. So I see no difference whatsoever to ordering multiple dresses to try on at home versus trying on the same dresses in store and only choosing one - or none!

DD’s wedding dress was altered extensively as the shop for some reason ordered one 2 sizes bigger. We worked with an amazing seamstress who carried out extensive alterations that cost a lot less than expected. Around £200 which was fit a bra inside, take it in, remove, shorten and replace the train, raise the waist etc. If you like the dress see about getting it altered. (And have a fabulous day).

You read the words 'on a budget' didn't you?! Bridal shops are hardly known for that!

Completely agree.

What an awful way to behave. Shameful.

Of course it's not cheeky to order multiple items! Many shops are online only so you can't go try them on. Many shops aren't accessible to people with disabilities either. Trying on at home and comparing choices may be the only option