WWYD re wedding dress issues

[stitchmaker85]

I ordered my dress from a shop, start of october 2018, with a delivery estimate of 6 months from the manufacturer, left a deposit of half the total cost.

I then received a letter from the shop in december stating they have decided to close their shop however this will not affect my dress being delivered. I was a bit concerned at this stage but not much I could really do as they had said that all would be OK.

Fast forward to start of April just gone, which was the 6 month mark, I gave the retailer a week’s leeway before sending them a message on facebook to check up on whether they had heard anything yet. The only way I have to get in touch with them is via facebook message and email as their phone numbers are now disconnected. I left it a few days and after I didn’t receive a reply from them, I got a bit concerned and decided to contact the manufacturer directly and explain the situation to see if they could shed any light on the matter. Left my number with them and they said they’d get back to me.

The day after this, I decided to follow up my facebook message to the retailer to their email address and they did respond to this, saying that they had checked with the manufacturer and it should be due in week commencing 15th april and they’d asked to be notified when it arrived. So far so good.

However, today I have had the manufacturer on the phone responding to my query, stating that they have in fact had my dress since the end of March and have been trying to get in touch with the retailer. They’ve said they are willing to deal with me directly upon payment of the outstanding balance as they can't get in touch with them . So it seems that the retailer are for some reason not telling me the whole truth.

My options are:

1. pay the manufacturer the outstanding balance (incidentally a bit less than I would be needing to pay the no longer in existence retailer)
2. Contact the retailer again via email and tell them that I know my dress has arrived and ask why they feel the need to tell me fibs?
3. Contact the retailer again and just ask for an update?

WWYD?

I'd just get my dress, pay the outstanding balance and not both with the shop who seem to be messing you around.

Personally I'd go with paying the manufacturer and taking possession of my dress!

I assume this option does not leave you out of pocket? In which case, cut out the middleman as the no-longer-trading retailer seems unreliable. To put it mildly.

Just get the dress. No need to be in contact with shop anymore. Maybe their lack of customer service is a factor in why they are no longer trading

Pay the manufacturer. It's a no brainer.

Just get the dress!

Option 1 for sure. Get your dress. You can always go elsewhere for alterations (if they are necessary). Stop dealing with the shop that has ceased trading. They are no longer important in the scheme of things.

Go with the manufacturer. The retailer is being evasive and not 100% honest or on the ball with this, and you just don't need that stress right now. Go with the straightforward option. If you need a recommendation for a seamstress you can call another local bridal store, say your dress shop has closed and ask can they recommend someone- most will be happy to help.

Thanks all I'll give them a call back tomorrow!

Hi OP. I'm guessing you paid the deposit with a credit card and are planning to pay the balance by credit card also? This would provide you with financial protection and enable you to get a refund in the worst scenario. www.moneysupermarket.com/credit-cards/guide-to-credit-card-protection/

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