Prom Dress Disaster

[Promdisaster]

Sorry, this might be long as to not drip feed. Apologies but could really do with some advice.

Ordered a prom dress for my daughter. Paid around one third deposit. Dress arrived in the shop the week before prom date. Went to try on and collect, but dress was too big. Seamstress made some alterations and said it would be done in time, they were working through alterations in order of prom date and to keep an eye out for an email.

Around lunchtime the day before prom, I got a text from the prom shop saying they were delivering the dresses and asking what was the latest time they could deliver that night or from what time the next morning, so I said up to 10.30pm and from 6.30am next morning.

Got a text early the next morning saying the seamstress had collapsed overnight and gone into hospital and they were trying to find another seamstress but not to worry, the dress would be there ASAP.

I told them I needed the dress by 4pm latest as daughter was having friends round to get ready/photos, then being picked up by another mum to go to a pre prom party/photos before leaving at 6pm to go to the prom.

Eventually, after a couple of messages and a phone call, the prom lady turns up with dress at 5pm. She asked my daughter to try the dress on to make sure it fitted. I was more worried that the dress would be too small now that it had been altered, so when she got it on and it wasn't too small I said it was fine and I could tighten it in with the corset . We were so relieved she had a dress. At that moment the other mum turned up to take them to the preprom party so the prom lady left.

The mum at the preprom party messaged and said the dress was too big and she had tried to pin it in but the dress was still gaping round the chest area and too big round the waist. My daughter spent the whole night miserable in a dress that was too big and is sad when she sees all the photos of the girls looking beautiful in their lovely prom dresses. My daughter is not a promzilla is is the sweetest laid back girl.

I have now had a phone message and an email asking for the balance. I really feel that I dont want to pay for a dress that doesn't fit and ruined my daughter's evening. I want to give the dress back so they can resell it.

IABU - yes the dress was worn
IANBU - it wasn't my fault, the dress didn't fit.

😁

@Headinthecloudsfeetinthemud

so when the shop promised it.would he ready at a certain day and time and it wasn't. Its somehow OPs fault because she should make sure its ready 2 days before? How can a customer control when a business fulfills the job? How about a business doesn't promise what it can't deliver, makes good any errors, is truthful and realistic about timescales and actually gives good service?

There was also a specific reason the dress needed to be altered and not done 3 months before. I suggest you read a the posts and thread to discover this, as many of us have done before commenting to avoid looking stupid.

So do tell us all as you are clearly superior to the rest of us, what would you have done one hour before the prom, when the transport arrives and you've not had sufficient time to try on the dress and your daughter is stood there all excited to go to her prom? What would you say to your daughter and what exactly would you do?

Did they reply to you op?

I don't think that the op is coming back to the thread.

Hi, I'm back. Sorry, we've been away for a week with very sketchy wifi. I've literally just had a voicemail left from them asking me to ring them about the outstanding balance! They haven't replied to my email at all! This whole thing gives me anxiety. I hate arguing with people, but out of principle I just feel it's not right 😔

OP they're pushing you just like they pushed you before.

You could reply with an email if it's easier

" Thank you for your voicemail but....."

I wouldn't speak to them. Keep everything in writing.

We didn't have this bollocks when I was at school. We had a ball at university, and even then we just picked dresses off the rack, or even (gasp) wore one we already had in the closet or borrowed from someone.

Way too much pressure, buildup and emotion invested in this prom stuff.

*We didn't have this bollocks when I was at school. We had a ball at university, and even then we just picked dresses off the rack, or even (gasp) wore one we already had in the closet or borrowed from someone.

Way too much pressure, buildup and emotion invested in this prom stuff.*

Not sure that's any help to OP really.

If I email again, what can I say that I didn't already say the first time? 🤔

You don't have to say anything different. You're repeating your original points because they haven't been acknowledged first time round.

Phone them out of hours and say all future correspondence must be in writing. Ask them to reply to your first email.

I agree

@balalake
They phone on a mobile. Apparently the landline is not working (according to Instagram stories).

I'd send them a text so (if the landline really is down) saying that you are expecting a response to your email of X date by email. If you feel you want to you could reiterate you were very unhappy with how you've been treated so far and that you will only deal with them via email going forwards.

You should return the dress as request a card chargeback !

What a cheek! I would email again and say check my previous email!

I would also be going on social media.

Yes to social media!

Thank you all for your suggestions. I've sent a text to the mobile number asking them to reply to my email.

Have they still not replied? I've found myself quite invested in this as the delays were shocking!

No, no reply so far 😒

Name and shame!😁

@Promdisaster did this issue ever get resolved?

You really think the seamstress was hospitalised?
Really!

They hadn't altered it at all and had probably ordered the wrong size thinking there would be a 2 size adjustment in a dress with a corset.