Am I paranoid?

If you buy a sample dress at a salon, can you walk out with it that day? I thought yes. Wedding Salon of Manhasset told me no - that they would just take it off the floor and store it in their wharehouse until they ship the box to me (which I was told I am not allowed to open). Then I am supposed to bring the box back in to them when they call me in for a fitting 2 months before my wedding. I think this is kinda weird firstly b/c I was told by another bride that the box is empty (they just ship it to a Jersey address to avoid tax). Secondly, should I be worried that they are not really taking my dress off the floor and other people may continue to try it on, get it all dirty or ruin it? I have no pictures of proof of what it looked like when last I saw it. They told me if I wanted to 'visit' my dress, that I need to call 2 days in advance.
What do you think? Is this normal? Am I being paranoid?

Beautiful Briade in Lynbrook has had my gown since May of 2002. My wedding is 02/29/04. They gave me teh option of storing it or taking it home myself. I chose to leave it with them.

It sounds a little weird...

The only thing that sounds right is making an appointment to visit your dress - it would be stored in a warehouse that is not readily available if you were to walk in the door. So that would alleviate my concerns about them letting other brides try on your dress.

The whole do not open this box thing sounds odd though. If they are doing it to save you tax I guess it's ok, but since you are concerned I would ask your consultant directly and even go so far to suggest chatting outside so it's not a conversation held in the store ( she may elaborate more in that situation )

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that they would just take it off the floor and store it in their wharehouse until they ship the box to me (which I was told I am not allowed to open).

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why would you not be allowed to open the box??? wouldnt you want to make sure its your dress in the box???

I dont know this all sounds weird to me

very odd.. I'd drop in and check to see my dress wasn't there. I can understand storing my gown so it's not easily available.

The box thing is just weird. I'd put it to them directly.

I (my cousin actually) had a really bad experience with this store last year.

First off the dress was $3500 + alterations. It was a strapless dress with nothing on it at all (no beads, no pearls, just some rhinestones as buttons on the back). It had an illusion boatneck over the strapless dress so it was supposed to hold the dress up a little better and give her more support. Anyway ...

Well, #1 When they hemmed her dress the front was hemmed too short so her underskirts showed the entire day. #2 The illusion tore right where it met the strapless dress and #3 the waist actually came apart about 8' across the seam from the skirt. We had to use saftey pins to hold the dress together.

Do you know what they gave my couisn back for all the problems - $400 ... they kept saying it was the manufacturers fault and not theirs ... BULLS**T ... their seamstresses sucked. My BM dress - they had to alter 5 times in order to get it right. The seamstress kept telling me that I was changing my undergarments on her and that it's my fault - and I told her ... NOOOOO I had the same undergarments since I bought the dress.

I'm sorry for the long vent but that was my experience with them. They do a lot of business so I'm sure they can't treat all their customers this way but we had a terrible time with them!

I have heard only good things about Wedding Salon of Manhasset. My FMIL got a dress there for her wedding this past Sept. and absolutely loved them. I know at least 5 other people who have purchased from them and all had great experiences.

As far as the shipping the box to avoid sales tax...I had the box of my dress shipped to Conn. to avoid sales tax. But in reality they never sent the box, just put the Conn address on the receipt. I wouldnt worry too much about the box thing.

Now, as far as the dress, when are they shipping the box? You should make sure they take the dress off the floor....that is not exceptable that you purchase it and people still try it on. They should take it off the floor, you pay deposit or in full and then they ship the box to you. Talk to them about it....tell them your concerns, I would be surprised if they are not accomidating.

Good Luck!

I went to a sample sale at Kleinfeld and they told me that if I were to buy a dress that day I had to pay in cash and then take it home. They don't even do alterations unles you pay them additional. No holding dresses. That seems strange!

I'm uneasy with your story, that's for sure.

Go find the same dress elsewhere.

I went to try on dresses at RK Bridal. And they told me that if I wanted to save money on sales tax that they could send the dress to an address in New Jersey (or out-of-state). Then I could bring the dress back to RK Bridal for alterations.

She did say to me, 'Dont open the box until you come in for alterations'. If there is something wrong with the dress (it gets damaged in delivery) the store is still responsible for it if you DO NOT OPEN THE BOX. As soon as YOU OPEN THE BOX - you become responsible for any damage to the dress.

Yes, okay now that does make sense to me about not opening the box. I don't want to be responsible Thanks girls.

P.S. - do any of you feel that it is normal to feel really nervous after you buy your dress? I mean, can't sleep at night, up all hours biting my fingernails at work? Are second thoughts about a dress purchase normal?