Beware of the Tag Cutting Bridal Shops!!!!!

Original post by eogara

Jul 27, 2004 09:05 AM

While I found this practice annoying, I (thought) I understood why they did it...to preserve their business in the advent of online sales. Boy, I was WRONG.

Long story short... I tried on a dress a month ago at a bridal shop that cuts out the tags. I really loved the dress but it was $2050, which was WAY more than I intended to spend on a dress I was going to wear for 5 hours. When I got home I searched and searched for the dress but couldn't find it anywhere. Fast forward to yesterday. Decided to try one last ditch effort to find this dress so I typed 'lace bodice a-line skirt' into google. Lo and behold, it was the 3rd return. Got the info and went to RK Bridal to try it on ... and it was $650.00!!!!!! This is the exact same dress I tried on at that bridal shop. I cannot believe that they would price gouge that much! I am writing a letter to the manufacturer to let them know this.

Just be forewarned - I would not trust any bridal shop that cuts out the tags.

chicagogal Posted: Jul 27, 2004 09:13 PM

Re: Beware of the Tag Cutting Bridal Shops!!!!!

I saw this at the bridal shop I went to. I brought in pictures of several dresses I wanted to look at and all ofthem had the tgs cut out. I think it's so you don't try and comparison shop with otehr stores.

eogara Posted: Jul 27, 2004 09:16 PM

Re: Beware of the Tag Cutting Bridal Shops!!!!!

Posted by chicagogal

I saw this at the bridal shop I went to. I brought in pictures of several dresses I wanted to look at and all ofthem had the tgs cut out. I think it's so you don't try and comparison shop with otehr stores.

Yes, well, I can see why if they're going to try to charge you more than triple what everyone else is charging for the same gown (in some cases, more than quadruple). Totally unethical, even if it's not illegal.

Sweetie2004 Posted: Jul 27, 2004 09:39 PM

Re: Beware of the Tag Cutting Bridal Shops!!!!!

same thing happened to me - I went to a bridal salon on glen cove rd and they wouldn't tell me who made the dress. She said they listed everything with numbers not manufacturers (yeah right)

I found my dress $500 cheaper at macys!

eogara Posted: Jul 27, 2004 10:39 PM

Re: Beware of the Tag Cutting Bridal Shops!!!!!

Posted by Sweetie2004

same thing happened to me - I went to a bridal salon on glen cove rd and they wouldn't tell me who made the dress. She said they listed everything with numbers not manufacturers (yeah right)

I found my dress $500 cheaper at macys!

You have FM!

jbride2b Posted: Jul 27, 2004 11:30 PM

Re: Beware of the Tag Cutting Bridal Shops!!!!!

The dress is beautiful! And a great price!

Is there a reason you did not order it at Bridesave.com?

LImom Posted: Jul 28, 2004 09:12 AM

Re: Beware of the Tag Cutting Bridal Shops!!!!!

Posted by eogara

LIMom - I definitely agree but it seems like every time something like this gets posted with a name, the thread gets pulled. I did think about it but ultimately I think more brides will benefit from just generally being wary of any place that cuts the tags out than the few brides who would get to read the name of the place I dealt with before it got pulled.

ETA: If anyone wants to know the name of the place, I have no trouble telling them - just FM me.

---------------------

Eogara, you are probably right, but I just named one - The Elegant Bride, and another one was Sugar Plum. I actually walked in and asked to see her Jovani gowns and she said she didn't know if she had any because the manufacturers cut the tags out before she gets them. How stupid do they think we are? I just walked out of that store.

Gee - I just named two place, didn't I? I wonder if this gets pulled. (Or maybe just names of people who pay to advertise.)

HearzBellz Posted: Jul 28, 2004 09:32 AM

Re: Beware of the Tag Cutting Bridal Shops!!!!!

Wow... I wish I hd been so vigilant during my dress hunt. Congrats! good detective work columbo

Remind me to bring you when we look for a house

In all seriousness... I am glad that you did not fall victim to a shady bridal shop.

eogara Posted: Jul 28, 2004 10:24 AM

Re: Beware of the Tag Cutting Bridal Shops!!!!!

Posted by jbride2b

The dress is beautiful! And a great price!

Is there a reason you did not order it at Bridesave.com?

Not really, just that the difference wasn't enough to warrant it. Since I'd probably have to pay more for alterations if I wasn't getting it at a bridal shop, the prices pretty much evened themselves out. This way they measure me so it's up to them to get the right size. But when I was still on my other dress (the dress I swore was the one) I planned on ordering online.

Gagie24 Posted: Jul 28, 2004 12:31 PM

Re: Beware of the Tag Cutting Bridal Shops!!!!!

I just ordered my Jasmine Gown from The Elegant Bride. They told me which dresses were Jasime. I had no problem even though the labels were cut out. They also matched my lowest price for my gown. I thought they were very knowledgeable and helpful. They had beautiful gowns...I would highly recommend them.

tourist Posted: Jul 28, 2004 01:27 PM

Re: Beware of the Tag Cutting Bridal Shops!!!!!

Posted by LImom

Gee - I just named two place, didn't I? I wonder if this gets pulled. (Or maybe just names of people who pay to advertise.)

I think its ok to say the names, b/c we are not straight out bashing them.

Yes Sugar Plum cuts the tags. But my mom got her dress there. She didn't know from labels. She wanted someone to help her pick a nice dress. And they did. She never asked who made it.

Bridal Garden in Bethpage also cuts tags, but I still bought my dress from there.

The funny thing was the straps they use to hang the dress hand Jasmine written on them, so I was was looking, I would have known anyway, but I wasn't concerned with that early on.
But I asked after I decided it was the one & they told me , no problem.

So, if you are not looking for a specific designer & are not price comparing, a shop who takes the tags out may not be all that bad.

In Eogara's case it was bad, b/c they jacked up the price, but I went to a store that jacked up the price about double) and they don't cut tags.
(Botticelli in Bronxville since we are naming names)

It is fairly common practice though.
If you want to know the designers, try RK Bridal, they organize them my designer.

I still don't know makes my mom's dress, which I'd like to know out of curiosity, but it's not the end of the world.

nicknmb Posted: Jul 28, 2004 02:01 PM

Re: Beware of the Tag Cutting Bridal Shops!!!!!

Wow, it's a scary world for a bride! Glad you found your dress!!!!!

LImom Posted: Jul 28, 2004 02:50 PM

Re: Beware of the Tag Cutting Bridal Shops!!!!!

Tourist, you made some excellent points. As a consumer though, I don't think any of like to be treated like we are idiots. That's how I felt in some stores I went to.
Do you have a picture of your mom's gown? I saw lots and lots while shopping for my daughter's wedding.