How to buy a dress

Hi girls, I posted this on the BHB board and not one person responded. Help?

I need some advice. I think I found my dress last weekend, and I'm going back on Sunday to try it on again and buy it. I'm just feeling a little nervous about making such a big purchase: I mean, before I bought a car, for example, I shopped around, checked out prices from a bunch of dealers on the internet, and knew EXACTLY how much the car was worth and how much I wanted to spend for it. I'm a terrible negotiator, but this gave me confidence, because I felt like I knew what I was doing. Two questions:

1. How do I get prices like that for a dress? Can I just call up stores and say, 'How much are you selling Paloma Blanca 3606 for?'

2. I found the dress at Lillette's - have any of you talked down the price there at all? Like, buy paying in full at the outset or bringing in quotes from other places or anything?

This is so much money and I want to make sure I'm doing what I can not to overpay!

I know what you mean. These wedding dresses are so expensive!!!!! What you can do is call different shops and see how much the dress will cost. The dress price itself shouldn't be a major difference from salon to salon but you may save on the alterations.
Also...The place that I am getting my dress from (Amelia's in Westchester)is not charge me for changing the neckline of my dress because I am ordering my bm dresses there. (Saved $250)
So just ask what they can do for you. Good luck!!!

I would call all bridal shops that sell that designer.
I would tell them you are interested in the dress, and want to purchase, You should ask them what their lowest price is. ask about what they can do about tax.
Tax adds up on such a big purchase

Also ask about alterations fees, if they are capped. and waht is teh cap.
ask if the dress needs a hollow to hem
if it does that is usually 200 extra and designer will make the dress custom to your length

If you want to be really brave. Decide on a price you want to pay and tell One store that another store is giving it to you at that price. That is what i did and it actually works
HTH
Dont be afraid to negotiate

OK, most places won't give you an exact price over the phone, but they'll probably give you a range.

I talked the price of my dress down a little bit. I also neg. a price to cap alterations at. A good way to leverage the price is if you plan on getting your BM dress there. Also, and this is what I did, just flat out ask 'Is that the best you can do on the price?'

Never and this goes for all vendors, NEVER pay in full... you never know what could happen down the road.... usually what one place charges other places will fall within the same price range.


YAY DAVA for finding your dress!!!!!!!

Thanks for the responses! You've been helpful.

I'm just a baby about negotiating. I'm so timid! I tried to be all tough with our RH, but the BM wasn't having it. Like, I'd say to him, 'I don't think we should have to pay for X and Y' and he'd respond, 'well, you do.' Or I'd say, 'other inns are giving us the honeymoon suite for free,' and he'd shrug and say, 'we don't do that.' It made me feel a little silly for asking, and I hate that feeling! So I was afraid to go in and do that while gown shopping, I hate feeling stupid like that.

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Posted by AMGBride2008

Never and this goes for all vendors, NEVER pay in full... you never know what could happen down the road.... usually what one place charges other places will fall within the same price range.


YAY DAVA for finding your dress!!!!!!!

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Thanks Kim. I was thinking of offering to do this to lower the price, but you're right, that's a bad idea. See how terrible I am at this?

Paloma Blanca dresses are a little pricey... mine's a PB and it was way more than I thought I'd be spending. But she was able to work with us on the price.

Find out too if you pay cash for everything (not at one time) will they be able to withdraw the tax (do this for all vendors... some will likely say sure!).

I know what you mean about feeling silly, but in the long run, I could save some money and I know that if I didn't ask, I'd be kicking myself. The worse they can say is no.

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Posted by DavaDay

Wow! I just called RK Bridal to get a quote on the dress, because they have a 'no frills' program that lets you buy dresses for cheaper... and they quoted me $150 MORE than Lillettes! I was NOT expecting that!

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Ooo they say if you find it somewhere else for less you get 15% off, call them back and request 15% off lol

I tried on my dress at Lillette's in Baldwin. They were the only store on LI with a sample of the dress I wanted. But, I had such a problem with the service when I got there so, I decided I would not be buying it from them. Every other place I called said they couldn't give me a price for that designer over the phone and that I would have to come in to see them.
So, I only went to 2 other Maggie Sottero retailers (Fantasia in Rocky Point and Paradise in Patchogue). When I went in to Paradise and told the woman I def wanted to order that dress. She went in the back to get me a price and it was a little over DOUBLE the price Lillettes gave me. So, I told her that was insane cause I got a price for half that and she said 'oh the owner must have given me the wrong price'. So, she went in the back 'rechecked' and came out saying they could match the price. So, after feeling like they intentionally tried to rip me off... I went to Fantasia. The woman there wouldn't give me a price but, she asked me what the other places quoted me. When I told her she acted all shocked and with an attitude said 'we would never sell this dress that cheap' but then after a few min she agreed to match the price... if I gave her the phone numbers so she could call Lillettes and Paradise to confirm that they did give me such a low price. After all was said and done... I ended up going back to Paradise to order it because not only did they match the price but, they actually threw some stuff in for free (plus they were much friendlier).

I would suggest that when you shop around don't tell them that you have prices from anywhere else. If you do... they will just tell you they can match that price. Also, I found my dress on a wedding dress website a while back and the price was $200 less then what I actually paid so.. if you can find it online that would be a good guide to making sure they are not charging you too much.