Has anyone negotiated dress prices? At a trunk show, the designer was offering 10% off. It was still very expensive!!!! Could I get more off? Could the store throw in something like a headpiece or free alterations. They are charging 300-500 for alterations and 125 for shipping! What do you think? I am a terrible negotiator!!
MarcellaBella
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WHAT!! $$$****.. and I to think that I thought charging me 175 for alterations and S&H in total was stupid!
sept20yay!
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This is not the norm???!!! i'm being SO TAKEN. I'm such a ****er....
jennyg
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I almost got my dress at Bridal Atelier (beautiful things there and they make you feel like a princess in that place) and would say given the boutique atmosphere of the store, they probably won't negotiate much. However, I think you could get them to at least 'cap' the alteration fee at $300 and maybe get free shipping. It's worth a try and just explain to them that you know you could get the dress somewhere else, but you felt their service is exceptional and you want to buy it from them etc etc and see what they say. Nine times out of ten they will want your business and will be flexible. I'm in sales and believe me it works on all levels!
Good luck! Oh, and its probably best to negotiate when other customers aren't around!!
JuneBride21
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sept-if it makes you feel any better at all I'm paying 375 for my alterations.
Sonicstef
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It never hurts to ASK! If the total for everything is going to be $4K, then tell them that you LOVE the dress but you only have a budget of $3K to work with for everything. Ask if they can work with you on the total package. That way if they say no way, you can always backtrack and spend more without looking foolish but chances are if they feel you are ready to buy that gown, they will do their best to work with your budget.
dkga1026
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shipping?? i didnt even hear of this from where i got my dress!!! and i paid 100 for the alterations....i am bad at negotiating too, but you have to do it in this case.....i knew how much my dress cost elsewhere so i got them to beat the price by $300...good luck!!
just edited to say that if you are going to spend $3-4K on a dress and accessories, they should be willing to work with you on the price
Niecey
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It really depends on the shop and dress. I went to Bridal Couture so I new I was going to pay a lot of $$. Stupid me never got the alteration price written on my contract,so when it came time for alterations it was more that the $250 cap they told me. My advice get everything in writing!
They had told me a cap of $250 for alterations and it depended on how much had to be done. All I needed was the bustle done and a little tiny bit taken in on the chest and they quoted me something like $350 (not even length had to be touched!). I argued esp. because of how minor the alterations were and they did go down to $275. I got ripped off too.
I agree with SonicStef's advice about the dress price. I didn't do it because I feel in love with a dress and bought it on the stop but all my other vendors I did some minor negotiated and they went down on price no problem. I am not a negotiator either..just hate getting ripped off.
berlykim22
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I would never pay the Tag price on any dress, the store jacks it up so they can do some negotiating. and if someone buys it for the Tag price all the better for them.
I looked around alot for the best price I can get for the dress and alterations and tax, I factored in the whole price.
It is very hard to try to negotiate but they expect it, if you are not good at it bring along someone who is. You are going to be paying alot might as well knock off a couple of bucks.
I even got a extra off the day I was going in to order my dress, every little counts. and she is throwing in some extras.
good luck
Misty
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Are you talking about a Kleinfeld trunk show? If so, the alterations are standard $395...and worth every penny in my opinion.
You might be able to negotiate on a headpiece or the veiling there. Since I bought my gown there, I ordered a headpiece and they took 10% off and included the cost of the veil in the headpiece, any length they measure me for.
LisaT
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I called around and negotitaed for my dress. The price came down about $500 from the first place I saw it to where I bought it.
The shop doesn't need to carry your dress - they can order anything. I'd say negotiate some more.
Valenia
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I'm not sure where you are shopping but I can tell you this much -- I was not able to negotiate for one cent from my bridal shop (Priscilla of Boston). My father came with me on the day I ordered to try again, and he is the KING of negotiations (he does it for a living). Not a penny for him either. So in the end, don't feel like you are being taken because other people were able to play with price and you aren't -- sometimes it just isn't possible! Most of the responses above assume you can buy the same exact dress from multiple places, that isn't always the case. Some shops never compromise. If you name the shop it would be helpful, so that people can say if they has success at that particular place...
sept20yay!
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I had my grandmother call the store and she is the master of negotiating. She only got it down $120 but he said that he would work with me heavily on the veil. It still is just extremely expensive ($3500). Too much to spend on a wedding dress? Will only wear for seven hours...
Misty
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Yes but it's the 7 most important hours of your life. If it's not going to kill your budget, and you love it..do what makes you happy!
sept20yay!
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Thanks Misty-eyed... I needed that. I feel like a needy puppy looking in the window wimpering over that dress...
Misty
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That's how I felt when I put mine on. Mine wasn't cheap either and I debated for a long time and my mom pushed me over the edge. Think about it this way too....it could become an heirloom!
