sample dress?

Hi Girls!
I need your advice...I must buy my wedding gown now! Problem is it is way over my dress budget. I am looking at Paloma Blanca and the dress style I like costs about $2,000 here on Long Island. I can get it for about $1,500 at RK Bridal in the city. I recently sent an e-mail to a bridal store in Madison, WI and they have the dress in my size but it is a sample dress though. The dres would now come to $700 total no shipping or tax. WOW!!! What do I do? I am going to RK Bridal in the morning with my maids.
What is a sample dress? Should I be cautious and buy it at a steal or spend more money way over my budget? Please help with an info
Anyone bought a sample??

hmm, I'm not sure I would buy a sample, especially sight unseen.

some of the sample dresses I tried on were dirty and had sweat stains

Check it out and see what it looks like. IF it will save you that much money go for it.

My first dress choice was 2500$ and I ended up getting something way cheaper and put the money into diamonds for my wedding band. For me, I would rather have something on my finger that lasted longer than a dress I would wear only once. I was on a pretty tight budget though...
luckily the 2nd dress I found I loved just as much!

I would definitely look at it. The sample dress is the dress everyone tries on at the bridal suite to see what the dress looks like on them, so I would make sure it has no stains or imperfections before you buy it, but if it looks fine then definitely get it! What a steal!

Thanks so much for all your replies.
The lady e-mailed me back and will take pictures since all sales are final. I asked for as many pics as possible.
I am still going to RK Bridal toaay to order the maids dresses and unless this dress is full of chocolate stains I am going to buy since I can't really afford the other price and this is truly the dress of my dreams.
I will check netbride now! Thanks!!!

my dress is a sample!

they are drycleaning it and fixing all of the loose beading for free. it looks great now and will only look better when they're done. i'm not worried at all. and i saved a lot of money!

but yes, some samples are more ruined than others so i would ask for detailed pics of all parts of the dress. best of luck!