VENT: Help!! Salon screw up UPDATE!! (on bottom)

OK I need to explain the situation.

I went with 2 BMs, 1 Jr. BM and my FG to order the dresses on Saturday. I had called a lot of places in Queens/Nassau to find one salon that carried both dresses I was looking for. The only one that had them was Blanchee Boutique in East Rockaway. The other closest one that had both was Valentina's in Bay Ridge.

Since I have girls from all over I picked Blanchee Boutique. We get there and within 5 minutes I find my FG dress. Ok fine, now I'm happy with that and it's on the BMs.

What now ensues is chaos. We are rushed because they said the store is closing at 5pm and that since the owner was not there, the alarm was going to go off at 5pm (it was only 4:30 and only one BM was trying on 2 dresses) I told them everyone there needed to be measured, including my one 8 month pregnant BM (my SIL). They start going crazy, they don't know the prices of the dresses I picked, don't even know the maker of the FG dress. Yet they start taking deposits from everyone.

So now here they are trying to figure out who to measure, even the 2 saleswomen are freaking out, and I'm standing there trying not to lose it, because I tend to say messed up stuff when I'm pissed. Now they're telling me they can't measure my SIL in her condition. Now mind you, it took my 2 BMs about 2 hours to drive there because of traffic.

Sensing that I was about to lose it, but I was so pissed beyond words that I couldn't speak, my SIL spoke up and gave them a tongue lashing for me. (Her nickname was bridezilla during her wedding planning, so I guess this now came in handy for me!) Basically she started the griping and I finished it because at that point I didn't even care what happened as long as my girls were taken care of. My SIL was saying there was no way she was going to come back there after driving for 2 hrs from SI for alterations, that they would have to ship the dress to her.

Finally one girl from upstairs who apparently worked there full time (the other 2 saleswomen said they were part timers and really didn't know everything!) came and found out the pricing on the dresses for me. Turns out the deposits that they took were less than they were supposed to take, but my SIL and I looked at them and told them that was not our problem, they should have checked pricing before taking deposits.

So they told me the owner (Blanchee) is going to call me and my SIL tomorrow because I still have to give them my Jr. BM dress info, and because they have to let my SIL know what size they can order for her since she is due next month. Also they told me that the owner would be able to discount the dresses for me.

Now here's my question. I will undoubtedly complain tomorrow to the owner when she calls and tell her about my experience. Now the dresses have not been ordered yet, because I still have 1 BM and my MOH who just moved upstate this weekend to give their measurements. Should I ask for the deposits back based on the horrible service we got and just go to Valentina's and hope she does right by me?? I was so pissed off at how disorganized and unknowledgable the staff was, that the only reason I didn't have the girls leave right then and there was that they drove for so long to get there!!

Thanks in advance and sorry for being so long!!

My first inclination is tell you to get your money back and go to the other store. However, that would majorly inconvenience everyone. Speak to the owner tomorrow and see how much apologizing she does (and how much discounting), before making a decision.

I would also check the Better Business Bureau and see if there are complaints filed against the store.

No complaints filed against the store on the BBB.

Here's the funny thing....the Bay Ridge salon would be easier for everyone except for 2 people....me and my other BM who is in Stony Brook, but she is also 8 months pregnant and on bedrest. Other than that, Bay Ridge would be easier on everyone. I should have just went there in the first place and to hell with the 110 miles in gas on the car.

My SIL emailed me and said she will go along with whatever I choose to do....I guess I'll have to wait until I hear from the owner today to see what happens....

how frustrating!!!

regardless of whether or not you decide to go with this place, i would mention wanting your deposit back. i mean, who knows, maybe she'll give you a steeper discount or extra service if she knows you're going to walk.

also, since everyone seems to be all over the place, why not get dress info and order from an online shop? then the dresses can get shipped wherever you need them to go and each girl can go to a seamstress that's close to them?

Get your money back PRONTO! Go to Valentina's - it's not that far at all (right by my house) - conveniently by the BQE and Belt Parkway.

We ordered our dresses from there and it was so far the most pleasant experiences I've ever had!

hi:
I'm so sorry to hear of your experience with blanchee. I live in two miles away and have used blanchee for several occasions and everytime I went the ladies working there were always professional. If blanchee was there to help you, trust me, you would not have gone through that experience. She really is the heart and sole of that place. I know how frustrating it can be when you are trying to gather your BM's for dress shopping/fittings. I hope everything works out for you.

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Posted by nov12

hi:
I'm so sorry to hear of your experience with blanchee. I live in two miles away and have used blanchee for several occasions and everytime I went the ladies working there were always professional. If blanchee was there to help you, trust me, you would not have gone through that experience. She really is the heart and sole of that place. I know how frustrating it can be when you are trying to gather your BM's for dress shopping/fittings. I hope everything works out for you.

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It's actually scarey to think that the owner is the only person that's competent in assisting customers. I place blame on the owner (no matter how good she might be) for hiring inexperienced people to represent her store and of course herself. That's a no-no in the business world.

Thanks twin for understanding!!

If she doesn't call me by 3:30 I'm calling her up myself to let her know what happened!!

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Posted by SexyEsq

My first inclination is tell you to get your money back and go to the other store. However, that would majorly inconvenience everyone. Speak to the owner tomorrow and see how much apologizing she does (and how much discounting), before making a decision.

I would also check the Better Business Bureau and see if there are complaints filed against the store.

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I agree... sometimes people have bad days... maybe it will work out to your benefit and you will get a great discount for the terrible service!

Spoke to the owner today, and she said she was appalled at what has happened and that she already yelled at her staff about it and that they will definitely hear it again from her.

She knocked $35 off the price of the BM dresses!! She also apologized profusely for what happened, especially when I said the girls wanted their deposits back to go elsewhere!! She assured me that she would be handling it personally from now on.

She also told me how she handles measuring pregnant bridesmaids, which is a big help to me considering I have 2!!!

I feel a little better now after speaking to the owner. She was extremely nice and helped me get the maker of the FG dress. She also called my SIL to get more information.

Whew!!! Finally one less thing to worry about!!

I have worked 'retail' for many years and have always had to set the alarm in the stores...isnt it odd that the alarm just turns itself on? I am really asking this question b/c I have never heard of this

Ha turns out the 'alarm' excuse was a lie!!

The owner told me that the saleswoman just wanted to leave at 5pm, or 5 to 5 like she usually does and that there was no alarm!! She was shocked when I told her we were rushed to get out because of some 'alarm' going off at 5pm!!!

Janna - I'm so happy it worked out for you!!