WARNING: Paradise Bridals, Patchouge (long)

I just want to preface this post by saying that the following is my experience with Paradise Bridals. Some people might have had satisfactory dealings with them, however, I definitely did not.
Let me start at the beginning . . . February 2001. I went to try on dresses (a bit early I know but I was excited). I ended up getting majorly pressured to leave a deposit on a gown. They told me it would definitely be discontinued if I didn't order it then and that they didn't even have any similar styles that would compare. Needless to say, I left a deposit on the dress and a headpiece. Months later I called the salon to see if the dress had come in. They said they'd call me back and, of course, never returned my call. I called several more times with no response back. Finally, I got really nervous, paniced and ordered a dress from another salon (Burton's in Huntington/Melville who I have had nothing but great experiences with). I called Paradise again. Still nothing. All of a sudden, on Friday 9/6, two weeks before my wedding, I receive a call from Julia at Paradise Bridals. She asks if my wedding date is still 9/20 and I confirmed that it was. She says, 'Well you haven't been in for a fitting yet!'. No sh*t! That's why I called ten million times! So . . . now she wants the balance on my dress by 9/20. Julia claims that there is no record of me calling at all yet they have my work number and I only started here last July (5 months after the dress was ordered). I know I am bound by contract so I will pick up the dress and probably sell it on E-bay.
I just wanted to inform any other brides out there about my experience. They were very nasty and unresponsive. There are so many other bridal salons out there, that I would suggest that you take your business elsewhere.
Thanks for letting me vent!

Re: WARNING: Paradise Bridals, Patchouge (long)

Get a copy of your phone record, and bring it with you to their salon. That's total Bull S****!!! I can't believe they have the nerve to do that to you!!

Re: WARNING: Paradise Bridals, Patchouge (long)

Meg,

I am so sorry you had such a bad experience there. I got my dress from them and luckily I didn't have any problems. However, I lied about my wedding date and I'm having someone else alter it.

One of my girlfriends got her dress and headpiece from them and she had nothing but problems with them as well. (Of course this was AFTER I left my deposit!) Her headpiece ended up coming in 2 weeks before her wedding and it turned out it was the wrong one! She had to take the one they had on display - thank god it was in decent shape.

Although I didn't have a bad experience with them, I can honestly say I was nervous every time I walked into that place. Luckily my dresses all came in right and on time...but they always made me so uneasy.

The day I picked up my bridal gown, there was a bride there crying because she was getting married that weekend, and they couldn't find her dress. Needless to say, I took my dress and ran!

Thankfully in the end, things worked out for you.

I would find out...do you really have to pick up the dress and finish the payments? I guess you could sell it on eBay, but it makes me so angry that they screwed up, and you're the one being inconvienced!!

Best of luck to you!

Re: WARNING: Paradise Bridals, Patchouge (long)

Depending on how much you owe I would see exactly what an attorney has to say. I mean if your dress was $2000 it might be worth itWhat happens if the engagment was broken? G-d forbid. But what if?

Re: WARNING: Paradise Bridals, Patchouge (long)

THAT IS TOTAL BULL!!! where was the dress the whole time.. i would fight this one to the finish.. tell them they did not live up to there end of the contract, and therfore the contract is null and void.. phone records would be good too!!!
I went to that place too, and tried on dresses, but the girl did not help me out, left me to just pick stuff and try stuff on myself.. so i left.. well try to not let there lack of professionalism ruin your big day!!!!!! good luck

Re: WARNING: Paradise Bridals, Patchouge (long)

Let them sue you for the money! Do not pay one penny of it!! Tell them that you ordered your gown from someone else after getting NO responses or help from them. Why on Earth would you ever give these people one more dime?

Re: WARNING: Paradise Bridals, Patchouge (long)

I agree!! If you have proof that you tried contacting them numerous times with no response the burden is on them. You shouldn't have to go through the trouble of selling it on eBay. Obviously if they have your new work number, they were getting your messages and choosing to ignore them. I would definitely fight them to the end on this one - I doubt you'll get your deposit back, but there's no way you should give them anything else.

Good Luck!

P.S. You should write the Better Business Bureau about them - www.bbb.org.

Re: WARNING: Paradise Bridals, Patchouge (long)

Thanks everyone for all your supportive comments.
I am SO mad but I am trying not to stress seeing as there is enough going on with my wedding a week from Friday. I, unfortunately, can't obtain phone records because I made every phone call from work. I had my mom try to handle them (I know, I'm such a baby but I just can't deal with them right now) and they said since I didn't cancel in writing, that I have no case. They told my mom that they will get their lawyers on me if I don't come down, pay the balance in case and pick up the dress. The contract says that they are not responsible for any merchandise not picked up by contract date (9/20/02) so I am afraid that if I don't pick it up, I won't even have a dress to sell to try to get some of my $ back. Luckily, the total came to under $1000. Ahhhh!!!!!!!

Re: WARNING: Paradise Bridals, Patchouge (long)

I believe that is the salon that my mom had a big fight with several years ago when she bought a dress for my brother's wedding.

Re: WARNING: Paradise Bridals, Patchouge (long)

meg report them to the BBB and consumers affairs.My girlfriend had nothing but problems with them.She told me it got so bad with them ,she had to make a scene in the store to get attention.Then the store called the cops on her escorted her out of the store,then the cop said this aint first time we have been called to this store.Girls we should all stick together and spread the word the store is NO GOOD.This way there finnally go out of bizz,or at least get the hint.

Re: WARNING: Paradise Bridals, Patchouge (long)

Thank you everyone!
These posts are making me feel much better!
I plan on filing a complaint with the BBB this week (I don't have the contract with me right now or you know I'd be on the website filing it right away!). When I checked the BBB website there were no complaints (I was pretty surprised). I spoke to FH and he basically said that I should forget it - Let them sue us for the money.
I will definitely keep everyone posted on what happens - Thanks again for all your support!

Re: WARNING: Paradise Bridals, Patchouge (long)

I am so sorry you have to go through this so close to your day. This is total B.S. and they are trying to cover their asses now. Let then come after you - just let 'em try...

Stay strong. Don't let these shady people win...

Re: WARNING: Paradise Bridals, Patchouge (long)

Sorry I would NOT pay for them anything. Let them spend all the money on lawyers that they want. You should tell them that you did cancel, don't they remember just like they contacted you about your gown! Make sure to direct them to the boards. Oh, and post on theknot.com too.

Did you ever go down to the place? Call the dress designer. They have A LOT of weight with the bridal salons.

Re: WARNING: Paradise Bridals, Patchouge (long)

I agree with Michele. Ask them if they have it documented that they called you to tell you your order was in. Obviously they'll lie, but I know they write everything down on your order sheet. Go there and ask them to pull your file.

It's ridiculous. Whether it's a $600 dress or a $2000 dress, it's a service that you paid for and they are expected to deliver!

Re: WARNING: Paradise Bridals, Patchouge (long)

Im not sure if this helps but at my job, we all get a list of calls that we made during the month, which numbers we called, etc..., maybe you could ask your company to give you a copy of your phone calls to prove to them that you called them.