Why won't anyone match Burton's prices?

I live in VA, so I have been trying to find a place for my girls to buy their bridesmaids dresses by phone. They're Jim Hjelm dresses, and they're in the mid to high $200s at places like the Bridal Suite of Bayshore and Bridal Suite in Centereach, but $200 and below (I'm looking for 2 different dresses) at Burtons. Everytime I call stores that say they match any price, they say they don't match with Burtons. Burtons is kind of far for my girls to drive to, and now I'm wondering what is so bad about them that people won't match their price. Do they have knock-offs or something? The bridal boutique I called today said, 'We don't match prices with them for obvious reasons. We don't consider them our competitors'. I told her I've never been there so I don't know what she's talking about. She said, 'Go there and you'll see what I mean'. Since I can't go there, can you guys help me out before I send my girls there to buy dresses? I really don't want to make them spend so much more money.

*Sorry girls, I just realized I posted in the wrong forum, but if you have any words of wisdom I'd so greatly appreciate it!*

now *I* wanna know!!!

what did she mean by 'go there and see what I mean??'

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Posted by carolinep24

now *I* wanna know!!!

what did she mean by 'go there and see what I mean??'

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i posted on the 08 one.. but it could be because they are a smaller mom andpop type of place, they dont have the typical store front, so maybe they just cant compete! and Burtons doesnt advertise either so they save money that way so i guess they can charge less

i think its silly though

All I can say is that I've heard *things* about burtons.... specifically their dress shop......

While the florist has over all pretty good reviews, with some hideous experiences mixed in, the reverse is true of the dress shop... mainly BAD experiences, with a few good ones sprinkled in....

I dunno.... I'd go with RK bridal or bridal elegance in dix hills.... at least you know the over all rep is pretty good....

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Posted by portjeffbride

All I can say is that I've heard *things* about burtons.... specifically their dress shop......

While the florist has over all pretty good reviews, with some hideous experiences mixed in, the reverse is true of the dress shop... mainly BAD experiences, with a few good ones sprinkled in....

I dunno.... I'd go with RK bridal or bridal elegance in dix hills.... at least you know the over all rep is pretty good....

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really ?? ive only heard good things.. im going to check brides review. thanks!

I'm not sure how much is in the bride review section, but there are several threads in BHB and maybe even 07 where burtons have been discussed over the last year or so....

I recall at least one or maybe even 2 threads where dress 'issues' were discussed. the remaining were floral....

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Posted by portjeffbride

I'm not sure how much is in the bride review section, but there are several threads in BHB and maybe even 07 where burtons have been discussed over the last year or so....

I recall at least one or maybe even 2 threads where dress 'issues' were discussed. the remaining were floral....

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thanks.. i dont know what to do .. the dress i love i found there.. and i dont know make or anything

I'm sure they're comparing the look/feel of the shop.

Honestly, the first time I went to Burtons, I walked in and walked out. It just wasn't for me.
The women were loud, they had a poor girl practically topless up on the pedestal while the seamstress was pinning the dress on her - my allergies to dust/mold/everything in the world were really acting up!

What dresses?
Sometimes houseofbrides.com or netbride.com has better prices than ANY shops!

Thanks for the help girls

Burton's is not your typical salon if you're looking for atmosphere and salespeople to treat you like a princess

They probably won't match prices with them b/c they undersell just about everyone, probably less in overhead expenses. But you go there when you've already picked what you want and they will give you a price. I know many who have bought their gown (including my daughter) and BM's dresses there, and saved quite a bit of $$. Also try Bridal Elegance.

They are often busy and the atmosphere is more 'no frills' than some people like. Good luck!

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Posted by snowcat

if you're looking to save $$ on dresses, the best way to go is netbride.com I had a fantastic experience with them- we ordered my bm dresses there, and the came a month earlier than expected. I got a watters and watters dresses that were about 240$ in the two dress stores we looked in, and we paid 155$ online- all you have to do is tell your girls to give you their measurements and look at the size chart to figure out which to order. FM me if you want more info

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Unfortunately they don't carry Jim Hjelm, but thanks anyway.

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Posted by LImama

Burton's is not your typical salon if you're looking for atmosphere and salespeople to treat you like a princess

They probably won't match prices with them b/c they undersell just about everyone, probably less in overhead expenses. But you go there when you've already picked what you want and they will give you a price. I know many who have bought their gown (including my daughter) and BM's dresses there, and saved quite a bit of $$. Also try Bridal Elegance.

They are often busy and the atmosphere is more 'no frills' than some people like. Good luck!

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I totally agree!! If you want to be pampered and have champagne served to you while shopping LOL then you are going to pay for it-- and try a place in Manhasset! However, I've found with the 'higher end' places you get even MORE of an attitude.

Burton's has been there for like a million years- they are in this little house that they own and they have NO overhead- that is why their prices are so great. They are NOT going to fall all over you but EVERY single time I have gone in there I have had a very nice experience with each and every person there-- They don't do bridal shows, they don't advertise- because they don't have to... all of their biz is word of mouth and recommendations.

My cousin was the first person to tell my sister about it, my sister went there and saved a fortune, I have recommended friends there who had a wonderful experience- one in particular who went there it actually made the difference for her between affording her dream dress and not being able to afford it- Burton's saved her over $800 and all of a sudden- her dream dress was in her price range! Then, I went for my gown, my Mom's and my girls-- not a SINGLE complaint and the prices are great.

The bridal salon's just don't want to match their prices because they want to make MONEY- that's all they care about so they are going to say something like 'go there and see what I mean' to cast a doubt in your mind and get you to spend more with them.

You could try RK Bridal if you want or Bridal Elegance but I recently had a friend who called RK and Burton's even beat their price-- and unforunately, Bridal Elegance is right across the street (basically) to Burton's-- so the travel is the same.

But those are the wholesale places- and yes, they are going to get BASHED every single time you ask a retail shop about them... b/c they take their business as they should b/c retail charges WAY too much.

I hope that helps- I have my second fitting at Burton's in about two weeks. She saved me $900 off of what Bridal Reflections quoted me at AND the woman at BR was SO rude I was HAPPY to give my money to Burton's instead-- Then, my girls saved about 95 dollars each off of their watters and watters gowns.

PS-- Don't forget alterations-- Burton's caps at $140 for the bride and $40 for each girl-- that is UNHEARD of in retail shops- and that's where they make their money so be careful about that... Always ask if there's a cap and what it caps at.

GL!!!!

ETA: Bridal Elegance actually is no longer there- they moved to a location in Dix Hills/East Northport area-- right in the same shopping center as Maddaloni Jewelers-- unfortunately, it's even further than before for your girls if they are coming from Nassau- but just thought I'd put that in there.

I agree with MrsDaniRella. Burton's saved me about $500 on my dress. Yes, it is in an old house; yes, the women there are not going to fall all over themselves to pamper the bride or the bridesmaids.

But you will save money, which in the end, I think, is worth dealing with the rest of it. My dress hasn't come in yet, so I can't speak to experiences with fittings and such, but I found my buying experience to be just fine, and a little realism and bluntness from the women in the shop was a welcomed change from some of the other shops I had been into both here in Virginia/DC metro and on LI. JMHO.

Good luck on your search!

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Posted by Cpt2007

I agree with MrsDaniRella. Burton's saved me about $500 on my dress. Yes, it is in an old house; yes, the women there are not going to fall all over themselves to pamper the bride or the bridesmaids.

But you will save money, which in the end, I think, is worth dealing with the rest of it. My dress hasn't come in yet, so I can't speak to experiences with fittings and such, but I found my buying experience to be just fine, and a little realism and bluntness from the women in the shop was a welcomed change from some of the other shops I had been into both here in Virginia/DC metro and on LI. JMHO.

Good luck on your search!

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Agree completely, I got my gown, and all my BM dresses there, and had NO problems.....the only minor issues was with my sister who had alterations there - but it wasn't major. She had detachable straps put on the dress, and it wasn't made even so she had to have it redone. But again, that's nothing major. With my dress, the hem was about 1/2 inch too long, so it was on the ground a little, but nothing I even noticed!

I agree with the bluntness - they are not going to butter you up to get business, they tell it like it is. Which I liked, because at my 2nd fitting I wasn't sure about my jewelry, and she flat out said to me 'Nope, doesn't look good with the necklace, don't wear one' and she was right!

Basically - you'll get a great price there, nobody could beat it. The main complaint I've heard here was about alterations, so if you want to avoid the possibility, just get it altered somewhere else. JMO, but they're not as horrible as everyone seems to say.

I agree completely with the last few posts. I don't want to be treated like a complete princess if I have to pay for it. I am also using burtons for my dress & BM dresses. Carole ( the woman in charge) is very freindly & makes me laugh everytime I go there!! I like her. The only problen with them is their hours. They are not open late during the week. Other than that everything has been great with them so far. I have second fitting with them next saturday 8/11.

ETA: I am also doing my flowers thorugh Burtons. I am makingmy own centerpieces, so I am only getting the Bo-Ks from them & the flower girl petals.

Burton's saved me over $500 on my dress...and like others, I would not have been able to get the dress I really wanted if it were not for Burton's.

So therefore I love them for that alone.

I'm also getting my flowers done there and my BM's are going thru the process of ordering their dresses (and saving much much $$) from them. Carol has been nothing short of amazing to me and I have no complaints whatsoever about their customer service.

Of course I have not done my alterations yet being as my dress won't arrive until December, but I'm hoping everything will go well.

(This is kind of OT but I was actually just thinking that my dress might be hard to alter length-wise. I wonder what they will do if it's too long. The highest heel I can wear is 4' so I guess we'll have to see...I JUST WANT IT TO COME IT SO I CAN WEAR IT/SEE IT AGAIN!!!!!!! )