David's Bridal *rant*

**PrairieRose** · 03-01-2008, 07:12 PM

Ok I want to apologize in advance to anyone who works at one or is a franchise (? I suppose that's what they are....?) owner. BUT..........I've had a few dealings in the past with David's Bridal before and want to warn anyone who may be in the market for a wedding or bridesmaid dress about a couple of things before you go in to the store.

A couple of years ago our youngest dd was a bridesmaid in a friend's wedding. Ok, so she's shorter than average and not heavy in the top area....alterations were called for. Ok. The seamstress comes out and measures and pins and etc, etc, etc.... . I then ask 'how much will this be?' and talk about shocked when she replied..... it was going to be more than the dress cost!

I said, well, um, I think we'll pass on the alterations then and they politely took the pins out and were a *little* bit huffy over that decision. We got it altered for about $25.

Now fast forward to dd#1's wedding dress purchase. We go in , she looks over the catalog and picks out about 3 or 4 dresses to try on. We were happy to hear that her fave one is on sale for $50 off. Ssssooooo we try on and on and on and decide on the first one (the fave) and get ready to buy. I said you will press this right? (it was so wrinkled) and the lady says yes ma'am, that will be $40 (wth?). Ok, nevermind. She also says I found a couple of spots on the dress, lemme go and get them 'out' right quick. I say ok. She comes back and it looks ok. We go to check out and I said do you have a bag to carry it out in? (We just bought dh a very nice jacket at JC Penney's reg. price $200 for $19.99 and got the nice zipper bag for free, ok?) She said well you can have *this* bag (a flimsy one like what you get at the dry cleaners, only white with David's Bridal printed on it) for free or the other one (nice zipper bag) is $10. (?!) Anyway we took the free one, bought the bra there (over priced but dd didn't want to go and try on more, it was late, she was coming down with the flu) and got the heck outta there. Thankfully she didn't need any alterations.

I'm not saying you can't find a good deal at David's Bridal, but you have to be careful and fully aware of the *hidden* charges on everything.

**PrairieRose** · 03-01-2008, 07:18 PM

I meant to say about the spots...sorry

The spots looked to be gone in the store but when I got the dress home and began to press it the spots came out, very dark. Luckily I was able to get them out using a product called "unbelievable". That worked like a charm, a miracle, I mean to tell ya. Anyway, those spots were soooooo dark and looked to be spotted with something white upon closer inspection as I was pressing but then the heat brought them out and they looked very greasy........ssoooo that was my point above about the spots.....sorry for the added grumble....looks like if you're gonna gripe you should do it one post, eh?

**known2him5** · 03-01-2008, 10:37 PM

I"ve not had good experiences there either. My dd wanted to look for a prom dress there, they immediately decided we were not worth their time. We were free to browse, but getting a fitting room, etc. was not going to happen. So we took our business elsewhere.

When my son was getting married, his bride went there to get a dress. They were so rude, she walked out and never looked back.

**emily_hope** · 03-02-2008, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by known2him5

I"ve not had good experiences there either. My dd wanted to look for a prom dress there, they immediately decided we were not worth their time. We were free to browse, but getting a fitting room, etc. was not going to happen. So we took our business elsewhere.

We went to look for a prom dress there. There were so many people in the store you couldn't 'look' and no sales people available to help. Everyone was helping the brides. It was very frustrating. We left and went somewhere else, also.

**McD** · 03-02-2008, 12:12 PM

I will never go to David's Bridal again. I bought my dress there, paid an unbelievable amount for alterations THAT WERE DONE WRONG! (You best believe that they refunded the charge!) They didn't dye my shoes like they were supposed to. I hate that place.

**YankeeMom** · 03-02-2008, 04:35 PM

I'd be willing to bet she dabbed white shoe dye on the spots to cover them up until after the sale.

I have always found DB to be hugely overpriced. Thanks for the heads up!

**Katybird** · 03-02-2008, 04:45 PM

Thanks for the warning everyone. I will keep that in mind if I ever need formal wear.

**ravenmaniac** · 03-02-2008, 05:46 PM

I'm sorry that happened to you. I've never been a fan of David's.

**Stella** · 03-02-2008, 08:23 PM

My sister got her wedding dress from DB. It needed alterations so she had them done there. We live 70 miles from the nearest store so it was two trips before we could return to pick it up. When we got there ( 2 weeks before her wedding) we found out the sewing machine had gotten grease on the dress!
My aunt told them to clean it and they said "okay, you can come back in 2 days to get it". No way were we going back. We told them to ship it 2nd day UPS and they did. When it was time to look for my wedding dress I did not even waste my time going there.

**Jessesbride** · 03-03-2008, 12:26 AM

WOW! I'm sorry to hear that everyone's had such crappy service at DB

!

I got my wedding dress & my veil there & they were very professional & very awesome to work with! I had no problems at all with them! I also got my bridesmaids dresses there... one of my best friends is a seamstress so we had her do the alterations instead of paying DB to do it! WORKED OUT GREAT

! However I got my tiara at a different bridal store alfred angelos? (they were also very helpful & professional) is I think the name of the store! Maybe it depends on the location? Our location is in Oklahoma City on Memorial Road & Penn.

They were great with us... that sucks that you all didn't have a good experience there! Did you ever talk to a manager or a regional manager?

Kim

**MirandaK** · 03-03-2008, 08:51 AM

I also had no problems getting my dress from David's. I did not have it altered there but BEFORE I bought anything I had asked about alterations prices. Teh other "non-chain" bridal stores in my area were just as highly priced for alterations and I NEVER could have got a dress as nice as the one I got from David's at a local store. Most bridal stores make a killing on both alterations and accessories...get those elsewhere!!

I'm going this week to buy my 3rd bridesmaid dress from there...that will be 3 bridesmaid dresses and one wedding dress that I've bought there in the last 5 or so years. Just go in prepared and you won't have problems.

**mom2bobsarah** · 03-03-2008, 09:32 AM

I went to David's when I was getting married (8 years ago) and was not the least bit impressed with them. I agree that the staff was less than helpful, there was not much selection in plus sizes (despite their claim) and the sales they were having at the time were non-existent when I got there. I would never reccomend them.

**MirandaK** · 03-03-2008, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by MirandaK

Teh other "non-chain" bridal stores in my area were just as highly priced for alterations and I NEVER could have got a dress as nice as the one I got from David's at a local store. .

I meant to say that I couldn't have gotten one that was as nice for $300 bucks at a local store. Couldn't beat their price. Even if I had paid them the $150 they wanted to alter it, it was still hundreds of $$ cheaper than other stuff I found elsewhere.

**imforpeace** · 03-03-2008, 12:30 PM

Wow, I guess you have to ask how much everything is. Did they charge you to use the dressing room? ~ he he ~ I wouldn't be surprised. I have a friend with almost the same experience there.

**kaykwilts** · 03-03-2008, 12:37 PM

I have two daughters and I don't look forward to dealing with a place that will stuff you at every opportunity. When I got my wedding dress many years ago the alternations were free and so was the bag.