Kyle Campbell3
Member
35 messages
joined Nov 2018
My history with the Vesna Sposa bridal boutique runs pretty deep, so I think it’s best if I start right from the moment I first walked through their doors.
Right when I walked into the Salon, the lady there—who I didn't know at the time—asked if I had a specific vision in mind, likely referring to the wedding dress silhouette. I told her I’d spotted a photo on Vesna Sposa's Instagram profile that I absolutely loved. She asked to see it, so I pulled it up. After taking a look, she gave me the news: "It really is stunning. Unfortunately, though, that was from last year's collection and isn't available anymore." I was pretty bummed because it was gorgeous, but we moved forward with the appointment anyway. I ended up trying on four different dresses, and in the end, I settled on one specific Vesna Sposa design. They mentioned the price includes a discount. $1833 The employee mentioned back then that she would see just how much of a discount she could swing, which is ultimately why we ended up with that final price. As for the initial quote, she stated the amount was... $2667I was told that I needed to pay a quarter of the total by the middle of the month, with the remaining balance due once the wedding festivities wrap up. I followed those instructions to the letter and dropped off the initial twenty-five percent payment. While I was there, I mentioned to the manager again that there’s a specific dress I saw on Instagram—the same one I originally inquired about. She asked to see the post, then pointed out that the gown was a Berta. Aside from the fact that the rental fee is pretty steep, she noted that they only have sizes 6 and 8 available in stock. Once I heard what the price tag looked like... $4667 As for renting, I’ve officially given up on the idea. One of the employees told me again not to worry, suggesting I could just swap my wedding dress for another one before the big day if something else arrived that I liked better. After that conversation, I actually left the Salon feeling a bit more at peace. Earlier this year, around June, I went to a random boutique for a final fitting with my maid of honor, whose wedding was also approaching. Honestly, I’m just glad I went, because now I can explain exactly why things went south. When I walked in, I saw a dress on a mannequin that looked strikingly similar to the ones posted on your Salon’s social media. I spoke with the manager and explained my bad luck so far—specifically how the rental prices were astronomical and the standard sizing was incredibly limited. When I showed her your post, she pointed out that the dress on her window mannequin was the exact same style. I immediately asked about the size and the rental fee. I won’t go into every detail, but the price was half what I expected, and the fit was perfect. She mentioned it was a Crystal Design piece and gave me the model name. The very next day, I called your boutique in Washington, D.C. I gave them the short version of my story and asked if that specific dress could be delivered to St. Anthony. It was. Once it arrived, the manager called me, and I headed in for a fitting along with my maid of honor and my sister. The employee didn't tell me what size had been delivered, though she did mention she thought it might be too tight. Her response to my hesitation was a classic, "Just try it on and we'll see." Needless to say, I barely managed to pull it past my knees. It was surreal, considering I had tried a size 4, which fit me perfectly, at that other boutique. Regardless, I asked the manager about the price. She casually remarked, "It's a little cheaper than yours." Is any commentary even necessary? Over the phone, the lady from the D.C. location had explicitly told me they would deliver the dress for $7,950, with absolutely no possibility of a discount. I couldn't believe my ears. Instead of addressing the discrepancy, the manager just kept insisting, "Oh, don't worry, your current dress is perfect; there's nothing better in the shop." I laid everything out for her right then and there. I told her I would be filing a formal complaint detailing this entire ordeal from start to finish. When I asked how her colleague could quote one price while she quoted something completely different, she offered no explanation—she just kept defending herself. In an attempt to salvage the situation, I asked if the credit could instead be used to have an evening gown made for my mother so the money wouldn't go to waste. She flatly refused, claiming it was "company policy." Her logic? "Rental money isn't the same as purchase money." Apparently, since they were "holding the dress for me," that money is locked into that specific transaction and cannot be used for anything else. So, how does that square with her earlier claim that I could simply swap my dress for a different rental? It is a mess of contradictions, inconsistencies, lies, and terrible business practices. I said my piece, and as I was leaving, I broke down in tears. Her response? "Let it all out; have a shot of whiskey, you'll feel better." Following the guidance of the labor inspector in Miami, I am submitting this formal complaint and expect a response within the legal timeframe. I am fully aware of how this works. You can set whatever prices you want, and you can put whatever terms you want in a contract, and we agree to them by signing. But what I *can* do is share my experience everywhere possible, so that at least one other girl doesn't have to deal with this nightmare.
Well, here we go, ladies. I hope I’ve been able to help someone out here. 🙂😠
