I went into a bridal shop in Swansea today just to have a look round to find inspiration. The women who work there were slumped around in the chairs in the waiting area, and they didn't even acknowledge me or h2b when we walked in. After looking at dresses for a few minutes, one of the women shouted over to me about needing 4 months for a bridesmaids dress. She didn't even get up. I told her I was just looking for ideas and styles as we have a while until our wedding. She told me not to bother wasting their time until I was actually serious... The cheek! When we left h2b says he was appauled at their attitude. Has anyone else experienced this? This shop has a bad reputation for the attitude of the staff, but is it just this shop or a common problem??
CommentAuthorloustew2012
yeah one in ayr told my sister she was too fat and busty for their designs.....she had given birth 3 weeks earlier and it was me looking not her for bm dresses, maybe cos i said i had my dress. they demanded they left carricks pram outside the shop she couldnt leave him in it and bring in...a 3 week old baby!!!
we left very soon after!!!
All the ways of my life id rather be with you.
Theres no way without you.
10.11.12
CommentAuthorkerriface
Some of them seem really judgemental!
CommentAuthorloustew2012
which is uncalled for you want to look and feel special not be told your too fat!!!! she was hormonal enough as it is with a 2 year old a 3 week old not a good mix. had to take her for a coffee to calm down and some chocolate cake cos in her words "wanted to go back and deck the fkn b!"£h"
needless to say the bridal shop we have got dresses has been fab and shes happy with her weight, dress and so is the lol (he puked down the sample gown but that was his sign of approval lol!!) xx
All the ways of my life id rather be with you.
Theres no way without you.
10.11.12
CommentAuthormym72
The first shop I ever went in with my mum and bm was horrendous. We'd booked the appointment at a wedding fair - but once we were there they were so ignorant!!
My bm is overweight - so when she started looking at dresses the assistant looked her up and down and said 'we'll concentrate on the bride today, not you.' I chose a few styles to try - but the assistant was telling me that some would look 'ridiculous' on me before I'd even tried them. Then she asked if we were looking anywhere else. When we said that was our first shop, she just scoffed at us as if she didn't believe us. All the way through the appointment she kept the prices from us - then informed us that all dresses were reduced to £800. When I said I'd have to go away and have a think about the ones I'd tried, she grabbed the dresses and left us in the fitting room as if she couldn't be bothered with us anymore.
My bm did get her own back though. She went and got a dress to try and insisted on trying it. Because it was a few sizes too small the assistant made a point of telling her that it wouldn't fasten all the way up (zip back). She took a deep breath, waited while the assistant had zipped it half way - then let out the breath, and while the zip went flying open said 'it won't now!!' I really don't think the assistant liked us laughing at that lol - but you've got to play them at their own game if they're offhand.
The shop in Leeds where I eventually did get my dress was completely different and couldn't be more helpful.
When I first got engaged I went to a bridal shop to have a nosey hadn't set a date or even a year at the time and got a similar response. Safe to say I didn't even step foot in that shop when I got my chosen dress.
If it happened to me now though I would tell em where they can stick their dresses and I would also let them know that I will be advising all my friends not to darken their doorstep as well.
There are plenty of shops out there that will be more than happy to help out but alot of them will advise you to start looking alot closer to the date as dress stock changes from year to year and so will your tastes. Good luck though x
CommentAuthorTsukijin
This is why I do my shopping online. If you're going to work in the industry of joyful occasions at least pretend to share the customer's excitement...
Don't go back there Kerri. Lack of custom will fix this. They don't deserve their jobs.
Or complain to management, I'm sure there are hundreds of people who would be grateful for the job opening and do the job properly with good customer service.
eru, shiteiru ka? shinigami wa ringo shika tabenai?
^_^
CommentAuthor♥Future Mrs Midgley♥
Oh my god, some of these people are unbelievable. There is a terrible snooty, snobby bridal shop in Southampton but I won't say the name on here. If anyone is buying dresses in the Southampton area, pm me and I will tell you in private the name of the shop.x
CommentAuthordolphin
I went into a local shop and started looking around with my mum, this would off been about a month ago, the shop assistant asked if she could help and I said I was just looking as I wasnt sure what I wanted, she replied ok if she could help just ask to whIch I replied thank you, (all good so far). After looking for 5 minutes I found a dress that I wanted to try on, the shop assistant then said well hurry up then I have an appointment in 10 minutes I thought that was a bit rude. As soon as I had got it on i was bearly given time to look at it and show my mum before she whipped it off me again. She then said come back six months before your wedding and start looking then but to make sure I book an appointment first, I said ok and thank you, i continued to look around the shop for another 40 minutes and her so called appointment still hadnt turned up, so I said to my mum in a raised voice ' come on mum, these people obviously aren't interested and have just lost my custom' and with that we left to some shocked faces of the shop assistants. x
cant wait to marry the man of dreams 18/5/2013
The first time was a rehursal, this time its for life.
CommentAuthorNicsquared
I think i have been really lucky - people have been really friendly in every shop i went in, even before i set the date I have heard a lot of horror stories though You would think in this day and age every sale matters and they would put some effort into their jobs
There are so many people out there who will tell you
what you can't do.
What you have to do is turn around and say, "watch me"!!
CommentAuthorMrs T Hurley!
thats why I normally look at reviews online before I shop somewhere, wedding or not wedding related. If its got 1 star for most of the reviews, I stay well clear! It has really helped and the places that I have been 2 have been brilliant.
Met 18/09/03
Engaged 06/09/08
Getting married 05/09/17
CommentAuthorKate_B
I've been in a shop like that - the woman was so rude that I wanted to leave pretty much straight away! It's awful - especially considering how much some of the dresses are in these shops, you'd think they'd be bending over backwards for you!!
CommentAuthorBridezilla
So far I've been lucky. A couple of shops have even opened specially for me on a Sunday as that was the only day I could make it.
CommentAuthorMrsCaitiClarke
That's really shocking!!! No-one's been rude to me yet in a shop (the one I chose my gown from I was 1.5 hours late for the appointment and they still made a huge fuss of me and my 5-strong entourage!). You want to feel like a princess not like a big lump or as if being in their shop is an inconvenience to them!!! I agree lack of custom might make them rethink their snotty attitudes! Xx
I can't wait to marry the love of my life - 28/04/2012
OCD Bride - it's all in the details!
CommentAuthorjdnems
ive never come across a bridal shop who has the cheek to say not to bother, that is very insulting telling you not to bother all i can say is that it will be their fault not trying to help so they will be losing out. Ignore idiots like them and carry on looking in other places x
CommentAuthorBridezilla
I do know somebody who was torn between two dresses in two different shops, and went back to each shop several times to try and make up her mind. That is, until she overheard the assistants in one of the shops talking amongst themselves and making it clear that they were annoyed that "that stupid cow is back AGAIN blah blah blah". She thought she couldn't hear her of course. I don't think she said anything to them, but she was really upset about it and never went back.
I think voting with your feet is the best way to "get back at" shops who do not treat you as a valued customer.
CommentAuthorKylee27
You'd think in times like these that shop owners/staff would be doing everything they can to get peoples custom!
I haven't had to experience anything like that fortunately as I'm borrowing my dress and it's currently hung in my mums wardrobe. :0)
Can't wait to be married!
CommentAuthornik106
It really does depend on the shop doesn't it? When i was 19, one of my friend's got engaged and even booked a date so we all excitedly went to one of the bridal shops near college, where upon they wouldn't even let us look without an appointment, let alone try anything. They just scoffed at her when she said she was getting married as if they didn't believe her. The next shop we went to were fantastic, they invited us in, offered us a drink and couldn't have been more helpful!
I've had the same when i've been dress shopping. I went into one with my mum, carrying my baby in my arms as we only popped in, they were fantastic, they said that i could pop back anytime without an appointment and they would give me some pegs and i could clip them to any dresses that i wanted to try on and it wouldn't matter if they were too big or small cos it would give me an idea.
Things were booked fairly rapidly, leaving me with just 8 weeks so i didn't make it back there, but did call into another briefly. I went with my SIL and the little one whilst my brother and OH were doing manly shopping and to start with they couldn't have been more friendly. We explained our plan - something simple and elegant for a registry office do and then something extravagant for our blessing & celebration. Consequently, she would only let me try on the sale dresses, nothing else. Nothing she picked out was elegant and simple, and she picked out all the size 24's! I realise that i've just had a baby and that wedding dresses are sized up, but i'm size 16! Anything smaller, she got the waist over my boobs and would then take it off claiming the rest wouldn't go over (for some reason, i measure at a 44G, but when being fitted with that size, they just hang off me, and i end up in a 38DD). I was picking lace up backs, how could the back not have gone over my boobs??
I looked ridiculous, i felt enormous and was extremely disheartened when i came out and definitely not like a princess. I don't care if end up wearing a bin liner if my chinese dress is awful, i will not be going back there for one of their sale dresses. The final straw was when my OH came in, he saw a dress he liked and she sneered at him that it would never fit me so he might as well put it back! He knows it was too small, he's not blind but he was just showing her so he could see if she had anything similar that would fit.
CommentAuthorKitkat85
When one of my sisters was getting married a few years ago we went into a local bridal shop. My sister wanted to try on a dress and the assistant looked her up and down and said "I don't think so sweetheart, you would look awful in this." We had also picked out a few BM dresses for me to try on and the same snooty woman said "Oh no! not with your colouring, you will look half dead."
Needless to say we ended up leaving without trying anything on.
Soon to be Mrs Alexander
CommentAuthorFlossie
Louait1011.....which one did you go to, two of my friends went to one in Ayr (not together), and both were disgusted by the way they were treated. They basically told one of them that she couldn't afford any of their dresses!!! How rude!! And the other who is under 5ft...they told just not to bother. I wonder if it's the same shop? xx
CommentAuthorBridezilla
How rude to make a judgement of whether someone could / could not afford something in a shop. Wouldn't you just love to do a "Pretty Woman" in a shop like that, and come back flaunting a massively expensive dress that you'd just bought somewhere else?
CommentAuthorKitkat85
Haha Bridezilla that's what I told my sister we should do
Soon to be Mrs Alexander
CommentAuthorNuttynonnie
yeh im from ayr and a friend of mine is getin married next year too. She went to a couple of bridal stores in ayr and was disgusted by teh service she got in both so i went to glasgow for my dress shopping and i got my dress in a lovely store and the staff wer so down to earth and couldnt have been more helpful. I didnt even have an appointment!! xxx
we fit together perfectly. . .like a jigsaw puzzle.
CommentAuthorloustew2012
hi flossie ive named and shamed them on your profile ha ha ha xxx
All the ways of my life id rather be with you.
Theres no way without you.
10.11.12
CommentAuthorLesleys1
The behaviour of some shop assistants is an absolute disgrace! I was very very lucky.... I had already seen my dress online, and couldn't quite get it out of my head, I knew that I needed to try it on, so I phoned around a number of bridal shops until I found one that had a sample of my dress.. I told the girl I didn't have a date set, I didn't have anything organised and that I just needed to try the dress on so that i could say that it was the one or rule it out completely!
I made my appointment and went alone! The girl was more than pleasant, getting me a glass of water before going into the bridal room. She got the dress and helped me into it, pinned it all in and then told me that the sample would be in their sale the following week, for half the price. She told me that if I wanted to order the dress I wouldn't get it at the discounted price and then said something that shocked me a little... "if it were me I wouldn't pay full price for it! There isn't a mark on that sample, and it wouldn't need taken in much to fit you... but don't tell the boss I said that".
She continued to be very helpful when I asked about bm dresses, I told her I wanted tiffany blue, and she cut me a little sample of it!
Another bridal shop I contacted told me that they didn't have my dress as they only keep current season stock, but they have a wide range of "nicer" dresses in stock that I should try on.... no thank you!
CommentAuthorEcoFreak
Yikes! I won't be looking for a while but fingers crossed none of the ones near me are like this!
Future Mrs Midgley I live in Winchester - could you put the name of the snooty Soton shop on my wall please? So I can avoid like the plague lol! Xx
CommentAuthorMel D
The shop I got my dress from didn't have rude people ... but I had a stand up argument with the owner as she said I "had" to have a train (I won in the end - after showing her how clumsy I was and nearly falling over) and they didn't do some of the alterations as I asked for ... and they made the straps completely differnt to each other!
Got married Sat 28/05/2011
Renewing vows Sat 29/05/2021
We're planning WELL in advance!!
CommentAuthorBridezilla
"Had" to have a train? Since when does anybody "have to have" anything? That's ridiculous of her to say that. Good for you for sticking up for yourself.
CommentAuthorjo Santa
We have a local one that is only opened by appointment. So I texted her for an appointment - she replied she's away until Monday, so I said to enjoy her break and get in touch when she returned. I never heard from her again, so I didn't get as far as rude service in the shop because I went online instead!!
Jo Santa
CommentAuthorB2B2017
Kerriface-what shop in swansea was that?
Sarah x
Planning to perfection
CommentAuthorStevie_Dee
Kinda glad Im only looking online for mine now.
I have a gorgeous husband!
2 brilliant wonderful boys, a wonderful life
in Cornwall. Happiest woman ever!
Now making our house a home. Blessing 2014.
CommentAuthorFlossie
No Louait......it's not the same one....I did go into the one you're talking about myself, but I only tried on one dress as both my mum and I felt like we were in the way. So we just left and went elsewhere. xx
CommentAuthorloustew2012
aw ok lol thought u were gonna say you worked for them there!!! xx
All the ways of my life id rather be with you.
Theres no way without you.
10.11.12
CommentAuthorFutureMrsWilson
I had a similar experience, the shop im getting my dress from was the first one i went in and they were incredible i couldnt fault them on anything, however, my mum suggested we had a look in a few other shops just to make sure, the only one i really knew of was in town so without making an appointment we just popped in to see if they had any availabilities, the woman looked me up and down, asked our price range and said "OUR dresses are all farrr over your price range so i think you should try next door" i was appauled and walked out with my head down! i cant believe they spoke to us like that, we didnt really tell her a price range either we just said if its the right dress well have it know matter what the price is!! I later found out that my boss bought her dress there for £6000 and tbh it wasnt anything special! xx
CommentAuthorBridezilla
I don't understand how they think they know what anybody can or can't afford just by looking at them. If I saw Richard Branson on the street and didn't know who he was, I would have no idea he was a multi-billionaire just by looking at him. Do these people think they are psychic or something?
CommentAuthorRachie :D
Lol mine would be too long to list.
Keep going and if they're ruse seriously tell them, tell them you wont be buying from them and flounce out, trust me it will make you feel loads better it did me
9th June 2012 when two worlds collide
The Crazy Cat Lady and the Transformer Man!
CommentAuthorloustew2012
theres a job going in one near to me....might just apply ha!! x
All the ways of my life id rather be with you.
Theres no way without you.
10.11.12
CommentAuthorkerriface
So it seems like a common problem then?! Great :-/
CommentAuthorkerriface
You should Lou! Show them how to be nice!
CommentAuthorloustew2012
yeah ill say hoi u po face boot she looks stunning go and make the tea ha ha ha x
All the ways of my life id rather be with you.
Theres no way without you.
10.11.12
CommentAuthorkerriface
Ha! Yeah! Being a bride you know how you would like to be treated. Maybe the bridal shop owners are bitter spinsters?
CommentAuthorloustew2012
yeah been there done that ....got divorced lol
shouldnt laugh really...or should i? xx
All the ways of my life id rather be with you.
Theres no way without you.
10.11.12
CommentAuthorkerriface
Maybe that should be the attitude we take. Just because it didn't work out for you love doesn't mean you need to wee on everyone else's parade!
CommentAuthorEmbbem-MrsW
I went to one who i'd seen at a wedding fayre and they were quite rude. made me feel really stressed saying I was cutting it a bit fine as the new seasons stock doesn't come in till feb/march and then were really rude to my mum when she wanted to take a picture of me in a dress saying she couldn't because of copyright and they'd lose the business from their suppliers if people took photos! Didn't like it there at all and she wasn't paying any attention to the styles that I was after and kept pulling out this great big princess dresses and really awful things. The place I got my dress from though was absolutely lovely. family run business and made you feel so welcome, can take as many pictures as you like and they dress you up and fuss you, and they tell you if something doesn't look right but in a nice way. I felt important in that place. And they were great about me having my 2 year old nephew with me too which some places don't like!
I must be crazy giving myself only 6 months!
Engaged 17th Octobr 2011
Wedding 21st April 2012
CommentAuthorloustew2012
exactly. thing is it may be a bridal shop but hen remember its a job in a shop!!!!! despite what they are selling id still be saying to maself i work in a shop...stuff it im gonna print ma cv tomorrow and go and hand it in lol!!!!!
All the ways of my life id rather be with you.
Theres no way without you.
10.11.12
CommentAuthorkerriface
You so should! I'd travel all the way up for your excellent customer service!
CommentAuthorA.Bird2b
Having been on my first dress shop visit today I've got to say I'm glad I didn't experience any of these horrors. Even when I told the owner I wasn't sure my budget would stretch to one of her dresses she still said that I could try on as many as I liked and see what suited me, she also told me which dresses she'll be having on sale and when and even suggested she might order one in in my size (im an 18/20 so not usually in stock) just in time for the sale if I liked it. Its just one of those things I think, that because bridal stores cater to such a narrow band of people they think they can say anything to anyone and get away with it although there is no excuse for such brazen rudeness. If I experienced anything you have I would not be going back and I'd let them know that everyone I knew would hear about their customer service or lack thereof.
CommentAuthormym72
Exactly Louait1011 - at the end of the day they're only shop assistants and it's us spending a lot of money there. They only get a wage at the end of the week/month. And without our custom they wouldn't even get that!!!
CommentAuthorloustew2012
lol its made me even more determined now to go and do it....ill let ou know how i get on!!! ha ha ha xx
All the ways of my life id rather be with you.
Theres no way without you.
10.11.12
CommentAuthorNuttynonnie
lol go u!! xxx
we fit together perfectly. . .like a jigsaw puzzle.
