Sorry if this turns into a rant!
I'm getting married next August and saw my dream tiara about 2 years ago (when I first got engaged) I was concentrating more on venues etc at that time and having lots of problems finding the right place so just left it. A few months ago I go into the shop that I saw my tiara in and it was still there. I was so happy and when I asked how much it was the woman in the shop said "£65, its gone down from £120 because it has been discontinued and I've had it a long time" (absolutely no mention of damage) So I was even more delighted at getting a good deal. When I tried it on (there was very poor lighting) I noticed a slight tarnish on one of the stones but It wasn't that worried about it. I hadn't been paid so had to go back on the weekend. I got there at 2:05 as I thought that the shop shut at 2:30, when I got to the door it was still open but said it closed at 2 so I apologised and asked if I could purchase the tiara really quickly and the woman said that she was still busy with somebody anyway, so I ran in and tried it on quickly then looking at it in that light I thought that I had been wrong before and that the stones were different colours on purpose as there was lots of darker coloured stones. Trying not to keep her I rushed to pay for it and she put it in a bag and a folded piece of paper and nothing was said. When I got home and tried it on AGAIN in better light I noticed that lots of the stones were tarnished and were NOT meant to look like that. I was so upset because I had set my heart on this tiara and now all I could notice was the imperfections. So I spoke to my H2B and decided to return it.
When I got to the shop (the week after because I paid on my H2B's card and he couldn't get there until the weekend) H2B took the tiara and told what was wrong and wanted a refund. He came out of the shop after 10 mins and said they refused to refund. So I went in and explained what had happened and that I was really unhappy and the woman was rude and refused to refund saying that it was policy not to refund sample items (NOT STATED TO ME AT TIME OF PURCHASE) so I argued with her for 20 mins and she just kept refusing. I feel so cheated and heartbroken, my H2B says that no one will notice but that is not the point it isn't perfect and when I look at it all I can see is the bad things!!! I actually feel like its such a big deal... I know that is a complete exaggeration and I sound like a bridezilla but I just wanted everything to be perfect.

ANYWAY... rant over. sorry for how long that was. Just a quick question, does anyone no of anything I can do to fix it or if there are any shops in Birmingham that can do something with it?

THANKS X

well that piece of paper that was folded and put into the bag after i had bought it said that items were non refundable. but i was not made aware of this at the time of purchase. and when she said that it was on the paper i said that i hadn't seen the paper untill after i had purchased it and would it have made a difference if i had looked at the paper as soon as i had it and she said no because i had already bought it. i know i thought i should but i didnt because my daughter became ill and so i was dealing with other things for a while and now its been a few months so i guess nothing can be done now. i just want to find somewhere that can make it look better. i will just always warn people of that shop if they are getting married from now on!

thanks lisa ill have a look

Do you have a pic, maybe if we see the damage we could figure a way to fix it ? never know maybe the damage wont show up in your pics, you'll see it more because you know its there xx

Ooh thats doesnt sound so good :( is there maybe anyway you get someone to take the damaged stones out and replace them, you know you get people who make bespoke tiaras etc, i guess that would really depend on the style of your tiara though ! sorry not much help xx

lisa, its just one shop so there's no head office and she was the manager.... a very poor one at that. im in two minds because if it can be made better i wouldnt want another tiara but ill have a look on that website just incase it can't anyway. that way hopefully i should be covered eitherway.

alana thats what i was thinking because im sure the rhinestones are clipped in and not glued so in theory it should be possible. its just finding someone who can do it. and at what cost. it would be so good if someone could because its still the one i compare the others too

xx

It still shocks me at how some suppliers behave, when they know that it is for our weddings - One of the most important days of our lives