On 5/4 I went to Anne Mathew's eager to be sized for a wedding in September. Upon arriving I was greeted and I let the front desk greeter/sales associate know why I was there and we began, the Anne Mathew's process for a bridesmaid. I was told I was to select a style. So, I tried on 3 dresses. I think it was at this point, I was told I would have to put down a deposit to be sized. The deposit was 1/2 the price of the dress. 174.22. Again, at this time, this is the price to my understanding to be sized. This also included a $40 rush fee because at the time the bride selected and purchased her dress in December she was not notified of when her bridesmaids needed to be sized by. Additionally when the
Anne Mathew's staff contacted the bride inquiring of her bridesmaids, no information was given on the deposit process, nor the rush fee that would now accompany any order. The bride completed her order in December of the previous year. There is a less than favorable conversation between myself and the same greeter/Sales associate at this point because I am trying to understand the logic behind a deposit for being sized. Not placing an order, but again being sized. At this point, I am also told that the remaining balance of the dress would be due 6 days later to finalize the order on 5/9. So again the dress is NOT being ordered this is a sizing deposit on the dress to be ordered. When I continue to inquire about the why behind what seemed to be ridiculous and non-necessary charge. As the same greeter is filling out the paperwork, she asks me for my address. I ask why? Are you shipping the dress to me? Again ZERO logic in some of this encounter. The greeter gets uncomfortable, sends out a life preserve and another member of the team comes out to help. Also, ask me or my address, I again, ask why? Logical question. Now unsure whether this person is a manager, but she comes out and we exchange a less than favorable dialogue. Now the owner comes out and asks me why I am giving his staff a rough time, I explain I am asking logical questions. He responds that this is usually an "enjoyable" experience. Ok. He then asks me, "So what do you want to do."
I said, "I want to understand why you need my address and why you are charging me 174 to be sized?"
He shares the address is needed for legal reasons. And that is "just the policy." I am now told to select a color, but on specific color for style. I ask has anyone else come to get sized. I didn't want to not be in the "right" dress so I went back to the fitting room. At this time they recommend I size up because the dress HAS to be altered. LOL by them at no less than a 200 minimum.
This may be specific to the dresses but, they essentially size you for the skirt, or the largest body measurement, and the, the other part of the dress, in this case the bust comes in a double GG. So now, I am thrown off by the sizing. I finally say I am not ready to make a decision because I wanted to check with the bride to be sure on the color style, and honestly to consider whether or not I wanted to be in a wedding that required me to buy what was at least $500. But I was sized so I paid the 174.22 and of course essentially signed it away.
At this time I am still thinking I have to come back and pay the remaining deposit in order for the dress to be ordered. I think, I am singing what essentially says, when you pay your remaining deposit, you are now bound to these terms. In short, I verbally discuss with someone on the phone that I want a refund. She again repeats the policy. which is, this is the policy. So again, I was charged 174.22 to be sized. The dress has not been ordered. The dress will not be ordered. End of conversation.
I received a text message at 2:22PM offering a refund via transferring the funds to the maid of honor. And that they were proceeding with order. This is after I verbally stated I would not be completing the order with the vendor. Infact, I asked for the name of the dress vendor, because I figured I could find it on the net. Or use a contact to make the purchase directly for me. 2 points to be made here:
1: I do not not know the maid of honor. Nor did I do business with her.
2: The policy I signed, which I thought wasn't solidified until the final deposit, states no fund transfers.
I did not respond to the message
At this point, I chose to dispute the charge with my bank because again, my understanding was the charge was for the sizing, and went towards the price of the dress upon the completion of the order. Anne Mathew continued with the ordering process. WORST Bridesmaid experience ever. And this is my sixth wedding. and I'll be in another 3 this year. read more