Complaint Review: THE APPAREL GALLERY

I purchased a wedding gown. Took my gown in for alterations in July for my September wedding. It took three weeks for my gown to be completed. Tried my gown on and discovered differences right away and was told that it was necessary to make changes to the gown. Was given a plastic baggie half full with beads, lace, and 16-buttons in it.

As I stood in shock with nothing to say, I was given my bill of $197.00. I wrote my check and drove home with tears in my eyes. Went to work the following Monday, still a bit in shock, and my boss asked what was wrong. I told her that I took my dress home, tried it on again, and all I could do was cry. My dress was ruined. My boss new of another bridal shop where she had alterations done and some how talked me into taking my dress in to another store.

Three days later, I called this lady at this other bridal store, Brides & Grooms, and begged this lady into just looking at my gown, that she was highly recommended. After work, I took my gown to her, put it on, and as the lady was pulling and lifting pieces of my gown discovered several strait pins inside the bottom ruffle, pleats newly sewed in on the strait-skirt half, the zipper incompleted, and never gathered at the base of the zipper where they attempted to take the gown in.

After several trips in for fitting, this lady worked two weeks on putting lace back on, beads back on, buttons back on, and straitening the ruffle they tried to sew, which was twisted, and added pin-holes. She only charged me $50 to fix my wedding gown and bring it as close as anyone could, back to they original way I fell in love with it when I bought it.

Brides & Grooms would have only charged me $50 total for alterations from the begining, so I gave her a tip on top of the bill -- she made me a wonderful bride. The Apparel Gallery overcharged me for work they didn't only botch up, but didn't complete their end of the bill by doing the work with quality care to wedding gowns. I feel for any other bride to be if they take their gown to them.

MEL
Visalia, California