House Of Horrors

I have simply had the worst experience at House of Brides. I ordered a dress in August for my wedding in May, `05. I later went back to the store to purchase flower girl dresses when I saw another dress I liked more (has this ever happened to you ladies?). I asked if I could order the new dress and get a credit on the 1st dress.

I was told no. Even though the dress was a size 12 (a common size) and had not been altered, I was told that, if I wanted the new dress, I would simply have to eat the cost of the previous dress, including the veils (which, by themselves were $350!). I was told the reason I could not return the dress was because it had been expecially ordered for me. I didn`t understand why they could not resell the dress but I was so enamored with the new dress, I was willing to do it (begrudingly none the less).

The real problem came in when I asked if I could order the new dress in another color. I was told it was too late to place the order given that my wedding was only 2 months away......okay. So, I asked if another store might carry the dress already made. I was told no... No other HOB had that dress. Then I said, "Look, you already have my money, just help me find this dress; it has to be somewhere already made somewhere in this country -- I`ll pay for shipping!!". I was told, "No, you look. This is the only dress there is AND it`s a sample at that, not intended for sale. If you want the sample, I will sell it to you but you have to purchase it today because if you don`t, I`m going to send it to another store to let someone else try it on".

Not wanting someone else to try on the dress and possibly damage it AND, not having the opportunity to do the research on my own to find the dress before making my decision, I bought it. No sooner than I get home and get on the internet, I find the dress (at another Bridal store), in the right color and size.

Foolishly thinking that HOB was interested in me having the best dress I could find, I called them back (only 4 days later) and explained that I had found the dress in the right color and size and everything and could I return, not the 1st dress, but just the 2nd dress which was off-the-rack, not specially ordered, not touched, not even taken out of the store (they wouldn`t let me take the merchandise because I paid with a credit card instead of a debit card).

NO! NO! and NO! Ms. Lucille in Oak Lawn informed me that I knew full well what I was getting into when I purchased the dress and that they would not return the item even though it never left the hanger in the store and only after 4 days. AND it was a sample!!! Never even intended for sale in the 1st place -- her very words.

So even though I had already purchased 1 dress, 1 set of veils, and even though, at the time of the 2nd purchase, I bought 2 more way over-priced flower girl dresses, and even though all I was asking was if I could return the 2nd dress/veils so that I could purchase the dress of my dreams somewhere else in the right color and not have not 1 but 2! bridal dresses that I wouldn`t use, they told me NO.

Not to mention the totally rude attitude I received throughout the entire process.

DON`T shop at the HOUSE OF HORRORS -- you`ve been warned!!