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So I found a dress online that I love. I am trying to find out about how much it will cost so I don't fall in love, try it on, and then get the bill and realize I can't afford it. I have contacted SEVERAL(okay 4) of the stores listed on their website in my area and they all give me similar things to "COme in and make an appt, we can discuss price then". That makes me feel like it must be outside of my range. But nobody will even give me a freaking hint as to the price of the dress! I even emailed a store with my price range and they emailed me back to call for appts. Is there some sort of etiquette that you don't ask for the price over the phone/email??
Hmmm.... that is very strange. I contacted a few salons in my area to make sure that their dresses were in my price range before I made an appointment and none of them had any issues with saying either "Yes, we can accommodate that budget". or "Well, our dresses range from $$ to $$$$$ (a polite way of saying, maybe we can't help you.)"
I know most of the sales people work on commission and would like to sell the most expensive dress all the time, but why waste time on an appointment that could end in a no-sale? That seems so strange to me.
i think they might do that because they negotiate prices sometimes. they want you in so 1) you will fall in love with a dress and adjust your budget accordingly and 2) they might give you a price based on your budget...i dunno, i am just guessing.
i had an experience at one bridal store where i tried on a dress, i asked the price, was told it was $1300. she asked my budget, i said $1000, then she said she can give it to me for $1000, like i was getting a "deal". another store later told me the same dress goes for $870!
i would just go into the stores and if the price tags are not ON the dresses, then don't buy from there.
They just want you to go into the store so you'll try on the dress, fall in love, and not care how much it is .. ha :)
oh, maybe the store that you emailed with your budget asked you to come in because they have dresses in that range? like maybe they would have something if you were like WAY under what they sell.
If you flat out ask them about a specific price, they should be able to answer you. If they don't, in my opinion they are shady-shady and should be avoided.
I don't know why they would do that but I'm sure that they will have dresses in your price range available even if it's not that specific dress. I would go in and look at dresses anyway, I fell in love with some in pictures but they sometimes look completely wrong on your body.
I know a lot of bridal stores don't like you to do price shopping but you can get around that by just going into the store and looking for that specific dress if you try it on and like the way that it looks on you.
@Mrs.Hagrid: oh my god. LOVE. THE. NAME. And I thought that is how it would be, like if I said, I'm really interested in ella bridals 5515, my budget is 1000, can you do it? they would say "hmm, maybe search around some more" or "we can accomodate your budget but that dress is a little out of range" or something! I don't have to have an exact price I guess, just tell me if I can afford it or not.
@PurpleUnicorn: I would be so sad if that happened to me. At least you got your dress though!
It's odd to me, too. The salons I went to mostly either had a huge range or they listed it on their site. Who makes the dress? Maybe one of the bees could give you an estimate.
They just want you to come in since you are more likely to buy a dress that way.
Just call and say you aren't ready to make appointments but you found one dress online you like and if they have it and it's in your price range then you will make an appointment now. If not, you are going to wait a little while before making appointments.
I tried to call/email a few places too, but they all gave me a similar response. They want you to see the dress in person, so you fall in love with it and are willing to pay whatever their crazy price tag says.
I found http://www.weddingshoppeinc.com/ to be very accurate as far as pricing goes (at least in my area- which isn't too far away- 4.5 hours- from their physical location). If you can find the dress on there, it might give you a good idea of the price.
@jo.lee: the ella bridal site has "affordable" all over it, which gives me hope! But the salon websites have like 600-3000. or 400-2500. Things like that.
@NDBride2011: I have tried looking around online, but its hard to find ella bridals. I wonder if it isn't very popular? or maybe its just a very new brand/label/whatever.
I just saw on another discussion one bee priced an Ella dress at $1500
http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/any-ella-brides-5358-out-there
@RR: thanks! I saw that too, and it discouraged me a bit, but then I did some research and found out that Ella is a branch off of Essence and is supposedly more affordable. I think they were talking about essence. at least I hope they were...lol!
We really aren't willing to go any higher than 1200 (we beyond busted our budget for our reception) but we'd much rather it be under 1000.
@IlsaLund: I KNOW! I LOVE IT! I have an appt to try it on now, I just caved and made it like a week ago. But I would still like to go in knowing what I am getting myself into!
That sounds really weird to me! I'd be worried if they didn't want to tell me the price.
oooh, found an ella bride that said she paid 800 for hers brand new. It has about the same amount of beading and what not. BUt for all I know that means nothing.
@His Barista: I know! it seems so sketchy! Why not just tell me? But then when I mentioned it to FI he thought maybe it was rude.
maybe ask for the price range of their gowns. I really hate not being given a price. I have been looking to buy the Haute bracelet B628 and decided to call around. I found it online for 300. I found that the salon who sold me my dress quoted me 234 over the phone. i feel that when salons are upfront with prices its because they know they have great pricing.
They just want you to come in and try to get you to buy. They will say they will strike a deal with you when in reality, they have those dresses marked up anyway!
I found a dress I loved that was $1,200 and my budget was no more than $1,000 including alterations. I waited until the store has a sale one day and got the dress for $840. So, even if the dress is a little out of your price range, don't give up hope! They might have a New Years sale or something like that coming up soon!
@astrangeharris: Thanks. We met at a Halloween party and he was dresses as Hagrid. LOL.
That dress is gorgeous, I hope you are able to find it in a price that you can afford!
I would probably tell them that unless they can at least give you an idea on price then obviously they are not interested in your business.
hhhmmm... weird. All the places I've called have given me prices over the phone. If they are nearby I would stop in (not make an appointment) and ask the first salesperson you see. I wouldn't even ask to see the dress. Just the price first, thank you! If it's out of your budget, just leave. Maybe they'll adjust the price before you hit the door.
called a random store out of my area just to get some sort of idea. I said "Hello, I was wondering if you could tell me the price of a dress I am interested in, it is an ella bridals collect-" cuts me off...."Our dresses range from 500 to 1500, if you want anything more than that you'll have to make an appt."
NOT KIDDING!
sophias bridal in indianna..YOU STINK! lol
Im about to find a random sassy friend to call and be all "PRICE THIS DRESS BEEEOTCH!!!"
'cause thats a good approach, right?
Their vague answers might just mean that they don't have that specific dress in stock and are hoping to get you in to show you similar styles - did they answer yes or no whether they have that specific dress or do they just carry Ella dresses?
At the stores I went to, many that carried certain lines just didn't have the specific dresses that I wanted :(
When they tell you to come in, what do you respond with? Have you politely explained that your heart is set on that dress and you just want to compare prices before you buy? (they don't need to know if you've actually tried it on or actually decided on it!) or maybe give them the option to call you back with that information? Some stores don't seem to have a super organized system for pricing, so maybe it is because it would take a few minutes to find the price. Honestly, I would keep asking questions on the phone (not just accept their answer) in a super polite way, but if they wont answer any questions on the phone, I'm not that is a business you want to work with (and I would tell them that too!) The salespeople might just be following company protocol, so it might be helpful if you can ask to speak to a manager - they can usually make exceptions to the rules.
To shed some light for you ladies, at our Bridal shop always give a very close price range of dresses like Dress X is between $900-$1000 we don't give the exact price over the phone because most designers have in their authorized retailer agreements that we are not to give pricing over the phone. They want to discourage "price shoppers" from driving down the price of their dresses. I am surprised that you haven't been able to get anyone to give you some idea as to the price of that dress. I would politely explain that you have your heart set on that gown and you just need to know if it is going to suite your budget ask them for a closer range in price and they might be more willing to disclose that. Best of luck!
ABSOLUTELY NOT! Its fine to ask the price. Only way I think you may have reservations is if you are buying your dress from a dressmaker
@astrangeharris---I think you are mostly trying to find out generally how much it is, so that you aren't disappointed since you have your heart set, but even if its in your price range and you try it on at some place, you may be able to find it less elsewhere. That definitely happened to me, kind of unintentionally b/c I wasn't sure what dress I wanted, and at the last place, once I finally got the dress I loved, the dress I had decided upon from the first place for nearly $200 less.
@Pwitty: I usually tell them I am interested in ella bridals 5515. two have told me they don't have it stock. 3 have said that they have the dress available to try on if I would just like to make an appointment.
I have made an appointment to try on the dress at a boutique in louisville jan 22nd! woo woo! i'll make a new thread when I try it on and let you guys know how the price and everything went. lol!
wouldn't it be horrible and yet hilarious if I try it on and hate it (I doubt that, but you never know!)
@j.andrews.bridal: DO YOU SELL ELLA BRIDALS 5515?!?! lol jk.
the first step in making the sale is to get you in the door... then making you fall in love with it.
Why don't you just go in and try on some dresses and then ask about the one you are really interested in. They will def be willing ot help you then.
I don't think it's wierd that they won't give a specific price over the phone. Like a PP said, it's against most designers' policies and it protects them from exactly what you're doing- shopping by phone for the lowest price.
They want you to come in and be sold on their store and service and then a dress.
When you call, explain that you've found this dress and you love it, but you're concerned whether it is within your price range and ask for a price range from them.
Don't forget, even if that specific dress is outside of your price range, many stores have very similiar styles that may be close to it, so naturally the stores want you to come in and try on and see their dresses.
Do as much research as you can online, select some stores that have the dress and go in with an open mind!
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