Weddingbee boards

Beware, this is a long post, but important if you are purchasing dresses from Eva's or Orland (Also, they are not associated with other Eva's so please don't take this again those other salons)

I just wanted to give a heads up to other brides.  I purchased my bridal gown at Eva's Bridal of Orland Park.  The experience was great.  My consultant was okay, but she got the job done.  The experience with my gown was wonderful and I did not face a single problem.  I have recently finished alterations, and the head woman in alterations is wonderful.  She was very patient in teaching my sisters to bustle my gown and tie a good corset :)

However...

I have had the worst experience in my life with customer service when ordering bridesmaid dresses from this location.  I should have turned back at the begining, but that is my mistake.

When we met at Eva's to choose the bridesmaid dresses we were stuck in a dressing room and told to choose dresses off the racks that we liked.  Standard, no complaints there.  After about 20 minutes, no one had come to help, check up on us, or even see if we liked anything.  After pulling and fitting all the girls in dresses myself, I spent another 10 minutes trying to find someone to buy the dresses from!  Finally, the consulant came in, took our dress order and was off.  She definately made some cash off the ten bridesmaid dresses that I pulled, picked, and sold to the girls.  She was not in the least but helpful and was too worried about closing her other sale.  She didn't even really make it to our appointment!  The least she could have done was send someone else in to help her.  I found my own clips to fit the girls, ridiculous!

We still purchased the dresses, and I figured that it was just a bad day for the store because my personal gown experience went off without a hitch.  WRONG!!!  After ordering our dresses, the consultant told us that they would be in the last week of September, or the very first week of October.  I knew that we were cutting it close given that the wedding is October 30th, however she affirmed that this was no big deal and I shouldn't worry.

October 1st came and no dresses.  I called and was told they would definately ship the following week.  That week came.... again no dresses.  Next i was told that they would be in the following wednesday.  Again, NO DRESSES!!!  We are now 11 days out from my wedding and still do not have bridesmaid dresses.  They are supposed to be in tomorrow, but again, if history continues to repeat itself, I doubt it.

I understand that things happen, orders are late, ect..  That suprisingly is why I do not recommend the salon.  The customer service at this salon is seriously lacking.  Granted, I have ten female attendants, who I am sure are driving Eva's crazy, but this is not my problem, it is Eva's.  When one bridesmaid called to get information regarding the dress shipments she was told, "You are a real pain in the neck" and hung up on.  That is completely unacceptable.  When I called I was told that they were ONLY SPEAKING TO THE BRIDE, once they realized that I was the bride they were all of the sudden very nice and polite.

I went to the store and asked to speak to the manager regarding the poor service and the rude receptionists.  The owner/manager met with me, my mother, and one bridesmaid.  She did not once take responsibilty for the actions of her employees or for the fact that the dresses are now three weeks later (and counting).  She blamed me for ordering late (no one suggested that we ordered too late, or that expedited shipping was necessary or even OFFERED to us).  She also blamed the industry, last minute weddings, my lack of understanding in the wedding business, even CHINA for the love of god!  The owner/manager also told me that there was no way that someone from her store was that rude because they are older women (Iguess older women are not ever rudes??) and they had worked with her for very long periods of time.  After 20 minutes or so she finally appologized for the late shipment and told me that they would definately be in on Wednesday October 20th.  We will see. 

 When I told her that I was very worried that the dresses would not be delivered in enough time for alterations she told me that she has had brides get dresses in 1 or 2 days before the wedding.  That's reassuring your customer?  That is insane and completely the opposite of assurance.  I have out of town bridesmaids that need their dresses shipped to them!  I am getting married out of town and wont even be in Orland Park 2 days prior to the wedding!

This company has no customer service skills and a serious lack of consideration for the client.  I do not reccomend that anyone purchase bridesmaid dresses from Eva's Bridal of Orland Park.  They have an "F" rating with the better business bureau (BBB) and numerous complaints on Yahoo and other sites.  Please do your research before shopping, I failed to do this accurately, and now I am seriously paying the price.