Post # 1
Member
63 posts
Worker bee
I started dress shopping online back in Feb. and many websites I saw affordable gowns from are all based in China and I wanted to stay away from that. So I was happy to find out about Simply Bridal because the dresses are affordable and according to the website, they are LA based and “have our own seamstresses, sample makers…” The dress I picked out is the Chloe gown because it has what I’m looking for. It’s NOT my dream dress, but I settled because like I said, it’s affordable, and I do like it and it’s supposedly US made
So I ordered the dress on March 8, received an email saying dress will be 2 weeks delayed. I’ve been chatting to a rep on their facebook and I asked her for a tracking number. The tracking number she gave me was for UPS shipping. On the SB website, it says their dresses are shipped via FedEx.
So I check the tracking number and it says the last location of my dress was Shanghai, China!!! I went from confused to angry because my dress was made from China when that was what I was trying to stay away from!! If I wanted a dress made from dressmakers in China, I would have bought one from Jasmine and picked a much better dress!!
And here is whats fishy to me. I read the reviewes for the Chloe gown before buying and just now I started reading reviews on the other gowns on the website and a few of them sound similar:
There’s probably more I just screencapped these 4 to show you. I know I “get what I paid for” but I was lied to in a way, wasn’t I? I messaged the rep on facebook my concerns but she has not replied.
I don’t think I even want the dress anymore. I receive it next week so I’ll see what the quality and material is like but I’m just so upset.
Here’s the dress I bought:
Should I return it when it arrives and buy another dress somewhere else?
Post # 3
Member
759 posts
Busy bee
I mean, made in China or not, if it’s something you like keep it. It doesn’t matter where it was made other than it makes it a little less trusting and takes longer shipping.
But if you get it as described in the mail, what’s the problem other than it being a few days late. Gives you plenty of reason to complain but why send it back if it’s what you wanted and only took a little longer to get? It’s just going to take even longer to order and have a new one shipped. If it was sent UPS and you have a tracking number, wait until it gets here then decide if you want to return it or not. It could be just the dress you were looking for, you wont know until you try it on
Post # 4
Member
759 posts
Busy bee
And btw, the comment are a little fishy, I’ll give you that. I’ve often thought that about many companies, including Amazon
Post # 5
Member
63 posts
Worker bee
im not too bothered by it being late, what bothers me is that the website is misleading i have read posts from other bees about their dresses from china and how poor the quality was, thats why i wanted to stay away from that. you are right, i wont know the quality until i get it so i will see. but im still annoyed.
Post # 6
Member
42 posts
Newbee
I would wait and see what the dress looks when it arrives. If you’re not happy with the dress itself when you see it, I would send it straight back. I once did the same thing with a dress I bought to wear as a guest to a wedding – the seller was very misleading and it was only once it had shipped that I found out it was from China.
I don’t know how the laws work in your country, but in Scotland we have the legal right to return anything purchased online, by phone or from a catalogue within 7 days of receipt simply because you’ve changed your mind. Not only hadI change my mind about doing busines with the seller, but the qulity was awful, did not match the picture 100% and had a faulty zip. Def not a keeper!
The Chinese seller tried to dispute my right to return it, but because they were claiming their business was based at a UK address and I had purchased it online, they fell within UK law. I knew my rights well enough to argue my case and get my refund.
Good luck, and I hope it all works out ok for you.
Post # 7
Member
1069 posts
Bumble bee
So, is the dress you ordered a replica or are they claiming it is actually a “Chloe” gown? I would be upset if I was mislead like that also. It just makes you nervous about what else they’re lying/misleading you on.
However, hopefully you will end up receiving a beautiful dress you love, even if it is from China. 🙂 If it makes you feel better, I ordered a replica from China and LOVE it. It was better than I anticipated so I hope you have the same results! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you!
Post # 8
Member
1298 posts
Bumble bee
I would wait and see – a lot of women have bought from a variety of direct-from-China sellers and have had beautiful dresses. You might be pleasantly surprised with the quality (although they do say they work with department store grade fabrics, which I would assume are probably not as nice as what’s typically used in higher end wedding dresses).
I do think companies should be honest about where their products are manufactured, as some people have real ethical issues with fair trade and low wages, but… the price *is* $287. With the amount of work that goes into making a wedding dress, it would be impossible to find professional seamstresses to do it in the US for that kind of money. Technically, they aren’t lying when they say they’re LA-based – the designer probably is, it notes that they’ve opened a show-room, etc. I don’t think it’s right that they don’t specify where your dress will be made and shipped from (although they do say they ship via FedEx, UPS or DHL), so I understand you’re upset about that since you thought you were avoiding it.
The reviews… yeah, that’s fishy, and it happens on a lot of different websites for a lot of different products. I find it super irritating, because you *knwo* – you’re reading and you get the feeling you’ve read the same thing word for word, so then you go and look around again and see the same thing repeated. That drives me crazy.
Post # 9
Member
63 posts
Worker bee
@MadTownGirl: The dress isn’t a replica of a designer dress, I think it’s Simply Bridal’s own design. But if i wanted a dress made in China, I would have chosen a replica of a designer gown instead, something nicer…
Now I’m just anxious…I ordered ivory chair covers from a company and upon receiving them, they are not an ivory color at all, more like a yellow color and on the package it says it’s from China and they claim it’s Ivory. So since i ordered my dress in the color Ivory, I hope it’s not that yellow color like the chair covers I ordered.
Post # 10
Member
63 posts
Worker bee
Update! My dress came in yesterday. I am actually pleased with the dress. I had this fear after findin gout that the dress was made in China that it would be made of poor quality and cheap materials, but the dress turned out nice! Better in person! I wish I had ordered it in my custom size though..the bust and waist fit fine, but it’s a little too long.
I still think the company itself needs to be more honest. The reviews are made up and they told me that after dresses are made in China, they are shipped to their LA offices for a quality control check to make sure the dress meets American quality. But upon checking my tracking history on the dress, it shows it was shippe dstraight from China to my address–it was never in LA for that quality control check.
Dress came packed tight. The box it came in also included a garment bag, a big white tote, care instructions
Up close on the details
my sleeves:
corset back
the dress on me. I’m not wearing any shoes (forgot to bring the heels) but it’s still too long, so I will have to get that fixed.
Post # 11
Member
42 posts
Newbee
I’m so glad that you were happy with the quality. It’s a shame that the company is not more honest with their customers, but your happiness with the product is the most important thing. Go with what makes you happy 🙂