Deposit refund

Karenka

Hello, we recently paid a £100 deposit on a wedding dress. We were told that the dress was an exclusive design especially for the shop and that price we were quoted was only for five days and then the dress would be double in price. We felt pressured into paying the deposit but wanted such an exclusive design dress at a good price. We paid the deposit and left. However we have since found the exact same dress via the order code the wedding shop provided on the Internet. The dress is not an exclusive design specific to that shop it is in fact available to anyone via the Internet from a shop in USA at a fraction of the price wee were quoted. The price is not the issue here as we fully appreciate the shop has overheads etc although we find 600 percent Mark up a little steep. We brought the dress for the 'exclusivity' that the retailer assured us off and the discounted price. I telephone the shop and they still stated the dress was a specific design for the shop. I told them that they were lying and they put down the phone. I went into the shop today and requested the refund of our deposit on the grounds of breach of contract. I was told over the phone that it was the managers day off and that I should consult a solicitor. What are our rights here.. They have out and out lied on at least three occasions even today she said you cannot get that dress in uk to which I replied yes you can I have one......

wealdroam

Have a read of this post...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/42873192#Comment_42873192

mountainofdebt

Well have you factored in postage and packing to the UK from the US not to mention the VAT you'd have to pay or the potential hassle you may have if there is a problem with the dress?

I would also suggest that the exclusivity is subjective - presumably its not the only one that the shop has of that design and that potentially there will be more than one bride wearing that design dress.

Whilst I appreciate that this is a moneysaving site losing £100 deposit would be cheaper than consulting a solicitor.

Forwandert

You haven't really bought the dress in the UK though so the store saying its unavailable to buy in the UK isnt that far from the truth as you stated yourself you bought it on a US website.

McKneff

But if its a dress you love and you want to get married in it, what does it matter,

I cant do with all this 'I'm in a designer wedding dress, only one of a kind, dont you know'

What does it actually matter, unless you want to brag to all and sundry

arcon5

Karenka wrote: »

Hello, we recently paid a £100 deposit on a wedding dress. We were told that the dress was an exclusive design especially for the shop and that price we were quoted was only for five days and then the dress would be double in price. We felt pressured into paying the deposit but wanted such an exclusive design dress at a good price. We paid the deposit and left. However we have since found the exact same dress via the order code the wedding shop provided on the Internet. The dress is not an exclusive design specific to that shop it is in fact available to anyone via the Internet from a shop in USA at a fraction of the price wee were quoted. The price is not the issue here as we fully appreciate the shop has overheads etc although we find 600 percent Mark up a little steep. We brought the dress for the 'exclusivity' that the retailer assured us off and the discounted price. I telephone the shop and they still stated the dress was a specific design for the shop. I told them that they were lying and they put down the phone. I went into the shop today and requested the refund of our deposit on the grounds of breach of contract. I was told over the phone that it was the managers day off and that I should consult a solicitor. What are our rights here.. They have out and out lied on at least three occasions even today she said you cannot get that dress in uk to which I replied yes you can I have one......

With respect, this is their business, not yours. A wedding shop wont sell dresses in masses, many will sell qtys in single digits each month so a high margin is essential in making a profit. Also factor in the labour involved -- i'm betting you tried the dress on in store? Had the owners/staffs attention throughout all this? etc? All this has to be paid for.


You say

lied on at least three occasions even today she said you cannot get that dress in uk to which I replied yes you can I have one......

But then say:

via the Internet from a shop in USA at a fraction of the price wee were quoted.

So is she correct, you cannot buy this dress in the UK?

Which leads me to think, is the design unique to that shop? In that you cannot buy the same dress from other shops in the country?

I telephone the shop and they still stated the dress was a specific design for the shop. I told them that they were lying and they put down the phone

Even if you did have a valid case, for me this is where you made a big mistake. Calling them liars and hanging up the phone isn't going to make them want to bend over to keep you happy. A calm, factual approach would have yielded better results I imagine

SaLoGo

If you've found the dress that much cheaper on a US site the chances are its a copy of the design and not an original. Is the US site a confirmed stockist of the designer?

The £850 dress I have my eye on is on eBay brand new for £60! Definitely a copy!