Customer rights/ price change after contract signed on a wedding dress

kegz1975

Hi all

I placed a a deposit on a wedding dress early summer, I get married march 18. My mum and sister in law were with me at the time I was trying on etc. and paid the deposit and signed the contract.

The dress I chose was on a hanger, it is a two piece item, but saying that it was on a hanger all together, There was one price tag. I chose the dress. I was happy to pay that price as it was just below the top end of my budget. I did say I wasn't sure about the jacket with it because the one i tried on wasn't to my fit, would I wear it etc. However at the price it was, if I decided not to have the jacket that was a hit I was willing to take and pay at that price.

Over the months I went in took pictures of the item as a whole piece in the shop, two pieces on one hanger as it always is, so I had a picture of it to reference to while wedding shopping for other things.

I then went in with my sister in law (matron of honour) for our measurements to be taken for my dress and hers so the order could be put through as the dresses are made to measure.

A week after I went in to be measured the shop called me and said, i'm really sorry but the jacket that is with the dress is a separate price of 75.00, do you still want the jacket. I wasn't happy, I said I know I was undecided on the jacket but I did decide as I was paying for it at the price originally purchased it would be silly not to etc.. however here I am now hit with an additional 75.00 which takes me over what I was originally happy to pay for a dress full stop.

The order has gone through for the jacket to come with the dress.

However everyone I have spoke to about this is saying , they are out of order they can't just land that on you that's their error not yours. Get onto it.

I emailed the shop and said can we come to some arrangement etc. The answer was no, do you still want the jacket? I said yes, which I do. what choice do I have if I want the whole piece.

So I contacted the main supplier who they deal with for my dress, explained to them, asked if this was their pricing error could they help out in any way, liaise with the shop, as I do feel i need to exercise my customer rights in some way here? They sent a copy of my email to the bridal shop who contacted me by email.

They basically said they never quoted the separate price for the jacket as I was always undecided whether to have the jacket...and basically it was my own fault. To which I pointed out that I never got quoted anything, the item was a two piece item on one hanger and one tag my mother looked at the tag and the shop assistant also took the price off the tag when I politely asked how much it was? not quoted and nor at any time did any of them in that shop say the jacket was a two piece item at an additional cost, my mum and my sister in law were there and can vouch for this.

They tried to then say they knew it was a separate item cause other brides try the jacket on with different dresses so they would have said... and that is a lie, the dress and style and pattern on it is sooo quirky no way does it go with any other dress that I have seen in that shop... I sense a lot of back tracking her and blame being put on me just because i said i didn't know if I would go ahead with the jacket in the first place. Their email was a bit out of professional tone too.

I emailed again and said look if that was a tv or a bar of chocolate that I picked up at a price on the shelf and then they said at the till oh sorry its more than that I could exercise my right as a customer to say no it's this price over there and we come to some agreement. I have told them I am not happy that the price has gone up since I signed the contract (which they have on their file) for all I know they've changed this now.

I have tried to come to some arrangement on it, to just no , every time and a wall. I have made it clear I'm not happy, and their response is that the dress is already being sold less than the RRP and they can't afford to waiver 75.00 as they are a small business.

I have remained friendly towards them, despite them trying to put the blame on me, well one person in particular and acknowledged that these things can happen but it is not my fault that I wasn't informed of the extra price. I don't want it to overshadow my experience in the future of coming into the shop.

ANY ADVICE OUT THERE do I have any rights here or not. I have spoke to other small business owners who I am dealing with for my wedding and their attitude was get it sorted. I have heard other things about difficulties with customers since one in particular has taken over some aspects.

Everyone is telling me not to let this drop, part of me thinks sod it, but the other half is really riled by this and feels like I need to push on this more.

gettingtheresometime

I think it may be an idea to have this moved to the consumer right thread .


I'm a little confused though as to how many pieces are involved. Is the dress in two pieces (ie a top & Skirt) and the jacket makes three or is it one complete dress and then the jacket makes it a two piece outfit?


When you ordered the dress (& jacket) were you specifically asked if you wanted the jacket - as this would indicate to me that it was an optional extra


I guess it boild down to what your contract / receipt states in terms of items & price, as well as how much you want to push this.

IAmWales

What exactly does your receipt say? Dress/ dress and jacket/ outfit?

If you really want the dress I'd be careful not to push it too far, you may end up with them refunding your deposit and not supplying anything at all.

kegz1975

Hi Thank for reply, as stated in my post it is a two piece item, dress and jacket. my contract stated the price on the tag for the two piece item, there was no tag on the jacket at all. i could have chosen not to have the jacket if i wanted to but I still would have being paying for it. They are simply saying not that there is an additional charge for the jacket and that has never been made clear, the assemble piece has a name on the wholesalers website and is shown as such a two piece. I had such a conversation in the shop about that. I will move my post. See if I can get some more responses Thank you again for your reply though

gettingtheresometime

kegz1975 wrote: »

Hi Thank for reply, as stated in my post it is a two piece item, dress and jacket. my contract stated the price on the tag for the two piece item, there was no tag on the jacket at all. i could have chosen not to have the jacket if i wanted to but I still would have being paying for it. They are simply saying not that there is an additional charge for the jacket and that has never been made clear, the assemble piece has a name on the wholesalers website and is shown as such a two piece. I had such a conversation in the shop about that. I will move my post. See if I can get some more responses Thank you again for your reply though

The dress may have been on the same hanger as the jacket but that doesn't mean that it is - as obviously the shop believes that they are two separate items.


If your receipt states dress / jacket - £750 (as an example) then I would think you're in a much stronger position to argue your case.


Also on the manufacturer's website does it state that it is a two piece outfit or does it say something like co-ordinating jacket available? What do other sellers state is included ?

peachyprice

kegz1975 wrote: »

Hi Thank for reply, as stated in my post it is a two piece item, dress and jacket. my contract stated the price on the tag for the two piece item, there was no tag on the jacket at all.

But what does the receipt actually say? Dress or dress/jacket?

And what did the main supplier say? Did they confirm it was to be sold as a set?

FBaby

You're probably right, but since you've said in your first post that you didn't like the jacket, I'm confused as to why you are now insisting on having it. Understand the matter of principle, but is it worth the fight for something you don't want? Or did you change your mind and since you've been told it's extra, you've decided that you do like it and will want to wear it?

meer53

Is it included in the price if you order it when you order the dress, but extra if you decide later on ?

sheramber

If you pickup an item in a shop with a price on it and when you take it to the till they say sorry, that price is wrong you have to pay th new price if you want the item.

Until you exchange payment for the item it is am offer to trade only, no contract has been formed before then.

What contract to you have with the shop? What do you have in writing- a dress or a dress and jacket.

clairec79

So when you ordered it you said you weren't sure if you wanted the jacket (so dress would have been ordered without)

The shop then double checked (specifying the additional price) and you (presumably) said you wanted it, so the shop ordered the jacket.

You then have second thoughts and want to back out of the jacket - the shop says it's too late the supplier say it's too late

You don't say whether the contract (which you presumably signed) says dress or dress and jacket / outfit. If it says dress at the original price then if you want the jacket you need to pay. If it mentions the jacket and the price then you have more rights

Marvel1

kegz1975 wrote: »

However everyone I have spoke to about this is saying , they are out of order they can't just land that on you that's their error not yours. Get onto it.

I always find family and friends to be biased and will always agree.