My experience with The Coach House was a horrible one. I purchased a bridesmaids dress there, for $160 (plus tax). By the time my dress came in, my husband and I (who have been together for almost 10 years) had found out that we were expecting our first child and we were so excited! I was told by The Coach House that I must purchase $75 in extra fabric in order to convert my dress into a maternity dress (I was maybe about 2 months at this time) and that the cost to do that was $115. In total, my $160 dress ended up costing $350 (plus tax). I picked up my dress (from the seamstresses house). When I got home I noticed that not only was the dress poorly constructed there were stains all over the dress resembling grease or oil stains. I took the dress back to the store the next day and spoke to the owner at the advice of another staff member there. Even the owner agreed it needed more work and the seamstress re-worked the dress. I was still not entirely happy with the fit but it was better than it had been. I was in the store for a total of about 3 hours the Thursday before the wedding, while some of the staff kept taking my dress to the back to get the stains out; unsuccessfully. I was told by one of the staff members “It’s not THAT noticeable” and that I “should try to avoid certain light”. When I commented that for the price of the dress I shouldn’t have to avoid certain light, her response to me was “IT’S NOT OUR FAULT YOU GOT PREGNANT”. I have never in my life been so insulted! It was totally uncalled for! I advised the owner of the entire situation and she refused to do anything and after I had left the store in tears, my husband was told “Well, the dress was ONLY $160…” It shouldn’t matter if it was $60, $160 or $560…a brand new dress should come without stains! I realize that I cannot make them give me a small refund and it’s not even about that. A request for a letter of apology from the woman who made me feel like “some teen who got knocked up in the back of some car on prom night” was made and I have a feeling I won’t see that as I haven’t yet. I will NEVER go back there again and unless you wanted to be treated like garbage, you shouldn’t either. The bridal party that I am a part of next June has taken there business elsewhere and I suggest you do the same. Unbelievable!
Michelle, you have had many invites to call our store, yet we have not heard from you. Do not forget, that it has been many months since you ordered your gown, and we ordered it several sizes smaller than what your measurements were listed at, because the gown fits big. If you have gone to two bridal shops to "pretend" to order, after your gown came in, and your measurements read smaller, our thoughts are that you have lost weight. Of course, we can't confirm this without you coming into the shop, like we have asked you to do, many times.
$95 in seamstress charges is fairly standard.
TO be honest I can't be bothered to get into an argument about this. After being measured at two different shops, and still weighing the exact same, no weight or inch loss.....and simply comparing the experiences, I feel you ordered hastily, or larger so you get a cut of the seamstress cost.
One thing that was different at the other 2 shops was the professional way in which they measure you.
1) privately in the back, and you don't have a choice about it.
2) the waist measurement wasn't just, belly-button area, they measured exactly where the waistline of the dress fit, and that was what made the difference.
3) Standing with your legs close together to get the proper hip measurement is also key.
4) when they measured my bust they asked what kind of bra i was wearing and pulled tight to compensate for the padded bra, or sports bra....
and really, what can you do for me now that this is over?
You are correct Michelle.
There is no point in arguing with a customer that does not want to be helped.
We do try our very best to ensure that on the day you wear your gown, you are happy. However, we can only meet you half-way. If you are not and were never willing to come back into the store to be helped, and to come to a solution, then we can not do anything for you now.
As a side note, we DO NOT make money off of our seamstress. Just want to clarify that.
Since it seems as though you are unwilling to come back to mutually come up with a solution, we wish you all the best, and hope for a wonderful wedding.
The Coach House
I didn't say I didn't want to be helped, I said "what can you actually do for me, really,..."
there was no solution to this, besides your ladies learning from the experience and fitting dresses more accurate and precisely. Like I said, I was happier with your store until I compared the level of accuracy and professionalism to other bridal boutiques.
the reason I posted was so others could benefit from this as well, I'm not selfish enough to bother worrying about this dress thats already fixed.i want others to not experience what I had to both times a dress was ordered for me from your store.