Wedding dress question. . . .

[deal4u]

My daughter is getting married June 5, 2004 and we have just started looking at wedding gowns.

She has found a gown that she has fallen in love with.

The Problem: The dress is $725.00 and when I suggsted that we write down the designer and search for the same dress at a lower cost we discovered that all of the tags had been cut out of the gown. All I can tell is that the tag was a blue tag.

When we asked the store employee which designer made the dress her answer was "Our policy is that we will tell you who made the dress after you pay for it. The clerk became very rude. Now I'm not sure we even want to work with that bridal shop.

Any suggestions on how to find the dress at a different shop--not knowing who the designer is?


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[Mouse7088]

I've never heard of such a thing! How about going to the library and searching through some of the wedding/bridal books. Maybe you can find the info there?!?!?! Heck, even looking at the online bridal shoppes may work.

[cashhound]

That doesn't sound right. I've seen tags cutout or torn, but that was to prevent returns...like from a factory seconds shop...so you can't return it and get more money back.

I agree with Mouse. Check online. And I would avoid that bridal shop. It sounds fishy to me.

[bestmidwest]

Avoid that shop...and check ebay for the same dress. It could be last year's design and you wouldn't even know. I will tell you all about bridal shops. They measure you and then order the dress in the wrong size so that you have to spend hundreds on alterations because...of course...they can't get another one, it takes 6 months. You can buy brand new, designer dresses on ebay for under $300...that will fit her. I have been buying pageant gowns and wedding gowns for a long time...if you need any help, just pm me or email.

Congratulations!!! Kristin


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[Mouse7088]

I just found this little piece of info..it's the html file, but there's a link at the top of the page to view the pdf file (need acrobat reader)..it's an illegal practice, but has never really been enforced..scroll dow to about the 6th. page..
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[Mouse7088]

"You don't have to be an expert to know it's a violation of FTC rules to remove labels from wedding dresses in the store, unless its replaced by the shop's own label.".......
.....
"Some people don't mind this practice, while others do. We don't approve because it's misleading, and you have the right to full disclosure on what you are paying hard earned money for."

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[Mouse7088]

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____________________________________________________
(below)FTC's guidelines

Wedding Gown Labels: Unveiling the Requirements

Here comes the bride-to-be, shopping for the perfect dress for her big day. Her main focus may be on style and price, but it's likely she also wants to know about the manufacturer, fiber content, country of origin and care instructions. Today's bride wants this labeling information to help make a smart choice about what is surely to be one of the most memorable -- and expensive -- clothing purchases of a lifetime. What's more, this labeling information is required.

Garment Labels
If you manufacture, import or sell wedding gowns, you must ensure that consumers have certain garment information. The Textile Act, its regulations and the FTC's Care Labeling Rule require that labels be attached to imported and domestic textile products such as wedding gowns. These rules apply to sample gowns, as well as to gowns that are for sale.

Wedding gown labels must contain four pieces of information:

1. The identity of any one business in the distribution channel, including:

the manufacturer;
the manufacturer's Registered Identification Number (RN), which is issued to companies in the U.S. and registered by the FTC;
the retail store's name or RN; or,
the RN or business name of any other company in the U.S. directly involved in the distribution of the gown.
The label showing the name or RN may be sewn-in or attached as a hang-tag. Either way, it must be conspicuously placed.

2. The garment's fiber content. The generic fiber names and percentages by weight of each fiber used must be listed in descending order of predominance. The label may be sewn-in or attached as a hang-tag and must be conspicuously placed. It may appear with other information or it may be a separate label. To insure proper care of the garment, it may be important -- although not required -- to have the fiber content on a label that is permanently attached.

3. The country of origin.

Imported wedding gowns must identify the country where they were processed or manufactured.
Gowns made entirely in the U.S. of materials also made in the U.S. must be labeled "Made in U.S.A." or an equivalent phrase.
Gowns made in the U.S. of imported materials must be labeled to show the processing or manufacturing that takes place in the U.S., as well as the imported component.
Gowns manufactured partly in the U.S. and partly abroad must identify both aspects.
If a gown is imported, the country-of-origin label must be sewn in to comply with U.S. Customs Service requirements. If a gown is made in the U.S. -- of either imported or domestic fabric -- the country of origin information can be sewn in or placed on a hang-tag. In any case, the country-of-origin disclosure must be placed as close as possible to the center back of the neck.
4. Care instructions. The care label must identify:

At least one safe cleaning method -- either washing or drycleaning -- and any necessary warnings about the cleaning method.
Example: If the care instruction is to dryclean, the label must specify one type of solvent that may be used, unless all commercially available types of solvents can be used safely on the gown.
Example: If the gown is labeled for washing, the label must say whether any step of the normal washing process -- washing, bleaching, drying, or ironing -- could harm the garment or other items cleaned with it.
The care label must be sewn in. Imported garments should have care labels when they are sent to the U.S., or labels should be attached by the importer.

Tag Omission, Removal and Substitution
A wedding gown must have all the required labeling information when it leaves the manufacturer.

Under the Textile Act, it is illegal to remove a label containing manufacturer, fiber content or country-of-origin information without substituting another label with the required information. For example, a retailer who wants to remove a label identifying the manufacturer, must substitute it with a label that lists the shop's own name or RN, or the name or RN of someone else in the gown distribution chain. In addition, the substituted label must contain all the information that is required on the original label. All substitute labels must be properly attached to the gown -- either sewn in or on a conspicuously placed hang-tag. Finally, a retailer must not remove the sewn-in care instructions.

Record Keeping
Wedding gown manufacturers must keep records that show the information required on the label (manufacturer or dealer identity or RN, fiber content, and country of origin) for every garment they produce. The records, which must be kept for three years, should show that the letter of the law has been met and establish a traceable line from the raw materials to the finished product.

In addition, any business that substitutes a label on a textile product -- such as a wedding gown retailer -- also must keep records for three years that show what information on the label was removed and the name of the party from whom the product was received.

Non-Compliance
Any violation of the Textile Act regulations or the Care Labeling Rule is considered an unfair and deceptive act or practice under the FTC Act. As a remedy, the Commission may issue an administrative order prohibiting the unlawful behavior. Violations of an administrative order can result in a federal district court action for civil penalties up to $11,000 per violation. Businesses not subject to a previous administrative order also can be subject to monetary civil penalties, an injunction, and other remedies -- including consumer redress -- in a federal district court action for knowingly engaging in practices -- such as mislabeling garments -- that the Commission has determined in prior cases to be unfair or deceptive.

For violations of the Care Labeling Rule by a manufacturer or importer, the Commission may seek an injunction in federal district court and civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation. A retailer who removes care labels from garments may be held liable for unfair and deceptive acts or practices under the FTC Act and may be the subject of an administrative order. Violations of such orders can result in an action for civil penalties in federal district court.

Each instance of mislabeling under the textile laws and the Care Labeling Rule may be considered a separate violation.

For More Information

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now] or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION FOR THE CONSUMER
1-877-FTC-HELP [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]


Your Opportunity to Comment
The Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and 10 Regional Fairness Boards collect comments from small business about federal enforcement actions. Each year, the Ombudsman evaluates enforcement activities and rates each agency's responsiveness to small business. To comment on FTC actions, call 1-888-734-3247.


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[NaomiMarie]

If it smells fishy, it probably IS fishy

[billsmrs]

When I got married I went to a local bridal shop and bought my wedding gown for $250!!!!! It was an $800 gown!! It was in the clearance room........that is where they put 'last years' gowns. And you know it was just what I wanted and the price was good. There was nothing wrong with it. But because it was considered last years they discounted it alot.

Oh yeah......sent you a PM.


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[Bones899]

deal4u, I pm'ed you with some wedding info that I thought would help. It might also help if you could sneak in a digital camera into the fitting room and get a shot of the dress.

[cashhound]

Originally posted by Bones899
deal4u, I pm'ed you with some wedding info that I thought would help. It might also help if you could sneak in a digital camera into the fitting room and get a shot of the dress.

Bones...that's a GREAT idea...regardless of whether this is a fishy practice or not.

When the bride to be is trying on several different gowns, you can take a polaroid or something, write down the info, and let her have a visual memory of what all she tried on. She can take them home and let other family members look and help her to decide.

Plus...it would be great to add to the wedding album


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[jen6889]

I wouldn't buy anything from a shop with rude employees - one reason a certain well known bridal shop did not get my business. And then to top it off, they won't tell you the designer of the dress?? That's ridiculous. No way would I buy from them.

I'd say the two of you look around - check bridal magazines (sometimes the local library has them), look in other shops, check online. Maybe she can find the same one, or one very similar. I like Bones' idea of sneaking the camera in the dressing room. Maybe if you can do that, you can post the pic here and we'll help ya look? You could also take the picture to other bridal shops and maybe they could help you find it.

I bought my wedding dress off the rack from Karen Eagle, two months before my wedding (kinda a last minute wedding...). The sales person told me they aren't suppose to do that, but she got it ok'ed with her manager. She told me something about how it took 2 or 3 months to order the dress in the first place and have all the alterations done. Such a nice lady - everyone there was nice. Oh, and my dress was not actually a wedding gown! I got it in the evening wear section. I can't remember exactly how much we paid. I want to say around $2-300 and it was such a gorgeous, simple dress.
They had free alterations there, but the dress actually fit me perfectly. And my sister made my veil. I am not artistically inclined, LOL!, but she sure is. She says veils are the easiest the make, that even I could have done it. So if you're feeling daring, save your money and make one. I nearly fell out in the floor when I saw prices on veils!


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[deal4u]

Oh my gosh--thanks so much to all of you for your help and advice.

I just talked to my daughter on her cell phone and she is on her third bridal shop today and no luck at finding the dress.

Next week will sneek our digital camera into the dressing room and snap a picture of the dress she wants and see if that helps us find it. We both agree that we don't want to buy it from the shop that was so rude and cut the tags out of the dresses.


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[deal4u]

SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It took about 2 1/2 hours searching on the web but I found the dress!!

The designer is Private Label by G. Four bridal shops within an hour of us sell dresses made by tgis designer so hopefully one of them will be decent to work with!

[mayfly]

Very cool! Did you end up getting it today?