coda26
02-03-2005, 10:46 AM
Over the last few weeks I visited The Dresser, which is located on Harbor Blvd. in Fullerton, CA. On my first visit, I tried on the only two dresses in the store above size 18. Not a store for plus sizes.
I wanted to check out a sample by a designer the store didn't carry. I emailed the designer and she told that she would send a dress if I could find a store willing to host it. The employee who helped me told me to send the information via email and the owner, Marianne Shearer, would decide whether to host the dress or not. Well, I never heard from her or her employees.
About 2 weeks later I decided to give them another chance. I walked in early on a Tuesday, when the store empty. The employee asked Marianne if she would be willing to host the gown. She agreed. The employee was about to take my measurements in order to send them to the designer, but was stopped by Marianne. Marianne still hadn't greeted me, or spoke to me directly, even though I was 3 feet away. She told her employee not to measure me unless I paid the $30 fee! Apparently, measurements are considered an alteration at this store. To make a long story short, I decided not to bother seeing the dress, as the sample would be too small for me to try on. Marianne was abrupt and abrasive toward me when I asked her about fittings. Perhaps that is her manner, but it certainly wasn't customer-friendly. I was then told by her employee that some of the Casablanca gowns could be made to order, but I had already tried on the only one in stock in a plus size. I was then encouraged to BUY any of the other Casablanca gowns WITHOUT TRYING ONE ON, by custom ordering it (a final sale), and was assured that with alterations it would be beautiful! Finally, the employee called the local Casablanca distributor to see if there were any plus size gowns in the warehouse that could be brought to the store for me to try on, and she would call me that day with the verdict. Guess what? I never heard from her.
THE DRESSER DOES NOT WANT TO DRESS THE PLUS SIZE BRIDE. And I can only conclude that Marianne needs an in-depth course in customer service.
I wanted to check out a sample by a designer the store didn't carry. I emailed the designer and she told that she would send a dress if I could find a store willing to host it. The employee who helped me told me to send the information via email and the owner, Marianne Shearer, would decide whether to host the dress or not. Well, I never heard from her or her employees.
About 2 weeks later I decided to give them another chance. I walked in early on a Tuesday, when the store empty. The employee asked Marianne if she would be willing to host the gown. She agreed. The employee was about to take my measurements in order to send them to the designer, but was stopped by Marianne. Marianne still hadn't greeted me, or spoke to me directly, even though I was 3 feet away. She told her employee not to measure me unless I paid the $30 fee! Apparently, measurements are considered an alteration at this store. To make a long story short, I decided not to bother seeing the dress, as the sample would be too small for me to try on. Marianne was abrupt and abrasive toward me when I asked her about fittings. Perhaps that is her manner, but it certainly wasn't customer-friendly. I was then told by her employee that some of the Casablanca gowns could be made to order, but I had already tried on the only one in stock in a plus size. I was then encouraged to BUY any of the other Casablanca gowns WITHOUT TRYING ONE ON, by custom ordering it (a final sale), and was assured that with alterations it would be beautiful! Finally, the employee called the local Casablanca distributor to see if there were any plus size gowns in the warehouse that could be brought to the store for me to try on, and she would call me that day with the verdict. Guess what? I never heard from her.
THE DRESSER DOES NOT WANT TO DRESS THE PLUS SIZE BRIDE. And I can only conclude that Marianne needs an in-depth course in customer service.