| rev:text
| - Oh David's, you need some work. Every time a friend asks me to be a part of their wedding, I'm honored. Until they tell me I have to buy a dress here.
Multiple problems encountered over multiple years beginning way back in 2007. The sales staff was friendly enough sans one bridal gown consultant who was very pushy toward my bride friend. However, we had the store manager assisting at one point, and she was terrible. Pam was her name (I'm not sure she's still there); she repeatedly insisted she knew more about sales than anyone as she had worked as a car salesman. Okay, fine...but she reeked like cigarette smoke. We decided to try and avoid her touching any of our dresses after that. Dresses came in correctly, but alterations prices were ridiculous. We ended up going to one of our relatives who does them much cheaper. I suggest looking for the local shops.
A second wedding over a year later was frustrating all over. Sales staff was inattentive with only two or three of us at a time, but it was wedding season so we overlooked it and began finding our sections ourselves. The response to our touching of the dress racks was bizarre - as if we were disturbing a crime scene or something. When we finally got things ordered, they couldn't find the right wedding in the computer for all the bridesmaids. Three of us were listed under three separate events. One saleswoman tried to tell me it was the bride's fault for having changed the date over a year ago. I firmly reminded her it was the store's obligation to correctly update the information they were given. And despite her having ordered her gown there months earlier, one of the three listings had her name wrong. She paid by credit card...is it that difficult to verify? Or even ask? Thankfully the dresses came in on time, though two of us never received calls telling us so.
After multiple pain-in-the-butt experiences involving pushy staff, unorganized files, order mix-ups, and more, I finally said no more, and began bringing my bride friends to local shops both in and around the Madison area. Surprisingly, the prices were very comparable. The service was all far beyond what David's ever offered.
Unfortunately, I was convinced into David's one more time a few months ago. Making an appointment for just myself was annoyingly difficult, especially since we had it down to just three dress options. The sales girl was fine, thankfully. She had two appointments at once, but for me that meant less annoyance and ability to buy more independently. My dress came in correctly, but again I received no call saying it was there. A week after it was expected I called to ask the status, only to be told it was there and I needed to come pick it up.
"Why wasn't I called when it arrived?"
(Pushy saleswoman from years earlier): "Our stockroom guy is actually off for the week so..."
(I interrupted): "So no other staff can make these calls?" (They usually do.)
"Our stockroom guy usually does."
I replied sassily, "That's pretty poor business. Also, wedding season might not be the best time for the only stockroom guy's vacation if you can't cover him. I'll be in later, bye." Click.
Later, this bride told me that after purchasing her gown, her saleswoman nearly yelled at her about not buying the undergarments and slips for it. She'd told her she'd ordered nice ones from Victoria's Secret, at which point she was scolded. I understand their only good payment is commission, but that's definitely not the way to get it. Staffers and management could use a day or two at a sales seminar instead of (as I was told) a videotape in the back room.
Sorry, I realize this is an essay, but yeah, please brides, no more David's. Vera's is down the road and has many inexpensive options with outstanding staff. There are also some fabulous boutiques in Mt. Horeb, Monona, and Cambridge.
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