House of Brides - Proceed With Caution?

Here at Be Sweet, we pride ourselves on establishing good relationships with our fellow vendors - after all, we're all in this together, and the more we help each other out, the happier our brides are, right?

But that philosophy isn't always shared by every vendor out there. And as much as I hate to talk poorly of other vendors, I feel it would be irresponsible if I didn't mention a problem one of my brides and her bridesmaids are having.


Namely, the bridesmaids dresses. Ordered 15 weeks ago, the bridesmaids (and the bride, for that matter) are understandably irritated that they haven't arrived - and the wedding is at the end of this month. Not only that, but the company apparently has no intention of sending the dresses, and will not refund their money. The bride trusted the company because she used them a few years ago with no issue at all.

The company in question? House of Brides. After they told me their issue today (they've since just ordered new dresses rush from another vendor), I began looking at the company in more detail. Their facebook page says they've been in business since 1929. There are few real commenters on anything on their page - just a lot of spambots sending you to sketchy sites. The few that have commented are generally complaining.

Further delving into the company's complaint profile yielded results similar to my bride's current experience. Stores suddenly closing. People not receiving dresses in time, or dresses that did not resemble the pictures in their online catalog. Dresses with stains on them. Dresses that were not sent rush as requested. And a whole lot of people out of money that the company refuses to refund.

You can read for yourself here, here, and here.

And then there's also this issue noted by the Better Business Bureau, at the bottom of the company's listing. There have also been 18 complaints against the company through the BBB that are closed, 11 just in the past year. That probably doesn't take into account any new complaints that are still open. And speaking from experience, a complaint filed with the BBB winds its way through arbitration if both parties disagree on the events leading up to the complaint. Arbitration has to be paid for by you, and takes a while, too. Many end up just walking away from their complaint - so closed does not necessarily mean the complainant got satisfaction.

So why am I writing about them? Because one, I wish to warn brides and bridesmaids that are in the early planning stages of their weddings to study carefully the online retailer they're thinking or ordering from. Google the name, coupled with the word "complaints," and see what comes up. Many companies get complained about, of course, but if you notice a common theme, it might be wise to stay away from that company - no matter how good the deal seems. If you order from a company that you can't visit physically, make sure you pay by credit card - which brings me to my second point.

Two, if you are already dealing with House of Brides, I suggest requesting a refund via a letter sent registered mail with a signed receiver. Once you have proof they've seen your letter, you will have more to shore up your argument with the credit card company when you try to dispute the charges. And you should definitely dispute the charges.

And if you've found this page by an Internet search of "House of Brides," and would like to find a reputable online retailer, please let me know. I have a list, and I'm happy to share it - whether you're a client or not.