Troublesome Moms and Other Family Members

Hi Lea,

I love your name.  Yes we are definitely alike.  I get so sick about things when they are just not right.  So oh my gosh.  They came in on Saturday and when I seen them I walked up to them and the mom was already pearsing her lips, and I said I'm not going to give you a refund and here's why.  I did exactly what you wanted the first time and you didn't like it so then I pinned it up in different ways until you liked it and I didn't charge you any extra money for the extra work.  I put the color coded hooks and eyes exactly in the places where the pins were and the bottom of the dress was even when the bustle was done.  And then she tried the dress on and didn't say anything to anyone and you took the dress and left the store.  Why did you do that if you weren't satisfied.  We have all tried to do everything to please you and your not happy with anything.  The dress was a floor model for 800.00 and they had the option to order a brand new one but they said no they wanted that one.  So the consultant took a hundred bucks off for the cleaning.  Well the daughter wanted to put the dress back on and I said that I'm not touching it again because it will never be right with you and your mother.  (For me it was not worth it to do again).  So Monday she called the store and talked to the general manager and yelled and yelled and they wanted to return the dress and store policy is all sales are final.  No refunds.  Then in the afternoon she called again and talked to the manager (both of which were standing next to me when they came in) and the manager told her the same thing.  Then she has the nerve to say well you should give me more money back because I have to get it dry cleaned and after my bridals I have to have it cleaned again.  Can you believe that?  Well the manager said I already gave you a hundred dollar discount for the cleaning and if you need it cleaned again after your bridals that's on you not on us.  For real I can't believe these people.  Then they called the general manager again and got no where.  Oh ya they wanted them to get rid of me.  Then they called me again and told me they were going to come and protest me and the store and things like that.  I just said, well you do whatever it is you feel you need to do but if you come down here and do that it is harassment and slander.  Then I said that if they come down there I would simply call the police have them come down there and I would press charges.

I mean holy crap!  All this headache for a bustle.  Oh ya they also told the manager that when they went to David's Bridal for the other daughter that the seamstress there spent 2 1/2 hours to bustle her dress.  I'm thinking for real?  Well if she has that much time on her hands to spend that much time on a bustle then more power to her.  I highly doubt she spent that much time on it.  So I really hope that I don't have to deal with anyone like this again.  If someone comes in and is really fussy and bitter about everything (I can usually tell if they are going to be ok or not).  Well I'm just going to tell them that I'm to booked and I don't have the time and recommend someone else.

So that's the story of my lovely week.  What a way to start off a new business.  It makes me feel like I have failed but I know its their problem not mine.  I would like to keep in touch with you.  I have a lot to learn still about alterations.  If I build something from scratch I'm good but on some of these dresses I could use some good tips.  I'm so glad I found your web site, it has really helped me a ton.  I live in Utah and a lot of the dresses in the store are strapless and I need to make them temple ready.  I have just done what I think looks the best and make sure its ok with the bride and if she likes it but some of them I just kind of scratch my head at.  So any suggestions or tips would be awesome.  I have tried to look up things like how to convert a strapless dress into a temple ready dress or putting sleeves on a strapless gown and I haven't found anything yet.  So if you know of anything or have an idea let me know.  I love people like you who are willing to share the tools of the trade.  It has definitely made me a better seamstress.  I have lots of books and things that I look up if I'm not sure how to do something or see if there is a better way.  Maybe one day I will have it all figured out.  I thought about classes but I haven't found one that would help me yet.  Well again I have left you with a novel so I will chat with you later.  That is if you don't change your email first so I can't find you.  LOL...  Thank you for your time and input I really appreciate it.

Chow for now,
Rebecca