ter44
12-08-2000, 03:29 PM
After discovering your site last week, I spent the entire week requesting quotes from the various different web sites mentioned in these message boards and in your book CyberWeddings. I located the gown I wanted on the Galina web site, and then sent requests for quotes to 6 different discount web sites (DiscountBridalService.com, Pearlsplace.com, AdvantageBridal.com, RKBridal, BridalMarketplace.com, and bridalgown.com)
I did not have a style # for the dress, but described it as best I could and also told the companies where they could find a picture of the dress on the Galina Gown web site.
Within 1 day, I received responses from almost everyone, with prices ranging from $660 to $782 (the gown was selling for $1050 in the store in my city). Some quotes included shipping and tax, others did not, so be sure to ask about tax, shipping, and any extra charges, and whether you pay 100% upfront or in installments. Also, some sites asked me to call their store (some sites actually have stores that carry the exact same dresses which are sold at full price!) because they could not quote over the phone (while others sent me a quote via email). Calling the store actually helped because I got to ask questions, and one of the people in the store was able to provide me with the style # of the dress - another store pulled the dress off the rack and then described it to me so I could be sure it was the right one.
The highest quote was from Pearl's Place ($782) and the lowest came in from 3 different sites (Discount Bridal, Bridal Marketplace, and bridalgown.com (at $665). I really wanted to order from Pearls' because they assured a 3-month delivery and had the best reputation. So I sent another email to Pearls' asking if they would match the $660 I got from the other web sites - and they wrote back and said they would! So, I've not only got the lowest price, but they threw in the tax and shipping (which they previously were going to charge me for) and I will have it in 3 months!
Now, all I have to do is hope my dress arrives on time (and it's the right dress). I do suggest you ask as many questions and try to negotiate if you are set on ordering from a particular web site. It never hurts to ask! I am so thrilled to be saving $400 and will recommend the BridalGown web site and Pearl's to everyone I know!
I did not have a style # for the dress, but described it as best I could and also told the companies where they could find a picture of the dress on the Galina Gown web site.
Within 1 day, I received responses from almost everyone, with prices ranging from $660 to $782 (the gown was selling for $1050 in the store in my city). Some quotes included shipping and tax, others did not, so be sure to ask about tax, shipping, and any extra charges, and whether you pay 100% upfront or in installments. Also, some sites asked me to call their store (some sites actually have stores that carry the exact same dresses which are sold at full price!) because they could not quote over the phone (while others sent me a quote via email). Calling the store actually helped because I got to ask questions, and one of the people in the store was able to provide me with the style # of the dress - another store pulled the dress off the rack and then described it to me so I could be sure it was the right one.
The highest quote was from Pearl's Place ($782) and the lowest came in from 3 different sites (Discount Bridal, Bridal Marketplace, and bridalgown.com (at $665). I really wanted to order from Pearls' because they assured a 3-month delivery and had the best reputation. So I sent another email to Pearls' asking if they would match the $660 I got from the other web sites - and they wrote back and said they would! So, I've not only got the lowest price, but they threw in the tax and shipping (which they previously were going to charge me for) and I will have it in 3 months!
Now, all I have to do is hope my dress arrives on time (and it's the right dress). I do suggest you ask as many questions and try to negotiate if you are set on ordering from a particular web site. It never hurts to ask! I am so thrilled to be saving $400 and will recommend the BridalGown web site and Pearl's to everyone I know!