alandenisefields
07-13-2005, 07:22 PM
(Please feel free to post this email to all wedding message boards)
UPDATE Wednesday July 13, 2005
FROM: Denise & Alan Fields, authors, BRIDAL BARGAINS.
Web: http://www.bridalbargainsbook.com
Here is the latest update on DBS/Martins bankruptcy.
INSIDE THIS NEWSLETTER:
1. New: DBS details bankruptcy in news release
2. Baltimore update: store will not open Saturday, despite TV reports.
3. “Comparable gowns� now arriving---what to do?
4. Gowns held hostage: we need your help!
5. Online resources: our message board, FAQ for brides and more.
As many of you know, Discount Bridal Service has closed and will file for bankruptcy shortly. Their Baltimore retail shop, Martin’s has closed as has the company’s tuxedo stores, which went under the name A Perfect Fit.
As authors of the book BRIDAL BARGAINS and the only consumer advocates for brides, we have been reporting on this situation and are attempting to help brides who have been caught in this mess. Here is the latest news we have today:
-------------
1. New: DBS details bankruptcy in news release
Late this afternoon, DBS/Martins issued a press release with more details on the closing and bankruptcy. We have posted it here:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/bridalbargains/dbs6.html
-------------
2. Baltimore update: store will not open Saturday, despite TV reports.
A recent TV news report on the Martins/DBS bankruptcy erroneously reported that the Baltimore-based retail store would re-open Saturday so brides could claim goods. That is not true, according to DBS attorney Constance Hare. She wrote in an email to BRIDAL BARGAINS today:
“All special order merchandise was either picked up by brides during the month of June or shipped to brides this week. The only inventory remaining at the stores is store inventory, not special order merchandise.�
Furthermore, in a DBS statement released today (July 13), the company said:
“During the period from June 15 through July 2, Martin's contacted approximately 475 brides to pick up their special order bridal gowns that were being held by Martin's. Over 400 gowns were picked up during that period, with the remaining dresses shipped to the brides this week.�
Despite this, we have received several reports from Baltimore brides who were neither contacted nor received their paid-for merchandise. Also: we have heard from Baltimore brides whose gowns are not due until Sept or October; in those cases, the dresses never arrived to Martins (the orders were placed this spring). Many of these brides paid by check. Sadly, the only recourse these brides will have is to file a claim with the bankruptcy court.
-------------
3. “Comparable gowns� now arriving---what to do?
According to Discount Bridal Service, the company this week shipped out 540 “comparable� gowns to brides. These gowns were NOT what they ordered, but
�of equal or greater value of similar style in the correct size and color. Those brides also received information regarding their original orders, including the name and phone number the manufacturer, the order number and the account number so that they could contact the manufacturer directly if they were not satisfied with the replacement gown.�
So, what should you do if you get one of these “comparable gowns�? First, open it and take digital pictures of the dress---the inside tags, the box it came in, etc. Brides who have received these boxes indicated to us the gowns are NOT the same brand they ordered, but similar in style. If you do NOT want this dress, you need to document the situation for your credit card company in order to dispute the charge (you ordered a Brand X gown, but got Brand Y, etc). Keeping the dress doesn’t diminish your rights to dispute any credit card charge (in fact, your credit card issuer may want to see the dress as proof of the problem). If you send the gown back to DBS, it will simply come back to you as the company isn’t receiving shipments any longer. Bottom line: ask your credit card company how they want you to proceed with this “comparable� dress box.
-------------
4. Gowns held hostage: we need your help!
Our focus here at BRIDAL BARGAINS has now shifted to try to get dresses held hostage in this bankruptcy to brides. A bit of background: in most cases, Discount Bridal Service/Martins ordered the gowns directly from bridal designers and manufacturers. Since the company experienced financial problems, however, most of these gowns (for weddings in the next few months) were NOT shipped to DBS but are now hanging in a manufacturer’s warehouse.
We have put out a call to all bridal manufacturers to release these gowns directly to brides at the gown’s WHOLESALE price plus shipping. Why wholesale? Because that’s the amount DBS/Martins would have paid the manufacturers for the goods had they continued in business. And many brides have paid for their goods with a check and are out that money—asking them to pay full retail or a surcharge is like a shop selling bags of ice for $50 after a hurricane.
So, how’s that effort going? Well, we have good news and bad news. First, the good: several bridal manufacturers have stepped up to the plate and offered to release bride’s dresses at wholesale cost plus shipping. We have detailed this in a list on our web page with contact phone numbers and email:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/bridalbargains/dbs5.html
In some cases, manufactures are working with brides directly; other cases, they are dealing with the DBS dealers.
Now the bad news: sadly, as with any tragedy, some folks have decided to take advantage of brides in this time of crisis. We have noted on the same page (linked above) the manufacturers that are either refusing to release dresses or demanding a surcharge, sometimes hundreds of dollars. Adding insult to injury, some bridal retailers have lobbied manufacturers to NOT help brides directly . . . they would prefer brides be forced to replace the order at full price in their retail shops. Some retailers have posted to message boards that the brides “deserve� this treatment for ordering from DBS in the first place. Of course, we have some brides who are only days/weeks away from their weddings and time is of the essence . . . and involving another middleman who wants their cut adds insult to injury.
Here’s where we need help from brides (Knotties, we need you): please review this list on our web page:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/bridalbargains/dbs5.html
We have noted in RED the bridal designers and manufacturers that are refusing to help brides. Please: call them, email them and ask them to help. Implore them to release these captive dresses to brides without any surcharges. And keep this list in mind if you are dress shopping: note there are some companies that care about brides and others that don’t. (We are updating that web page frequently, so check back for the latest).
-------------
5. Online resources: our message board, FAQ for brides and more.
We have a myriad of online resources to help brides with this crisis. First, our main web page, from which you can read detailed FAQ’s.
http://www.windsorpeak.com/bridalbargains/dbs911.html
Second, we have our message boards:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=174&page=
-------------
We will continue to cover this situation, so watch our web page for the latest news.
Alan & Denise Fields
authors, BRIDAL BARGAINS & BRIDAL PASSPORT
http://www.BridalBargainsBook.com
[email protected]
(303) 442-8792
UPDATE Wednesday July 13, 2005
FROM: Denise & Alan Fields, authors, BRIDAL BARGAINS.
Web: http://www.bridalbargainsbook.com
Here is the latest update on DBS/Martins bankruptcy.
INSIDE THIS NEWSLETTER:
1. New: DBS details bankruptcy in news release
2. Baltimore update: store will not open Saturday, despite TV reports.
3. “Comparable gowns� now arriving---what to do?
4. Gowns held hostage: we need your help!
5. Online resources: our message board, FAQ for brides and more.
As many of you know, Discount Bridal Service has closed and will file for bankruptcy shortly. Their Baltimore retail shop, Martin’s has closed as has the company’s tuxedo stores, which went under the name A Perfect Fit.
As authors of the book BRIDAL BARGAINS and the only consumer advocates for brides, we have been reporting on this situation and are attempting to help brides who have been caught in this mess. Here is the latest news we have today:
-------------
1. New: DBS details bankruptcy in news release
Late this afternoon, DBS/Martins issued a press release with more details on the closing and bankruptcy. We have posted it here:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/bridalbargains/dbs6.html
-------------
2. Baltimore update: store will not open Saturday, despite TV reports.
A recent TV news report on the Martins/DBS bankruptcy erroneously reported that the Baltimore-based retail store would re-open Saturday so brides could claim goods. That is not true, according to DBS attorney Constance Hare. She wrote in an email to BRIDAL BARGAINS today:
“All special order merchandise was either picked up by brides during the month of June or shipped to brides this week. The only inventory remaining at the stores is store inventory, not special order merchandise.�
Furthermore, in a DBS statement released today (July 13), the company said:
“During the period from June 15 through July 2, Martin's contacted approximately 475 brides to pick up their special order bridal gowns that were being held by Martin's. Over 400 gowns were picked up during that period, with the remaining dresses shipped to the brides this week.�
Despite this, we have received several reports from Baltimore brides who were neither contacted nor received their paid-for merchandise. Also: we have heard from Baltimore brides whose gowns are not due until Sept or October; in those cases, the dresses never arrived to Martins (the orders were placed this spring). Many of these brides paid by check. Sadly, the only recourse these brides will have is to file a claim with the bankruptcy court.
-------------
3. “Comparable gowns� now arriving---what to do?
According to Discount Bridal Service, the company this week shipped out 540 “comparable� gowns to brides. These gowns were NOT what they ordered, but
�of equal or greater value of similar style in the correct size and color. Those brides also received information regarding their original orders, including the name and phone number the manufacturer, the order number and the account number so that they could contact the manufacturer directly if they were not satisfied with the replacement gown.�
So, what should you do if you get one of these “comparable gowns�? First, open it and take digital pictures of the dress---the inside tags, the box it came in, etc. Brides who have received these boxes indicated to us the gowns are NOT the same brand they ordered, but similar in style. If you do NOT want this dress, you need to document the situation for your credit card company in order to dispute the charge (you ordered a Brand X gown, but got Brand Y, etc). Keeping the dress doesn’t diminish your rights to dispute any credit card charge (in fact, your credit card issuer may want to see the dress as proof of the problem). If you send the gown back to DBS, it will simply come back to you as the company isn’t receiving shipments any longer. Bottom line: ask your credit card company how they want you to proceed with this “comparable� dress box.
-------------
4. Gowns held hostage: we need your help!
Our focus here at BRIDAL BARGAINS has now shifted to try to get dresses held hostage in this bankruptcy to brides. A bit of background: in most cases, Discount Bridal Service/Martins ordered the gowns directly from bridal designers and manufacturers. Since the company experienced financial problems, however, most of these gowns (for weddings in the next few months) were NOT shipped to DBS but are now hanging in a manufacturer’s warehouse.
We have put out a call to all bridal manufacturers to release these gowns directly to brides at the gown’s WHOLESALE price plus shipping. Why wholesale? Because that’s the amount DBS/Martins would have paid the manufacturers for the goods had they continued in business. And many brides have paid for their goods with a check and are out that money—asking them to pay full retail or a surcharge is like a shop selling bags of ice for $50 after a hurricane.
So, how’s that effort going? Well, we have good news and bad news. First, the good: several bridal manufacturers have stepped up to the plate and offered to release bride’s dresses at wholesale cost plus shipping. We have detailed this in a list on our web page with contact phone numbers and email:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/bridalbargains/dbs5.html
In some cases, manufactures are working with brides directly; other cases, they are dealing with the DBS dealers.
Now the bad news: sadly, as with any tragedy, some folks have decided to take advantage of brides in this time of crisis. We have noted on the same page (linked above) the manufacturers that are either refusing to release dresses or demanding a surcharge, sometimes hundreds of dollars. Adding insult to injury, some bridal retailers have lobbied manufacturers to NOT help brides directly . . . they would prefer brides be forced to replace the order at full price in their retail shops. Some retailers have posted to message boards that the brides “deserve� this treatment for ordering from DBS in the first place. Of course, we have some brides who are only days/weeks away from their weddings and time is of the essence . . . and involving another middleman who wants their cut adds insult to injury.
Here’s where we need help from brides (Knotties, we need you): please review this list on our web page:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/bridalbargains/dbs5.html
We have noted in RED the bridal designers and manufacturers that are refusing to help brides. Please: call them, email them and ask them to help. Implore them to release these captive dresses to brides without any surcharges. And keep this list in mind if you are dress shopping: note there are some companies that care about brides and others that don’t. (We are updating that web page frequently, so check back for the latest).
-------------
5. Online resources: our message board, FAQ for brides and more.
We have a myriad of online resources to help brides with this crisis. First, our main web page, from which you can read detailed FAQ’s.
http://www.windsorpeak.com/bridalbargains/dbs911.html
Second, we have our message boards:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=174&page=
-------------
We will continue to cover this situation, so watch our web page for the latest news.
Alan & Denise Fields
authors, BRIDAL BARGAINS & BRIDAL PASSPORT
http://www.BridalBargainsBook.com
[email protected]
(303) 442-8792