Bella Rosa Bridal Charlottesville

Dear friends, sans-serif;">Thank you for the opportunity For Bella Rosa Bridal to publicly respond to our customer’s complaint in your Case # [redacted] We are well aware of her stated dissatisfaction and regret that our efforts so far to help her understand the bridal alterations process have failed Perhaps this step will help clarify the situation Her complaint falls into two parts: first, that the alterations on her gown cost more than were estimated; and second, that her bridesmaids were intentionally mis-measured by us so that they would incur higher alterations costs We’ll address both of these parts in turn 1) Our standard Bridal Gown Purchase Agreement (this customer’s copy of which is attached for reference) clearly states that the cost of bridal gown alterations average between $and $and that actual costs vary due to unique features of some gowns We even take care to draw each customer’s attention to this line by having them acknowledge it with their initials nearby That paragraph also stipulates that alterations services are not provided by us but rather by an outside company in whose sales, incidentally, we have no vested interestFurther, both of these points are reiterated on the register receipt that each customer signs at the point of sale (also attached.) In the alteration order provided by [redacted] (also attached) it is clear that while the total for the customer’s services totaled $740.00, $of that total was for a custom-made bolero jacket accessory that is separate from the gown alterationsThus, her total gown alterations cost $490.00, well within the average range Further, much of the alterations order could be considered purely elective gown customization rather than alteration (tapering the hips and taking in the skirt darts for a closer fit, for example) such than her basic alterations bill would have been even lower than average Regardless, even with extensive gown customization her actual alterations bill was within the average range and only her custom-made bolero jacket put the total cost outside the average range (It should be noted that the $charge for creating the bolero was not her only cost for that accessory, as she had also needed to order two yards of lace for Fariba to make the bolero from – that $cost is listed on her Bella Rosa customer receipt, attached.) 2) As stated above, Bella Rosa has no vested interest in artificially increasing alteration bills by intentionally mis-measuring customers We provide no alterations services and only host an outside tailor in our salon for our customer’s convenience Further, many customers have alterations performed elsewhere as their circumstances dictate, particularly out-of-town customers Reviewing the measurements and orders of the four bridesmaids in question (order forms attached), we see that three of them aligned closely with standard sizes from the designer (less than a half inch in any dimension) though the fourth acknowledged ordering a gown much smaller than her measurements stating that she “just had a baby” and planned to fit into the smaller size by the time the dress arrived Two of these customers were measured by our staff, and two sets of measurements were provided to us to by the customers (meaning we cannot vouch for their accuracy.) Nearly any bridesmaid’s gown needs at least a small degree of tailoring for a “perfect fit” unless the customer just happens to have dimensions identical to the size chart Our standard “Special Order Agreement” which each customer signs contains a similar statement regarding average alterations costs, listing the average for bridesmaids dresses as $to $ The only bridesmaid in this party who has visited our salon to try on her gown expressed clearly very delight and satisfaction with the fit of her dress, only to complain three weeks later of it being too tight We would be pleased to have the others visit us as well to allow us to see the fit of their dresses Thank you again for this opportunity and we hope it helps to resolve the situation! Sincerely,

Dear friends,
sans-serif;">Thank you for the opportunity For Bella Rosa Bridal to publicly respond to our customer’s complaint in your Case #[redacted].  We are well aware of her stated dissatisfaction and regret that our efforts so far to help her understand the bridal alterations process have failed.  Perhaps this step will help clarify the situation.
Her complaint falls into two parts:  first, that the alterations on her gown cost more than were estimated; and second, that her bridesmaids were intentionally mis-measured by us so that they would incur higher alterations costs.  We’ll address both of these parts in turn.
1)    Our standard Bridal Gown Purchase Agreement (this customer’s copy of which is attached for reference) clearly states that the cost of bridal gown alterations average between $350 and $550 and that actual costs vary due to unique features of some gowns.  We even take care to draw each customer’s attention to this line by having them acknowledge it with their initials nearby.  That paragraph also stipulates that alterations services are not provided by us but rather by an outside company in whose sales, incidentally, we have no vested interest. Further, both of these points are reiterated on the register receipt that each customer signs at the point of sale (also attached.)
In the alteration order provided by [redacted] (also attached) it is clear that while the total for the customer’s services totaled $740.00, $250.00 of that total was for a custom-made bolero jacket accessory that is separate from the gown alterations. Thus, her total gown alterations cost $490.00, well within the average range.  Further, much of the alterations order could be considered purely elective gown customization rather than alteration (tapering the hips and taking in the skirt darts for a closer fit, for example) such than her basic alterations bill would have been even lower than average.  Regardless, even with extensive gown customization her actual alterations bill was within the average range and only her custom-made bolero jacket put the total cost outside the average range.  (It should be noted that the $250.00 charge for creating the bolero was not her only cost for that accessory, as she had also needed to order two yards of lace for Fariba to make the bolero from – that $270.00 cost is listed on her Bella Rosa customer receipt, attached.)
2)    As stated above, Bella Rosa has no vested interest in artificially increasing alteration bills by intentionally mis-measuring customers.  We provide no alterations services and only host an outside tailor in our salon for our customer’s convenience.  Further, many customers have alterations performed elsewhere as their circumstances dictate, particularly out-of-town customers. 
Reviewing the measurements and orders of the four bridesmaids in question (order forms attached), we see that three of them aligned closely with standard sizes from the designer (less than a half inch in any dimension) though the fourth acknowledged ordering a gown much smaller than her measurements stating that she “just had a baby” and planned to fit into the smaller size by the time the dress arrived.  Two of these customers were measured by our staff, and two sets of measurements were provided to us to by the customers (meaning we cannot vouch for their accuracy.)
Nearly any bridesmaid’s gown needs at least a small degree of tailoring for a “perfect fit” unless the customer just happens to have dimensions identical to the size chart.  Our standard “Special Order Agreement” which each customer signs contains a similar statement regarding average alterations costs, listing the average for bridesmaids dresses as $75 to $150.  The only bridesmaid in this party who has visited our salon to try on her gown expressed clearly very delight and satisfaction with the fit of her dress, only to complain three weeks later of it being too tight.  We would be pleased to have the others visit us as well to allow us to see the fit of their dresses. 
Thank you again for this opportunity and we hope it helps to resolve the situation!
Sincerely,