Buying a wedding dress is a big purchase and a once in a lifetime event. Many brides end up getting ripped off online or with a dress that is way past its shipping date or looks nothing like the one they pictured.
The first tip is to only buy from local sellers and reputable payment apps, such as PayPal.
Winsome Brides offers wedding dress services in San Diego, featuring a wide selection of bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, and accessories. They provide personalized consultations to help brides find their perfect dress.
1. Read Reviews
Buying the perfect dress for your special day is an exciting prospect. Brides often spend a lot of time perusing the internet looking for that traditional long sleeve, low back, lace dress they’ve dreamed about for years. They order it and wait eagerly for it to arrive only to find that what they got in the mail doesn’t even come close to what they expected.
Luckily, these scams can be avoided by being diligent online and following a few key tips. The first thing you should do before hitting the “buy” button is read reviews! If you see a lot of negative or none at all, it may be worth looking elsewhere. Also, don’t trust sellers who ask for your wedding date as that is a major red flag.
2. Read the Return Policy
Online wedding dress consignment sites are popular among brides, but some are not so reputable. Read consumer reviews to find out if the site you are considering is trustworthy.
Also look for a return policy. It’s important to know that if the dress doesn’t fit or isn’t what you expected, you can return it.
Avoid the shady sellers who claim to sell designer gowns at bargain prices. These crooks typically take advantage of brides-to-be by selling cheap knock-off dresses that don’t even resemble the designers’ original photos. In some cases, the dresses never arrive at all. Buyers can also get ripped off by fraudulent check writers. Make sure to only accept a form of payment that you can trace (like PayPal).
3. Read the Shipping Information
Preparing for a wedding can be stressful enough without worrying about getting ripped off while buying your dream dress. One of the most common dress scams involves fly-by-night companies that don’t deliver a gown, or send something that looks nothing like the photo posted online.
These companies usually ask the bride to deposit a check that’s written for more than what was agreed upon during the purchase process. Then, they take the extra money and disappear.
Other scams include fraudulent buyers who encourage a seller to rush the purchase and ask for personal information that’s not necessary for the transaction. This way, they can steal the bride’s identity or run off with her wedding-related cash. To stay safe, a bride should only shop with sites that offer secure payment methods.
4. Read the Terms of Service
Online shopping for a wedding dress allows brides to avoid unwanted guidance from friends, family and pushy bridal shop salespeople. This allows for a clear-headed purchase that makes sense for your budget and preferences.
However, this freedom can also lead to a number of scams that take advantage of unsuspecting brides. Some of these scams include selling fake designer gowns or cheap knock-off dresses that look nothing like the photos posted online.
Buyers should also be wary of sellers who list their shipping dates as ‘to-be-determined.’ This can be a sign that the seller will pad the delivery date to give themselves more time to take your money and send you a dress that doesn’t live up to expectations. Instead, buyers should aim for a delivery date that is well in advance of their travel dates for the big day.
5. Read the FAQs
Getting ripped off for your wedding dress is the last thing any bride wants to go through. Luckily, there are some big red flags to watch out for when shopping online.
For example, if a price is too good to be true, it almost always is. Many scams involve fake designer dresses that look nothing like the original picture posted online. Other scams involve bounced checks and people trying to steal personal information.
Also, check out whether the website has a phone number you can call to talk about dress details. If they don’t have a phone number, or it is difficult to get in touch with someone about dress-related issues, that’s a huge warning sign. Also, read their FAQs to find out if they have any hidden costs, such as shipping and alterations.