The Controversy of Online Dress Shopping

Do you shop online for your formal wear dresses?

We understand that shopping online is convenient. You don't have to deal with the crowds or with sales people hassling you. Nothing is more relaxing than sitting in the comfort of your own home in your PJs, sipping a tasty hot chocoalte, while you browse through dress after dress until you find "the one." In an ideal world, after a few quick clicks the dress is purchased and will show up on your door step in time for your big event.

We know that many girls may choose to purchase their gown online. After all, we developed our website for all of our customers convenience, whether they live in Minnesota or across the country. If you are tempted to order a dress off of the internet we encourage you to be aware of who you are purchasing your dresses from.

First, is the site you are on a secure one? The worst case scenario when you are purchasing a product on an online is to find out your name, address, and credit card number have been shared with others. It can ruin your credit and is a big pain to try and clear up, so be sure you are on a legitimate and secure site. No "deal" is worth the time and energy it takes to deal with credit card or identity fraud!

Second, especially in the gown industry, is the fact that products may be falsified on websites. These websites will appear to have the same dresses you tried on in a retail (otherwise known as brick and mortar) store. The pictures, the designer names and the style number may seem identical. In reality they are not even close. It is common for manufacturers in China to take the designer photos post them on internet stores. The companies knock off great designer dresses using cheap material fake labels. Often times shoppers think they are getting the same dresses for a great price but when the dress is delivered they find the quality less than satisfactory.

Just the other day Mori Lee posted this on their facebook page:

When looking for a prom gown this year, make sure you are purchasing your gown through an authorized Mori Lee retailer! It has been brought to our attention that there are foreign websites claiming to sell Mori Lee gowns for less. These gowns are counterfeit. They are even using our pictures and descriptions on their websites. Going to a website where the retailer also has a store will reduce the chances of getting a counterfeit gown. So be aware of who you are purchasing from.

Third, the company you buy online from may not have the dress. Often times online retailers wait until the last minute to tell you that the item you have ordered is unavailable which leaves you with little to no time to find a new gown. We see a lot of customers who rush into our store (on Thursday when their prom is Saturday) to try and find a gown because theirs hasn't been delivered yet. When you purchase a gown through a brick and mortar store they will be able to tell you within one business day when your gown will be shipping.

Fourth, when you order a gown online frequently it is difficult or impossible to get in touch with customer service to help you if there are any issues. Imagine ordering a size 2 in purple and receiving size 22 in orange but not being able to contact anyone to fix the mistake! If you order your gown at an actual store, you are able to reach a helpful and knowledgeable sales consultant to help you when any issues arise.

GLITZ! prides ourselves on helping all customers find and order their dream dress whether they choose to shop with us online or at our store in Mall of America. Visit us today!