Bargain shopping on the Internet can lead to problems that you didn’t bargain for! What do you do if the dress comes in the wrong size? What if it is defective or looks worn? What if it is delivered after your wedding date or if your “designer” gown doesn’t have the designer name?
Some designers warn that their gowns are being copied in inferior fabrics with inferior workmanship and their names are being used in ways that fall just short of being illegal. As a result, the bride who is excited about having, for instance, a Maggie Sottero gown, will get delivered a shoddy knock-off.
The number of counterfeit gowns on the market is rising. They are being offered on websites, in web auctions and even in unauthorized retail locations. Some suppliers from the Far East claim they produce genuine products, but they have no connection to the brand names.
The web ads often suggest that their business is a retail store when they really operate out of their home, through a P.O. box or out of the back of their car! Many established designers, on their website, warn browsers that their gowns are not available online and to deal only with long-established retail stores.
Bottom Line: Why risk it? Imagine opening the parcel and seeing a shoddy knockoff that you didn’t even get to try on.
