|
Q. Should I be concerned about buying my wedding dress over the internet?
A. Yes and No. You should be concerned about buying your wedding dress over the internet if you are dealing with a website that is displaying pirated designer dress photos and selling cheap knock-offs.
If you purchase your wedding dress from overseas and: it doesn't turn up, looks nothing like the one in the display photo, or, the dress is really bad quality, there is very little you can do about it. Australian consumer protection laws do not apply in other countries and do not protect Australians who purchase goods from overseas websites.
You can expect nothing but trouble from websites that publish photos of designer dresses without permission from the original manufacturer. You will not receive a quality dress for $200 when the original designer dress sells for $3,000 in the shops. A .com.au domain name does not necessarily mean you are dealing with an Australian based business. There are quite a few sweatshops based overseas that have started up wedding dress websites with a .com.au domain name. They are sweatshops based overseas, using pirated photos, and selling cheap knock offs = lots of disappointed Australian brides who are left high and dry without a wedding dress 2 weeks out from their wedding day.
All Australian retailers must abide by the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, formerly known as the Trade Practices Act 1974. Customers who purchase items from the Wedding Dress Express website, have the same rights and remedies as any other customer who deals with any other retail store in Australia.
Wedding Dress Express is 100% Australian owned, managed and hosted and based in Carindale, Brisbane. We unconditionally guarantee that all products displayed on the Wedding Dress Express website are sourced from the original manufacturers of those products. We are authorised online retailers for several manufacturers whose products we sell, such as all the ready to wear dresses, shoes, veils, clutch bags, jewellery and lingerie. We have full copyright permission from these manufacturers to publish their product images and we comply with their retailer guidelines. We unconditionally guarantee that every product photo on the Wedding Dress Express website is published with permission from the original manufacturer and that all the products we sell are 100% authentic.
Q. Why are your prices so low?
A. Our prices are low because of our business strategy, not because of our quality. We are an internet store and we deal directly with manufacturers. We don't have a bricks and mortar retail shop on purpose. This means we don't pay heavy operating overheads paid by traditional bridal shops, such as shop rents, staff wages, sales commissions, advertising and inventory. We don't invest in expensive advertising campaigns. Most of our business comes from word of mouth referrals from our existing customers, Google and via Wedding Dress Express page on Facebook. We pass all of these savings directly to our customers through reduced retail prices. This means you can save hundreds, if not thousands, on the cost of your outfit, just by buying online from Wedding Dress Express. This is the very issue fuelling the "Bricks Vs Clicks" debate amongst Australian retailers. Retailers with physical shopfronts have so many overheads, they find it very difficult to compete with online retailers such as Wedding Dress Express.
Q. What's the difference between Ready To Wear, Made to Order and Made to Measure dresses?
A. Ready to wear dresses are mass produced and are already made before you order. Delivery on our ready to wear dresses is 2-3 weeks from the day you order, so they're great for customers who are in a hurry or just want to keep things simple. All of our ready to wear dresses can be found in the Ready to Wear sections on the website. You will know if you are looking at a ready to wear dress because the size chart will appear next to the dress on its product details page. Ready to wear dresses are available in standard sizes and in fabric colours pre-determined by the manufacturer. All the ready to wear dresses on the website are original designs and we order these dresses from the original manufacturer of the garment. We are unable to provide fabric swatches, perform alterations, or offer these dresses in any other colour than that specified on the product details page.
Apart from the ready to wear dresses, all of the other dresses shown on our website are Made to Order. This means that the design of the dress in the picture is standard, and we can customise the design to suit your measurements and colour preferences. We make your dress in our workroom from scratch after you order it. The design of the dress you will receive is exactly as it is shown in the pictures on our website. We then make your dress to your measurements and in the fabric colour that you want. Small modifications can be made to the dress style at the time you place your order eg. If you don't want the long train shown in the picture, we can make your dress floor length; or you may wish to add straps or cap sleeves to a strapless gown. We are happy to make minor design changes like this for our customers at no extra charge - we just ask that you specify these changes at the time you place your order. Your dress will be made to the body measurements supplied to us, and any other specifications you make with regard to fabric colour or style will be accommodated as much as possible. Delivery is 4-6 weeks on made to order dresses. Delivery on some made to order wedding dresses in <$900 collection is 12 weeks, so please check the product details page or contact us before ordering if you are unsure.
Made to measure dresses are created in our Bridal Design Studio, where 'your design is our design'. The designs can be your own creation, inspired by a designer dress or a combination of 2 or 3 dresses. This is where our customer's dream dresses are turned into reality, hence we say this is where "your wedding dreams will come true". Each dress is costed out individually and our customers are given a written quote before work begins. Our Bridal Design Studio is rather like an online dressmaking service. No personal consultations or fittings are offered because we are an online store.
Price guide: Ready to Wear Dresses $198 to $500; Made to Order Dresses $450 to $990; Made to Measure Dresses $500 upwards dependent upon the design.
Q. So what can I expect for $790 instead of $2,000?
A. Your dress will be brand new, custom-made and soundly constructed, fully lined with finished seams and hand-finished beadwork. You should also expect the appropriate amount of foundation layer construction, like boning, proper facings and linings. Your dress will be made to your specifications and with a high level of craftsmanship.
Q. When can I expect my dress to arrive?
A. Delivery on all Made to Order dresses is 4-6 weeks, and Made to Measure dresses are 6-8 weeks (from the day your order specifications are received). Shipments to other countries may take longer. We strongly recommend that you order your dress from us no less than 8 weeks prior to your wedding day or event, and 12 weeks if you live outside Australia. Delivery on all ready to wear dresses and accessories such as Bridal Headwear, Shoes and Clutches, Jewellery and Lingerie is 2-3 weeks. Delivery on some wedding dresses in the <$900 collection is 12 weeks. Please check the product details page or contact us via email if you are unsure.
Q. What about shipping?
A. All prices include standard shipping via Australia Post within Australia. Within Australia, we ship all packages via registered post. Australia Post will require your signature and ID to deliver your package. If no-one is home, the postman will leave a calling card and you can collect the package from your nearest Australia Post office. Express delivery via Express Post or Platinum Express Post is available and will incur extra charges. Shipping to other overseas destinations will incur extra charges, and may also involve customs duties and taxes. Customers are responsible for paying these costs. If you are located outside Australia, please contact us via email to info@WeddingDressExpress.com.au for a price estimate for shipping to your country.
Q. What happens if my packages arrive damaged?
A. All goods are inspected and then packed securely prior to shipping to our customers. In the unlikely event that your goods are damaged in transit, you will need to notify us of the problem by email within 48 hours of receiving the goods with photographs of the damage attached. We can then resolve the situation for you as soon as possible with either replacement goods, an exchange or refund. Please refer to the Purchase Terms & Conditions on this website for the steps to take when returning goods to Wedding Dress Express.
Q. If I want to make slight changes to your designs, is there an extra fee?
A. There are no extra fees for minor changes to any of our Made to Order dresses. Any changes you wish to make are subject to our prior written approval, so you will need to contact us by email before ordering. Minor changes include choosing a zipper or corset closure, adding straps or cap sleeves to a strapless gown, deleting or shortening a train, deleting embellishments such as flowers. Changes or alterations cannot be made to any of the ready to wear dresses.
Q. I am a larger bride being size 20+. Do you make plus size wedding dresses?
A. Yes, all of our wedding dresses are custom-measured to fit any sized bride including plus sizes for the same standard price. It does not matter if you are plus sized or petite, we will make you dress to the body measurements you provide on your order.
Q. Do I need a PayPal account to order from Wedding Dress Express?
A. No.
Q. Do you have Lay-by?
A. Yes! Our no deposit layby is very popular for brides who want to budget for their wedding outfits on an ongoing basis! Please refer to the Lay-by section on our website for details. There's no deposit, no fees, no interest, no debt, and no worries! Take up to 12 months to complete your layby for your wedding day outfit or bridal package, or 10 weeks prior to your wedding date, whichever happens sooner. We've set up layby to help our customers budget for their weddings.
Q. Is there anywhere I can try the dresses on?
A. No. Wedding Dress Express is Australia's leading online bridal and special occasions store and operates purely on an internet/mail order basis. Wedding Dress Express does not have a physical retail shopfront on purpose, and this is the main reason why our products are so affordable. We don't pay expensive shop rents, and we pass these savings on to our customers. Because we are an online store, we are unable to offer our customers any in-person services such as fittings or consultations because we do not have a physical retail space. We do not supply any retailers with our goods.
Q. What about exchanges, replacements and refunds?
A. Wedding Dress Express follows the guidelines in the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 of Australia for all purchases, irrespective of the country in which the customer resides. The conditions outlined below do not affect the Buyer's statutory rights if the Buyer resides in Australia. Customers are responsible for reading the Purchase Terms & Conditions on this website, which applies to all purchases made from Wedding Dress Express, and is accessible from every page on the Wedding Dress Express website.The purchase of goods from Wedding Dress Express signifies the Buyer acceptance of the Purchase Terms & Conditions as the conditions of their purchase. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not buy any goods from Wedding Dress Express.
Standard goods: Standard goods are non-customised items and are considered "off the shelf" or "off the rack" items eg. ready to wear dresses, headwear, lingerie, jewellery, shoes, clutch bags and veils. Customers are entitled to an exchange, replacement or refund if the standard goods they receive are defective/damaged or do not comply with the specifications of the Buyer's order.
Custom made and customised goods: Custom made goods include "Made to Order" and "Made to Measure" garments and any other custom made goods eg. custom made veils, that have been custom made to the Buyer's specifications and/or measurements. Customised goods are standard goods that have been customised to the Buyer's specifications eg. shoes/clutch bags that have been dyed to a colour of the Buyer's choice, non-standard or coloured veils, and coloured rhinestone headpieces. If you receive damaged/defective custom made or customised goods, a replacement or exchange of the goods will be offered. Refunds on custom made and customised goods are only offered at management's discretion eg. A faulty zipper or loose thread on an elaborate custom made wedding gown is not considered sufficient grounds for a refund. Management will consider each case individually, and will work with the customer to resolve and remedy any problem situations that may arise. Customers are responsble for providing Wedding Dress Express with accurate measurements and specifications for custom made and customised goods. Wedding Dress Express does not manufacture, nor guarantee, that any custom made dresses created from photos or pictures supplied by the customer, will be exact replicas of the dresses depicted in those photos. Whilst we will follow the original design and the customer's instructions as closely as possible, it is probable that slight variations will result in the finished garment eg. a different lace or embroidery pattern.
All goods are inspected for damage/defects prior to shipment and we do not intentionally dispatch damaged/defective goods to our customers. If you receive any goods from us that are damaged/defective or if the goods do not comply with the specifications of your order, please send us an email explaining the problem within 48 hours of receipt of the goods, with photographs of the problem, so that our staff can see the problem clearly and resolve the matter quickly. All notifications received are attended to and resolved on an individual basis. No exchanges, replacements or refunds will be considered if notification is not received within 48 hours of receipt of the goods, or if the goods have been worn or show evidence of wear. Returns will not be accepted without a Return Authorisation Number. Customers are responsible for the cost and ensuring the safe return of goods to Wedding Dress Express.
If you order any item from Wedding Dress Express which for some reason has become unavailable and your order cannot be fulfilled within a reasonable timeframe, you are entitled to a replacement item of equal value or a refund. In line with prevailing Australian consumer legislation, Wedding Dress Express does not offer exchanges, replacements or refunds on ANY goods if you simply change your mind, find a similar product cheaper elsewhere, get pregnant, cancel your wedding, or for any other reason. There are no exceptions. Please choose carefully as all sales are final, and subject to the conditions outlined above and in the Purchase Terms & Conditions Policy. Please refer to our Purchase Terms & Conditions Policy on this website or contact us for more information. Please send any enquiries to info@weddingdressexpress.com.au and we will happily answer your questions.
|
