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Frequently Asked Questions Please find
below a list of commonly asked questions, if you do
not see your question listed please email
us. ARE YOU AN
ONLINE STORE ONLY? YES, we offer
discounted high quality custom made gowns. Buying
direct from the manufacturer and low overheads allows us to
pass the savings directly onto you.
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DO YOU HAVE A RETAIL
STORE?
Now that we are exclusively an online store we are
proud to bring our customers the same high quality gowns
at the prices that you can afford. We pride ourselves on
first class customer service where help from a human is just a
phone call away. We also do not have a showroom, all of our
gowns are made to order and we do not hold any stock (apart
from last minute and clearance dresses), so we do not
have he facility for customers to try gowns on. We
support you from the purchase, production and delivery of you
gown. We are more than
happy to discuss styles with you and can also send you colour
samples to help you choose the right colour for your very
special day.
We
are an USA business based in CA.
Why would I buy a gown online
when I can purchase one from a store?
We
understand that buying online is not for everyone, and some do
prefer the whole bridal boutique experience, however you can
rest assured that our gowns are very high quality and some are
quite unique which you may not be able to find in other
stores. We also find that our customers refuse
to pay full retail for a dress that they can purchase online
at a fraction of the cost. We offer customers the
ability to choose from a great selection of gowns, where they
can choose their own style and colour. As your prices
are discounted, does this mean that the quality of the gowns
will be less?
Definately not!!! As a test we
recently had a range of our gowns in a very expensive boutique
in CA, to see if the customers could tell the difference
between a designer gown and our custom made gowns, and
the outcome was that they could not!
These
gowns were selling at full retail in this
boutique. So you can rest assured that
these gowns are of high quality. I have seen
gowns similar to yours on other online stores/auction
sites that are only $100, so why would I buy from
you? We have seen these as well, and as a test
we brought some gowns in to see what the quality would be like
and to be honest it wasn't good! The gowns looked nothing like
the pictures, the colours were wrong and the quality wasn't
very good. We are not saying that all manufacturers are
bad, however we have received many complaints from customers
who have purchased a gown from online auction sites
overseas. We also found that the customer service was
terrible and no-one would get back to us or refund our
money. Also prior to our online store we ran a
boutique which specialised in bridal and evening wear so this
has helped us recognise the best fabrics, beading and quality
required for a high quality gown. We also offer you
excellent customer service, we want you to be extremely happy
with your gown, as we know that your wedding, formal or
special event is very important to you. I am still really nervous about
purchasing online as I have had a bad experience with another
on-line store. Do you have a returns policy on your
gowns? We understand that you would be anxious
purchasing online. We offer a full refund on any gown
that is faulty or has been damaged from the manufacturer, you
receive the wrong colour that was ordered or wrong standard
size that was ordered. All gowns are delivered to our
premises first so that we are able to make sure that the gowns
are in perfect condition and exactly as you ordered.
Once the gown has passed our inspection we will then send it
on to you. Some companies choose to have the gown sent
directly to you, however we feel it necessary to check the
gown/s first before we send it onto you. Are your gowns
in stock? No, all of our gowns are made to
order, with over 1500 designs it is impossible for us to
have every colour and size in stock. Your gown is made
from scratch and is brand new! We offer standard sizing and
custom sizing.
Custom sizing is for free.
Are your prices in USD Dollars?
Yes, all gowns are in
USD Dollars. What type of
payments do you accept? We accept payment via
credit card (visa and mastercard only), Paypal or Direct
Deposit. What guarantees do you
offer? We guarantee that you will receive the gown that
you ordered, in the size and colour that your ordered.
If for any reason you do receive the wrong size (standard) or
colour that you ordered your payment will be refunded or
another dress will be made if there is time. For custom
sizing we guarantee to make the gown exactly to the
measurements that you provide us, if for any reason the dress
has not been made to your specifications your dress will be
remade or a full refund will apply (this does not apply if you have taken your
measurements incorrectly and the gown does not fit you, that
is why we recommend that you have your measurements taken by a
professional). We will not
willingly send you a gown with any manufacturing fault as
all gowns are strictly checked, images of all gowns are taken
before leaving our premises.
When will
I receive my gown?
Bridal Gowns take
approximately 3-4 weeks to be made and delivered, however
please note that this is just a guide, we cannot guarantee a
delivery date due to conditions out of control such as
shipping companies, couriers etc. Bridesmaids and some
Evening Dresses are usually quicker than this which is
around 3 weeks. However please note that this is
to be used as a guide only, we highly recommend that you allow
yourself ample time before your special occasion, this is less
stressful for everyone involved.
Once I have placed my order, will you let me
know how production is going? Due to the
large volume of customers and dresses we are unable to contact
every customer during the production, however you are more
than welcome to contact us at any time to ask how your
dress is going, simply send us an email to shackspare@hotmail.com. We will however let you know when your dress is
ready. How can I
track my gown once it has been sent?
Your gown will be sent to you via UPS company,
We will send you the tracking number once your
order has been sent
When should I
order my gown?
We highly recommend that your
order your gown as soon as possible, delivery takes
approximately 3-4 weeks for bridal gowns, however you are
best to order at least 5 weeks in advance, so that this
will give you plenty of time before your wedding.
Bridesmaids/some Formal Dresses/Flower Girls/Mother of the
Bride Dresses take approximately 3-4 weeks to be made, we
also recommend that you allow at least 1 months prior to
ordering for these dresses.
Will I need to have my gown pressed after I
have received it? We recommend
that you hang your gown straight away as some creases do fall
out, if the don't then it is most likely that the gown will
need to be pressed/steamed by a professional, the creases
are caused from the gowns being packed for delivery. The
gowns are packed with the utmost care. If I order a made to measure gown will I still
need to have alterations done? Most of the
time no, however this will just depend on the style of the
dress, sometimes you may need to just alter the length of a
strap for example. If you have not supplied us with the
correct measurements you may need to alter the
gown. Do you do
alterations? No we do not do
alterations. I am in desperate need of a gown,
is there anyway an urgent order can be rushed
through? We do have very
limited gowns in stock, our manufacturer also has some
gowns in stock which we can express ship to you, please
contact us for further details. How do I work out my size?
We use
an standard USA Size Chart, however your gown size can
be very different to your regular clothes size.
Our
gown manufacturer uses a slightly different sizing
method.
Measure your bust, waist and hips then
compare them to the USA size chart. If you are in
between two sizes we highly recommend that you choose the
larger size, as it is easier to take a gown in rather
than let it out.
You
must choose very carefully as if you pick the wrong size and
it does not fit your your dress is non
refundable. If you are still having trouble
please email us at shackspare@hotmail.com
and we will help select a size for you. Another option is
that you choose a gown with a corset back, this will give you
4-5 inches to play with by pulling the ties in or out.
Most dresses can be made with a corset back. Gowns are also
available in custom made to measure, we
highly recommend that you have your measurements taken by a
professional such as a seamstress or dressmaker as your gown
will be made exactly to the measurements that you provide
us. If you would like a custom form please email
or call us. I want to loose more weight before my wedding,
should I purchase a dress that is a size
smaller? No, we
do not recommend purchasing a dress that is smaller than your
current size, we recommend that you choose a corset back
so that if you do loose weight you can adjust the size by 4-5
inches.
I still can't decide on a colour, are you able
to send me some colour samples? Yes we can
send you satin colour samples, please email us at shackspare@hotmail.com
to request your required colours. How do I place an
order online? Simply select the style, colour and whether you
would like a standard or custom size.
Made to
measure custom sizing will for free.
after you have placed
your order we will contact you to confirm all of your
details. After placing an order online, when is my
payment due? Your payment will be due within 5 working
days, obviously your order will not be placed until we receive
full payment. If payment has not been made within 5
days your order will be automatically
cancelled. How do I place an order online for more than one
gown? If it is a multiple order for the same
gown such as Bridesmaids dresses simply add the gowns one at a
time, choose the size and colour then add to cart, then
continue shopping and add another gown until you have the
number that your require. We often run specials where
discounts are received for multiple gowns, your discount will
not show automatically, we will contact you once you have
ordered to advise you of the discout. If you would
prefer you can also email you order to us and we can simply
generate an invoice for you. I have placed an order online so what happens
next? After we receive your order we will email
you to confirm your correct style, colour, measurements
etc.
You can expect to receive your gown within
4 weeks (bridesmaids gowns and some evening dresses and
usually quicker than this, 3-4 weeks).
I would like to place an order but would rather
you invoice me first with my total which includes my gown,
shipping and custom measurements? Simply
email us with your order requirements and we will invoice you,
alternatively place your order online and select the "no
payment method" and we will then invoice
you. Can I
order a gown over the phone?
Yes , please
call us on 001-408-636-8266 during business hours (Monday to
Friday, 9am-5pm ), please note that as we receive
over 200 enquiries a day it is quite possible
that we could be attending to another customer,
please just leave your name and number and we will get back to
you as soon as possible.
What are your customer service
hours? Our customer
service via phone is available Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm,
we receive over 200 enquiries per day both over the phone and
via email. Sometimes it may be difficult to get through to
us via phone as all lines are busy, please leave us a message
and we will get back to you asap. Where are
you based?
We are an online store based in
CA,USA.
Do you accept
returns? Yes we do under certain conditions,
please read our Return Policy for further details. We do
not accept returns if you do not like the style of your
gown, only if there is a manufacturing fault or a wrong
size/colour made by the manufacturer. Please choose your
style very carefully to make sure that this is the design that
you really want. I have received my gown and have realised that I
have taken my hollow to hem measurement wrong and it is
way too short, what do I do? The only time
a gown is way too short is when you have taken your
measurements incorrectly. You will need to have the gown
altered by a dressmaker, we can supply you with some extra
material to help you (the material charge is per
meter) Are your gowns
a designer label? No, our gowns are high quality
generic styles and are custom made to
order. I have a gown in mind that I cannot find on your
site, can a custom design be made for
me? Our
portfolio contains over 1500 gowns so we suggest that
customers send us a picture of a gown that they have in mind
and we will then try and match it for you. We are also
able to make a custom gown for you however this does incur
additional charges as a new pattern needs to be
created. Please note that we will make every
effort to make the gown as close to your photos as
possible, however please bear in mind that due to
copyright restrictions there may be slight variations which
are usually undetectable. Do you offer
custom made to measure sizes?
Yes you can choose
to have a standard size or custom size. Custom sizes are free for all gowns.
If you would like to add
this service to your order, simply purchase this service by
selecting the custom sizing option in the navigation bar, this
will allow you to add this service to your shopping cart.
Please note if you are shorter or taller you may require a
custom size as most dresses come in a standard hollow to hem
measurement of 58". It is
up to you which one you would prefer, if your measurements are
closer to a standard size then that is fine, however if your
measurements are quite different, e.g a pear shape then a
custom size may be better suited to you. Please note that a custom sized gown will be
made to your exact measurements. You will be responsible
for the measurements that you provide us, these will be used
to manufacture your gown. Please note that as we are not
present to take your measurements we cannot be responsible for
errors made in the measurements that you provide us. We
highly recommend that you have a professional such as a
seamstress take the measurements for you. If you do not
have access to a seamstress then we suggest a family member or
friend, DO NOT TAKE YOUR OWN MEASUREMENTS BY
YOURSELF!! Tips: Use a vinyl tape measure - not fabric as
these stretch over time.
What measurements are required for custom
sizes? There
are quite a few measurements required for a custom made gown,
please visit our made to measure link for more details. We
can make any size in custom made. What sizes do the gowns come in for the standard
size?
US 0-26
If
you require another size we suggest using the custom made
service. Why is it that when I measure myself that I seem
to be a size bigger than my normal clothes
size? Don't despair! Gown sizes
are sometimes different to your normal clothes size. What are your
shipping charges?
We run free shipping worldwide!
For international rates please email
us at shackspare@hotmail.com What is better a corset style back or a
zipper? We highly recommend a corset back where
possible, this allows you to alter the size and also helps if
you have choosen the incorrect size or had your
measurements taken incorrectly. If a gown is pictured with a corset back can I
have a zipper back instead and vice versa?
Yes,
you can change the back no additional fees needed.
Can I make any changes to a
gown? Depending on how much needs to be
changed it may cost extra, if there are too many changes to
the design this may not be possible. Prices
depend on the detail of the change. Please email us to
find out details about making changes shackspare@hotmail.com I have seen a gown I really like, however it is
made in Chiffon, can I have it made in
satin? Yes
we can make just about any change! What fabric and beading do you
use? Our manufacturer uses high quality
satin, chiffon, organza and taffeta. Beading
consists of swarovski crystal, czech diamonds, bugle, seed and
matsuno beading and high quality sequins. Can
you make size alterations for me? No, you
will need to have a professional seamstress alter the gown for
you if necessary.
I have received my gown and it doesn't
fit, what do I do? This
may mean that you have chosen the incorrect standard size or
had your measurements taken incorrectly, if this is the
case you will need to have your dress altered at your own
expense.If you feel that the dress has been made too small
due to incorrect sizing or custom measurements being
made incorrectly you will need to send the dress back to our
office so that we can check the dress. If we find a fault
from our manufacturer the returns/refund policy will
apply. If we find that the measurements are
correct the dress will be sent back to
you. What gown style suits my
figure? A-Line/Princess - A-line
dresses are fitted around the bodice and flow outward to the
ground, resembling the shape of an uppercase A. There is no
marked waist or other cuts in the structure of the gown.
A-line gowns can be short (above the knee) or flow all the way
to the ground and include a long train. A-line dresses are
ideal for many body types. The long, continuous lines elongate
a shorter bride. The A-line skirt slims and hides a heavier
lower body. Ball Gowns
- Ball gowns will remind you of fairy tales. The bodice
is fitted and the skirt is very full. These
type of gowns are very formal. Ball gowns come with a variety
of different necklines and sleeve lengths - including
sleeveless. Ball gowns can be worn with or without a
train. Ball gowns are best for slender figures or
pear-shapes, as the full skirt hides large hips and
thighs.
Column (Sheath) - The column wedding dress has a very
slim shape that flows straight down from neckline to
hemline. These type of gowns are normally floor length and
can be worn at casual or extravagant weddings, depending on
the fabric. Column gowns are best for thin brides. The
straight design does not allow to hide many body flaws. This
kind of dress looks especially nice on short, lean women, as
it elongates their silhouette.
Empire -
The empire
gown has a raised waistline that begins right below the bust.
From there, the dress flows toward outward to the floor.
Traditionally, the empire dress has a square neckline. This
design is very versatile and comes in a variety of skirt
styles from contouring to A-shape. Sleeves vary from
sleeveless to flowing, bell styles. Empire dresses can be
worn at outdoor, casual weddings, as well as fancy church
affairs. Though it is nice for any body type, the empire gown
is especially fitting for small breasted women.
Mermaid/Fishtail
- The mermaid dress looks exactly as the
name indicates. The dress is contoured against the body all
the way to the knee. Then the gown flares out to the
hem. This style is considered the sexiest of the five basic
wedding gown types. Because it hugs the body, you must be very
confident to wear this style. The mermaid gown is normally
worn by slender women. However if you love your curvy figure
and want to flaunt it, this dress may be for you. | |
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