Thread: Custom Orders - When Things Go Wrong

Arrrggghhhhhhhhhhh. Why is this so hard?

And why don't the vendors (I'm thinking of one in particular, ahem, also featured in the Swap Meet today) work harder to assure their customers get what they ordered? Why aren't things checked immediately and if they aren't as ordered and as pictured on the site, why isn't the customer notified RIGHT AWAY, sent photos, offered options? No customer should be obliged to eat hundreds and hundreds of dollars and accept a costume that isn't made to spec, period!

Note we are not talking inexpensive stuff here. In my case it was a Turkish outfit costing close to $900. It looked all wrong, like a cheap knockoff, and also, I didn't even know it had arrived (months after ordering) until I called them, then I was informed a fringe was missing from the bra; so I said ok fix it; months LATER, no fringe; their solution was to hang a bright silver, straight, cheap looking band of prefabbed fringe - instead of looking classy and rich it looked kind of like a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader outfit.

So, I refused the order because it was all wrong, wrong color, wrong fabric, missing fringe, beadwork didn't resemble outfit ordered - ETC - did get a refund less a certain amount - after my $ was tied up for months and I passed on other opportunities/didn't order/make something else in the meantime - and was immediately defriended on Facebook, thus adding insult to injury

(which is a REALLY stupid business idea by the way - you screw up an order then blame the customer? Great way to make friends lady. Just so you know I won't be spending any more money on YOU. And, people have telephones so we can call Bella, Sim Moda, etc. all by ourselves plus, we have NEEDLES.)

Anyway, if a costume DOESN'T FIT, is the wrong color, the beadwork doesn't begin to resemble the design on the site, etc etc etc, it is not the customer's fault. And YOU should be working overtime to make sure things are made RIGHT.

Just sayin'.

who was the vendor if I may ask?

What a horrid experience to go through.

Was the design their own? If so did they should have told you that they couldnt replicate it. I make costumes to order myself, I dont promise exact copies of my own designs because the chances of finding the same fabrics and beads is just about impossible.


Alibelly tribal fusion bellydance & bellydance costume

i think i know what designer you're talking about...but i've only heard good things about them. that sucks that it didn't work out for you :-(
all that money and time spent waiting. ugh!

Sorry this has happened to you. May I ask who the vendor is?

Also - you may get more feedback and assistance if you put this thread in the Vendor/Buyer Concerns area

be careful..a prickly vendor may throw slander charges at you, even if they are in the wrong..it's why i didn't post the name of vendor i had 'issues with in biz of bellydance

but i empathize with you, I've only custom ordered one costume and it came out PERFECT but did take longer than expected.

I do believe in such cases the customer is always right..and vendors should do whatever is possible to make it right

as i am currently going thru my own issues...tho not as bad as that...i totalllyy understand where u are coming from

Thanks guys, I didn't want to name the vendor because a, I hate say anything bad about anybody, and b, heaven forbid I should get sued.

One shouldn't have to worry about this but oh well.

Anyway, maybe I'll cross post to vendor concerns.

Originally Posted by alibellySA

What a horrid experience to go through.

Was the design their own? If so did they should have told you that they couldnt replicate it. I make costumes to order myself, I dont promise exact copies of my own designs because the chances of finding the same fabrics and beads is just about impossible.


Alibelly tribal fusion bellydance & bellydance costume

Hi, no it wasn't their own, but it was advertised as being one you could order - and of course, as I make costumes too, I don't expect EXACT copies of anything - but - it oughta be in the ballpark.

And - THANK YOU for the link! It's nice to meet another person who sews!

Just FYI - I know who you are referring to, and there have been at least a couple of threads about others' problems getting correct and/or timely orders from this vendor. I'm one of them - won't order custom anymore. Bought an off-the-rack design at a festival - had it altered (alteration was "ok" but kind of sloppy and a bit shorter than what I wanted - sigh).

I more often just go to Bella for custom orders these days - she pretty much always hits the nail on the head.

oh, I know who you are talking about now

Originally Posted by Elibelinde

Hi, no it wasn't their own, but it was advertised as being one you could order - and of course, as I make costumes too, I don't expect EXACT copies of anything - but - it oughta be in the ballpark.

And - THANK YOU for the link! It's nice to meet another person who sews!

Yikes! Good to meet you too!
Well what a dissapointing experience. Maybe they thought that if they made you wait long enough youd just forget what you originally ordered.
Ive only just started taking on orders for out of town dancers, I was petrified Id mess it up because Id misunderstood them.

What an awful experience! Yours, and many other horror stories, and my experience with a wedding dress are big reasons why I won't even consider a custom order

Plus, I sew (a lot) and really enjoy making my own costumes. I know exactly what goes into making a costume.

It isn't hard to make a costume that matches written measurements exactly. I realize that it may be impossible to precisely match a specific shade or hue, but substituting a dramatically different color (ie, navy instead of ice blue) is unacceptable.

I'm the kind of person who doesn't mess around too long when things don't go right. I won't hesitate to have something taken off my charge card or file a complaint with the attorney general. When a vendor promises something in writing, they are required by law to provide it. Period.