Thread: UPDATE: Just a b*tch

even though I have no one to blame but myself.
Why do I keep custom ordering costumes when they take forever.
I have 3 coming, and I *need*, (okay wanted) them by September 8th - however, it's August 19th, and they are maybe in this next shipment coming with Dahlal and Audrena, haven't found out yet.
I custom ordered all of them beginning of April. Arghhhh!

So then I go ahead and custom order another one from Dahlal, Oriental Originals French Quarter for New Years and Christmas/Holiday shows.....they said probably won't be in for 16 weeks, that's beginning of December, so I probably won't get it in time for New Years, let alone holiday season.

I've sold alot of my stock, and I turn around and re-invest in new. That's how I can get new custom orders.

Once I get the orders, they are usually, about 90% of the time, perfect, it's just frustrating, the wait......

Okay, vent over!!!!!!!

I custom ordered ONCE and it took too long and I wasn't even that thrilled with the results. I've learned now that I only buy in person or from Bhuzzers. Rakkasah is my big spendy spend time because I can see the costumes and try them on and take them home THAT day!

So frustrating to wait so long and know that the vendors are dealing with Egypt or Turkey (an entirely different cultural element going on--especially with regard to waiting for stuff) which means you just never KNOW.

I know, I know.....
It's all my fault, I go ahead and do it even though I know it's an exercise in frustration.
I don't get to Rakkasah often enough, and I really dance the heck out of my costumes, (luckily, and knock on wood) so I prefer new.
*sigh*
......back to waiting.........

The delicious temptation of new sparklies of the Dahlal and Audrena variety are very hard to resist!

Originally Posted by mish_mish

The delicious temptation of new sparklies of the Dahlal and Audrena variety are very hard to resist!

so true..........
I'm an addict
But at least I sell to buy new, I don't become too attached to my costumes.
However, there are a few I'll never sell, my gold and silver great loops, they are work-horses, and a few others.
other then that, bye-bye!

that's why when i DO buy, it's cuz they either fit PERFECTLY or close to perfect!(which is why i only sell if i can't fit them anymore ...i get attached :p) i HATE the idea of ordering custom cuz it DOES take forever......the only time it didn't was 20 years ago when morocco had me give her a design,which she faxed, and picked up when she went to egypt on her annual tour, in all it took maybe a month (it wasnt perfect to the design, but gorgeous nonetheless) i understand the egyptian 'itll get done tomorrow' is prevalent, but that's just a cultural difference.....here in the states, we're so used to having it 'yesterday' :D........but i'm with ya, it's hard to be patient when glittery fabulousness is being half a world away and close enuf to taste it!

I've only custom ordered through Bella and it took less than 2 months. I can't imagine waiting longer; I'm so impatient! That's why I tend to buy off the rack and alter

*sigh* still waiting.............
I ordered these in April and said I need them by september 8th,
NO problem they said!
*sigh*
frustrating, I know.....but, I only have to look in the mirror to know who to blame.

my costume from audrena will be in the september 15th shipment, so forget about that costume for september 8th, and labor day weekend, (I have big shows that weekend too!)

called dahlal yesterday, and they are still waiting to find out what costumes are in the shipment that is en route from egypt as we speak, they might know by beginning of next week.

Waaaahhhhh..........I want to have a temper tantrum.

that reminds me, i need to call audrena again... i am giving her til the end of august.. sigh.. bella NEVER takes this long AND the da## thing is designed from scratch for me too.

good news, costumes from Dahlal have arrived......
*phew*

Originally Posted by *maria*

good news, costumes from Dahlal have arrived......
*phew*

Were they actually able to look up your custom order? when I called, I sorta got the "why would we know how much longer? Did we call you to tell you it was in?"

I wonder if mine is in this order! (I ordered in March.)

I ordered back in March and I'm still waiting for that shipment from Dahlal. They said within two weeks and that was last week. Regarding Bella costumes, I emailed her and she emailed back asking what I wanted. I sent her a picture and the email had great detail with measurements. I asked to let me know what I need to do next. I haven't received an email since last week.

then next email will probably be- it is ready please wire this amount to etc etc. what you need to do next- save up some money. :-D

Originally Posted by Nepenthe

Were they actually able to look up your custom order? when I called, I sorta got the "why would we know how much longer? Did we call you to tell you it was in?"

I wonder if mine is in this order! (I ordered in March.)

It should be there then. My costumes I ordered in April.
My two pharonics and eman are in the shipment.
They called me from the airport. They picked up two large boxes of costumes.
I would give them a call!

P.S. keeping my fingers crossed that the eman fits! If not, I probably will sell it on bhuz.....LOL!

I ordered my custom Eman in February...and have called them about every other week for the last 2 months, and keep getting the excuse that "it should be in the next shipment." I called them today, and got the same story.

Oh....did I mention in ordered in FEBRUARY?????? Yes, I guess I did...Sorry - just had to vent my own frustration!

It's so frustrating, I've ordered 2 from Dahlal and though lovely, they both took longer than 16 weeks. I highly recommend ordering directly from Sim Moda. I've received my costumes directly form Ismael in 2-4 weeks.

I guess I'm lucky... I placed my custom order on April 30th and it is in! I had low expectations, too- I wasn't planning on seeing it for at least another month. Yea!!

well, my two pharonics are in, eman? who knows, and it's going on 20 weeks.

just called dahlal, and if i don't get eman in 24 weeks, which 6 months! I want a credit.
24 weeks will be a month and a half away.

I ordered my first custom costume from Dahlal in April too. Still waiting and we're officially over four months. I called them and they "hope" it will be in in the next two weeks.

My only saving grace is that I'm still recovering from foot surgery, so it's not like I'd get much use out of it right now anyway, but ... want new pretties! :)

I just called and mine is finally in (from a March 16th order). It was a Pharaonics - maybe it depends on the brand. They are checking it over now and will be sending it out next week. Woohoo - I got so excited on the phone that the Dahlal rep said she was excited with me.

I wrote a verse to celebrate (sung to the tune of O Holy Night)
:cr:
O Great Loop, Your Beads are Brightly Shining
You're the Bedlah of your dear dancer's mirth
Long lay the dancer, for Dahlal pining
Til you appeared and the belt fit her girth
A thrill of hope, belly dancer rejoices!
For yonder lies, a glorious UPS package
Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun......to the door.

Originally Posted by Nepenthe

I just called and mine is finally in (from a March 16th order). It was a Pharaonics - maybe it depends on the brand. They are checking it over now and will be sending it out next week. Woohoo - I got so excited on the phone that the Dahlal rep said she was excited with me.

I wrote a verse to celebrate (sung to the tune of O Holy Night)
:cr:
O Great Loop, Your Beads are Brightly Shining
You're the Bedlah of your dear dancer's mirth
Long lay the dancer, for Dahlal pining
Til you appeared and the belt fit her girth
A thrill of hope, belly dancer rejoices!
For yonder lies, a glorious UPS package
Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun......to the door.

..l;, ..l;,

what color great loop did you get?
My great loops, luv 'em
here's a pic of my gold one.

Mine is silver - I needed something versatile.

silver's awesome too. I have a silver one and a copper one. They really are the most versatile, work horse type costumes ever.....

here's the update:
Audrena's costume arrived unexpectedly yesterday afternoon. It is a bluish teal, the color is PERFECT. Sizing is perfect, I don't even have to move a hook.

Dahlal's two pharonics arrived yesterday afternoon also.
Red dress fits beautifully, don't even have to move a hook!
However, the purple and gold andalusian costume, the bra is, and I am not joking, AT LEAST a DDD size! It is huge on me.
I always custom order a C/D bra size.
the back strap is 40" also? I order a 35", and I always have a slight amount overlapping.
So, I emailed Dahlal, and shipped back the costume. I called them and told them I want a refund, they won't give it to me, they want to fix the bra.
I'm waiting for the other gal to call me this afternoon.
1) I do not want to wait for the bra to be fixed (It has to be made much much smaller, and I don't see how that can be done in a fair amount of time
2) I am a REALLY good customer, spending $1000's per year on costumes music vids zills (I"m always losing them) etc.
I'm a little pissed......
If they would have said "Sorry, no problem, we'll give you a credit" I'd be happy, but not to say,
"Oh, isn't that a custom order, we don't take returns"
Me, "Well, the bra is tremendous, it isn't even a little off the size".
arghhhh.....

HUGE pet peeve of mine. A custom order should fit within reason (moving hooks, etc. one expects to do). If it doesn't fit, then they effed up and need to eat the cost. Amira, in this case, not Dahlal -- but Dahlal gets a big markup on that order because we count on the importer to act as a go-between and put some pressure on the designers. If she's not going to do that, then why is she getting several hundred dollars on this sale? why not order directly from Amira?

Exactly. Thank you.
I custom order alot, and I EXPECT to move a hook or add elastic here and there.
But to have the bra be 3 times my size!
I don't think so.
I am going to fight for my refund this afternoon.
I wouldn't be so mad either if I wasn't such a good customer.
I mean, really!
Lauren, I read your thread about not showing more than a few clips of a movie to a group of students. SHow 'em the movie! I promise I won't rat you out to the FBI!
LOL!..l;,

The other issue is, on a very boobalicous bra, unless the costume is HORRIBLE, which we know Maria would never choose, it's probably not going to be that hard to turn around!

Better to have to takethis back and retail it then lose a good customer.

{{{HUGS}}}

Good news! Just got off the phone from dahlal. We think they put my bra in with someone else's skirt and their bra in with mine.
So, they are sorting everything out, otherwise, I will have a new bra made.
So, I'm a happy customer....