I always thought that boutiques offer more customer service and better value than department stores, until the other day. I purchased a dress in October at PM Boutique in Oceanside. It was a ball gown, black with embroidered flowers and a purple sash. It was really special.
Since then, every couple of weeks I’ve been calling the store to see if the dress came in and was told the same thing every time — “we will call the manufacturer and let you know.”
Now the affair is approaching quickly and I called again. They gave me the same answer. I told them that I needed it for the weekend. They told me they would call me back. This time, they called me back.
“Mrs. Topper,” the woman said, “I am very upset, more upset then you could ever know….”
Now, I knew something was wrong. “What’s up?” I asked.
“I really can’t guarantee that your dress will be in,” she said. “But it’s not our fault, it’s the manufacturers fault. I hate dealing with these people” she told me.
“If you have had problems in the past, why are you still carrying their dresses?” I asked. I was really upset and was frustrated that she was blaming everyone but herself for the problem.
“Don’t worry,” she said, “we have plenty of dresses here. We will put you in something….”
Well, I didn’t want to be in just “something” so I went to Nordstrom’s in Roosevelt Field during my lunch break and found another special dress. I bought it and called PM Boutique.
“I would like to get my money back,” I said. “I found another dress at Nordstrom’s and I bought it since you told me you couldn’t guarantee my dress.”
She told me she would refund my money. “And by the way sweetie,” she said, “be sure to come in after your affair and give me photos. I would love to see them and also, I hope there are no hard feelings.”
No hard feelings? Is she kidding? Well, I guess as long as I get my money back, there will be no hard feelings….
