01/10/09

Best experience in Greater Boston!!

by bostonita

After reading these reviews I hesitated to make an appointment at Priscilla, but I am SO GLAD that I did. My consultant, Michelle, was very friendly and took the time to sit with me and mom and find out about my personal style and budget before bringing in the gowns. She also explained that she would not bring in dresses outside of my budget without giving me a heads-up so that I would have a chance to say 'no, let's not even try it on.' (And she kept her word on that!!)

With every dress I tried on, Michelle encouraged me to talk about what I liked/didn't like and - when I asked for it - she gave me honest and very helpful comments. She picked up on things like my expression and mood when I had each gown on which, I think, demonstrates how focused she was on finding the right gown for me. When I had a question about changing something on a dress, she asked a manager - who was also extremely helpful and friendly - right away. My appointment lasted nearly 3 HOURS, and everyone remained helpful and patient the ENTIRE time. Now that's stamina!!

In regard to some of the other reviews, I can understand the desire to "go through the racks" yourself and, yes, it is true that this particular salon does not allow much of that. But frankly, if you expect to walk in there with no appointment and just grab anything you like it is your expectation, not the salon's behavior, that is out of line. And in regard to pricing - it's all relative. Priscilla is not the place to find a "steal." Their prices range from about $1,500 to down payment on a house. If their prices don't jive with your budget, that's fine. Realistically, we all have our limits. But think twice before you waltz in there just to play dress up. I can see how they wouldn't appreciate that. No one likes to have their time wasted.

One more thing....the level of customer service IS NOT related to your budget. Mine was modest and they were not at all turned off by that.

• Pros: customer service, selection, atmosphere
• Cons: parking

01/09/09

Wonderful Experience and amazing Wedding Gowns

by Vogerl

After a terrible and very unprofessional appointment at La Reine in Waltham (they are not only unfriendly, unprofessional and pricey but the atmosphere in that trashy old house has nothing to do with a nice bridal experience) I was very excited to finally go to Priscilla of Boston. Well known for its beautiful but expensive gowns I was a little worried if I would have any chance to find something for my not so big budget. I had the sweetest Saleswoman ever, Phyllis, very experienced and very friendly. She asked me several very professional questions about my wedding location, my desired gown style and so on before bringing in some samples - questions nobody asked me before! And we finally found my dress. I love it and I can't wait to finally get and wear it. I can highly recommend this great store and I can only tell you that my experience was wonderful and really unique.

• Pros: Ambience, Service
• Cons: Parking

10/23/08

Do yourselves a favor -- stay away

by Anyuta

With shabby looking dresses (which some of them made in China) they think of themselves as a high class store. Stupidity. Comically arrogant and lazy, they simply lack a basic sense of class and etiquette. The most terrible service I have gotten anywhere in the world. And I travel everywhere!!! In fact, there was no service. Stay away, save your time, energy, money, and good mood and get your dresses from some other places. I know why they charge in such sneaky way. They have no other skills to maintain their business, except sneaking in unspoken charges. For the money they charge, you can probably fly to Hong Kong, or Taiwan, or Eastern Europe (Prague or Budapest), get a vacation, and a dream dress with a meticulous service.

09/30/08

Every girl's dream...

by stefyleemidds1

After reading numerous negative reviews of Priscillas, I felt inclined to write my own review. When I began searching for my wedding dress I made an appointment at Priscillas with very high hopes. Upon my initial entry into the store, I was greeted with smiles and congratulations. My sales associate, April, was welcoming, friendly, and endlessly helpful. After showing her the dresses that I had selected online, (and sadly realizing they were out of my price range), April found another dress for me to try on that she thought I might like. Well, it was perfect. She knew exactly what I wanted after only knowing me for a few minutes. The entire experience was all I could hope for out of wedding dress shopping, and all of the sales associates contributed to my wonderful day. I have not yet been through the alteration process yet, but I hope that they live up to my already high expectations.

• Pros: Ambience, service, selection
• Cons: Parking, cost

08/13/08

Abominable customer service

by backbaybride

I had an incredibly disappointing experience at Priscilla. What used to be "the place" to go in Boston for wedding gowns is now a shabby, second-rate department store relying on the Priscilla legacy as cover. After being rushed to order my gown ("If you don't order today, you'll never have it in time"), I had to make repeated phone calls to obtain a tiny swatch of my material. Repeated questions about swatches for bridesmaids' dresses were ignored (thankfully, I didn't end up ordering there for this reason). The day of my first fitting, I was amazed when I put on a dress that fit like a glove, rather than the skimming A-line I had ordered (I had actually LOST weight, so expected the dress to be loose if anything!), and that also didn't sit straight across the top unless it was tugged and held. Not a happy bride. After leaving, I called and explained the situation to someone at the store, was told that the manager of the store was "unavailable" and then had an exhausting, unsatisfactory discussion with a customer service rep somewhere in Philadelphia, who hadn't bothered to get the fact from t he store, and who spent an hour promising me that if I just gave them a chance, they'd "get it right." Presumably while billing me outrageous amounts for extensive alterations that would have been unnecessary had they simply measured correctly in the first instance (the salesgirl who "measured" me and sold me the dress never made another appearance in all of this, by the way). Despite being told that a senior management representative would contact me after I cancelled my order (and was told I would have to forfeit my deposit, despite their errors), I ended up getting my dress elsewhere and am thrilled with it. It was made the way a wedding gown is supposed to -- with a muslin, by a skilled dressmaker who knows how to properly fit a gown, and who takes the time to do so, unlike the posers at Priscilla who simply want to make a sale and push you out of the store.

06/09/08

SNEAKY, SNEAKY, SNEAKY

by gabry1

I was shocked upon check-out, after my first fitting, that they tacked on an additional $480 dollars on my bill.

Since they make you pay for each adjustment, I truly believe that they ordered the wrong dress size, I literally had to hold up the dress from falling down!!! (NO, I weigh the same exact as at the time of the measurments were taken). They also charged me additional $208 for having the train bustled. I was not advised of this fee when I ordered the dress. OUTRAGEOUS!!!! SNEAKY!!!!

05/11/08

Bad customer service, stay away!

by anniechristy

I went shopping for my dress here and was treated very rudely by the sales manager. When she thought I would not buy my dress that day or be able to make up my mind quickly enough for her convenience, she refused to answer any more of my questions or to let me browse, and then stomped off. Clearly there are some staff there who do not understand what customer service is. Despite the famous name, this is a just chain store that is staffed by people with attitudes who just care about making a sale. There are some nice gowns there, but the dress shopping experience is also about feeling comfortable and respected, and being in a low-pressure, friendly environment. There are other shops with pretty dresses. Why not give your business to someone who deserves it?

• Cons: rude, bad customer service

04/13/08

Awful Experience!

by ebe

I recently had an appointment at a bridal shop on Newbury Street. After that appointment I decided that it was an great opportunity to visit some other shops in Boston. Although I did not have an appointment at Priscilla of Boston I decided to go into the shop to look at the gowns with the possibility of making an appointment for a future date. I will NOT be making an appointment at Priscilla of Boston. The older sales woman was rude, condescending and judgmental. I explained to her that I was looking for a classic, elegant dress without elaborate detail for my Fall wedding. Her snappy retort was, "Why don't you just go to David's Bridal?" and turned her back and walked away. I would think that the sales staff at a bridal shop would treat a potential costumer with common courtesy. Especially a potential customer who is having a Fall wedding on Nantucket with eight bridesmaids. Until the staff at Priscilla of Boston has been trained properly in basic costumer service skills, my advice is that brides and their attendants should take their business to a bridal shop that will treat them with respect.

• Pros: None
• Cons: See Review!

03/18/08

Unique Experience!

by laugarland

I have been looking around for wedding gowns for 5 months, and have visted several shops. I went to Priscilla's three times, and the service is not only consistent (I say this very positively), but they never put any pressure on the Bride. I worked with three wonderful consultants, all of them were friendly, upbeat, and very knowledgable. They all took the time to learn my style and respected my price range. I ended up finding a beautiful gown and couldn't be happier about my choice! Truth be told, the prices are on the high end, but they do not hide that fact. I think there are many gorgeous gowns, all unique in there own way. My suggestion is to be open minded and trust the staff, they are great!

• Pros: The elegant shop and dressing rooms
• Cons: parking

03/09/08

best place to buy your wedding dress

by zsuzsadobos

I had the best experience here while shopping for a wedding dress. I worked with Phyllis who is amazing!!!! I told her my budget and she brought me a gorgeous dress that was exactly the style I had in mind and the dress fit me great. She is also a sweetheart and fun to work with. She is not pushy and she respects the fact that you are on a budget.

I was so relieved when I went here after all my horrible experiences in other bridal stores! Priscilla's not only carries beautiful gowns, but has awsome customer service.

I highly suggest this bridal salon.