Sondro Boutique

were wonderful and tried to help me to find the perfect dress. The bride had one request, that I not wear black. When the only dresses that I found WERE black, the saleswoman said I could buy the dresses (I found 2), continue looking elsewhere, and then return one or both for an exchange after the bride saw them (She lives out of town). I asked if there was a time limit for the exchange and was assured that there was none. This was in June and my daughter was to be married in October. I was told to take the dresses, and come back to get one altered in August or September, in time for the wedding if she chose one, and return for a store credit at any time if not. The end of August I went to Sondro at the Cove (not knowing at the time they have different owners) and purchased a purple gown that my daughter and I loved. I went this past weekend to Sondro and had the worst experience possible. From the moment I stepped in the store I was dealt with aggression. The salesperson told me it has been too long & I could not exchange the dresses. I tried to explain what the previous salesperson had told me, she did not care. I asked to speak with the owner who also had no interest in hearing anything about me being a loyal customer, or about what her employee had told me, or any kind of reason at all. She basically called me a liar when I told her that it was the salespersons idea. Reluctantly she agreed to the exchange, with the stipulation that I had to use it THAT day. I had to spend the $1000 (2 gowns at $500 ea) in credit right then and there or lose it. I tried, I couldn't - I told her that I looked and found $800 of clothing I didn’t really want and that I was unhappy. Her answer was to come back the following weekend. When told that I couldn't that weekend because I would be in NY, then I "wasn't working with her". I then asked if I could buy $550 worth or the clothes & exchange 1 dress, pay the difference & come back another day with the 2nd dress and was told no. She wanted me to buy the $800 worth of clothing I had just told her I did not want, return 1 dress, & pay the difference of $300 - or I would get nothing. She actually wasn’t going to make the exchange now, unless she made more money. I left the store, with my two gowns, promising to never return and to tell anyone who would listen how Sondros treats their customers like gold when they have money to spend - but with contempt and aggression if they run into a problem and need to return it. Sidenote: The dresses had never been out of their protective bags, complete with tags and in perfect condition. One salesperson said when she saw one of them, "I wish this was here yesterday, I could have sold it" - the other dress was actually being tried on by another customer while I was in the store. Sondro would have had no problem re-selling either of the 2 gowns. After I left, the owner FINALLY called the original salesperson and learned that what I said was true - She had her call me, and then she called and emailed me herself trying to get me to come back to the store to make the exchange. I wrote that I do not want to wear her clothes ever again, nor step in her store. That her contempt for me was palpable and she should be ashamed of her behavior.