How to write a Nice Return Request

This is a really nice way to request a return!

hank you for the beautiful dresses.  Sadly, the White Lace Dress with Lavender Slip is just a little too small for my daughter.  We would like to return it.  Thank you for your assistance and for having such lovely, appropriate dresses available.

Marie B

The dresses Marie ordered.

Girls White Lace Dress with Lavender Slip  Retail Price: $84.99 Our Price: $54.99 You Save: $30.00   (1 review)

Pink Off Shoulder Dress With A-Line Gathered Satin Skirt  Retail Price: $91.99 Our Price: $59.99 Sale Price: You Save: $42.00   (2 reviews)

What is interesting is both dresses were the same size theoretically, but per the size chart the the only difference is the length.

Lavender:

USA Sizes

Shoulder to Hem (inches)

Chest (inches)

Waist (inches)

12

38

32

29

.

White

USA Sizes

Shoulder to Hem (inches)

Chest (inches)

Waist (inches)

12

49

32

29

Get to know more about us on our Facebook page!

Bride-to-be at center of Ebola scare wants refund for bridesmaids

I have very mixed feelings on this, especially being a a small business owner.

Bridal Store's Side:

• The small business had to stay closed for 21 days and had it cleaned using UV.
• Many customer canceled orders
• The store lost a lot of money (tens of thousands of dollars)
• No phone call from the nurse, just an attorney's letter!
• Looks like everything is custom ordered, limited stock
• Refund policy is none

Nurses Side:

• Wants to get back to a regular life
• Found another store to use
• Wants her $480 back

Reality:

The store owner should just refund the $480 and move on. The danger of a negative hit to the stores' reputation is not worth the $480. The store is already getting hit by a negative review. It seems the store owner does not understand online reviews, and how powerful they are. Her Yelp reviews are not good.

Google Reviews

Yelp

The Knot

Bride-to-be at center of Ebola scare wants refund for bridesmaids - Local Ohio

Poll: Shipping Fee

poll by twiigs.com

I would appreciate your answers!

EliteDresses offers free shipping for US orders over $85. Sometimes, customers return an entire order that had Free Shipping. The actual shipping cost is usually around $10.50 (Free shipping is not free for us, unfortunately). I am torn on this issue, and I can see both sides.

Get to know more about us on our Facebook page!

Another Return Update

Our return policy is being updated, again, sigh.  And yes, there are two stories behind it that caused the change to the return policy. Two large returns today that I am unhappy about.

For orders with over $200 worth of items returned, there will now be a 10% restocking fee.

Get to know more about us on our Facebook page!

Crazy Return Policies

A customer just called and found our return policies such a pleasant change from other companies.

She ordered a dress from another company, and it was supposed to be there in 6 days.  At 6 days, she called the company and found out it was on back order.  And the company discourages phone calls by asking customers to read the FAQ's first.  And they will not answer calls about returns by phone!  Strange...  We have our 800 # on all our pages.  And our goal when an item is out of stock is to both E-Mail and call the customer as soon as we find out.  It makes for happier customers and less headaches for us (I am very anti-headache). I found out the hard way that some customers don't check their e-mail that frequently.

The customer also mentioned that many sites charge a 20 to 30% restocking fee! We don't.  All we ask is that customers pay the shipping back, which she thought was fair (my goal with EliteDresses return policy is make it fair and easy).

The Two Way Risks Of Buying Online

It's known that customers easily fall prey on bogus online stores and they end up losing a lot of hard earned money but did you know that legit and honest online stores owners like myself are also at risk on customers who demand too much leniency because they want me to prove that I am legit and fair (Easy Return and Exchange Policy- can it get any fairer?). 

So my advice is to always search for online reviews on the online store you are planning to buy to and see what others have to say about them. There's also the Better Business Bureau that compiles reviews on all businesses and rate them accordingly. 

Dress Return Policies - Wow

Some of the dress return policies out there - wow!

I just spent a bit of time looking around at some competitor sites return policy. I believe EliteDresses has the most Lenient Returns Policy. Our goal is to be fair to our customers and make returns as Easy as Possible.

Some Competitor Return Policies that I just shake my head at:

My comments are in italics :-)

• Express Orders not eligible for returns - Totally disagree with this one. Even with an Express order sometimes a dress just does not work.
• Restocking Fees - we don't charge a re-stocking fee at this time.
• Returns within 7 day of receipt - we give 30 days at this time. With a wedding there is so much going on and 7 days is just not enough time. Over 30 days is too long. One customer wanted to return a dress at 75 days. Some dresses are seasonal.
  
• No Returns/Exchange Policy - yes, this is from a real site
  
• Flower Girls 28 days, all others dresses 14 days - how do you tell the difference?
  
• No Refunds, Store Credit only with a 10% restocking fee for same color and item. 20% if different color or item. - Seems harsh.

Easy Return and Easy Exchange Policy at EliteDresses

As an online shopper myself, I am familiar with the issues on purchasing items online especially if you are a first time buyer from that specific webstore. To address this, I am an advocate of an easy return and easy exchange policy to help my clients feel secure and buy with confidence (and peace of mind).

One perfect example is my recent encounter with a nice bride to be who bought flower girl dresses from me. But for some reason she has to move her wedding to a much later date and thus needed to change the sizes of the flower girl dresses she bought. It makes sense and I accept this no questions asked. :)

The bride to be needs to worry more important things and I don't want to add on to her burdens.