::hangs head in shame:: My fault. WWYD?

[incognitotoday]

I bought a dress from a consignment shop for $10.00. It is beautiful and perfect for the Spring/Summer weather here in the NE. In the Fall I can wear it with a lovely cardigan!

However it was two sizes too big. So I brought it to the tailor to have her fit it and make spaghetti straps that can be used if I want or folded inside if I prefer to wear it strapless (as it is a Maxi dress).

I never thought to ask how much they were going to charge me; thought, "eh, the dress was $10 anyways." OMG! SHAME ON ME!

I go and pick it up today $60 fucking dollars! YUP!
There were three layers underneath that all had to be taken in two sizes as well!

So much for getting a consigned dress at a great deal.

My question: When you go to a tailor, and try on a piece to be fixed, once they have pinned the areas that need to be done, do you then say, "how much will you charge for this?" And if they say something out of your budget, do you say, "thank you, but this is not in my budget." And get undressed/dressed and leave?

I am SO :@ at myself b/c I didn't ask prior. Because I would not have paid $60.

However, she had done the work, I felt like an arse so I sucked it up to "well, I was foolish to not ask prior to the tailoring job."

WWYD if this was your situation? And what DO YOU do when you bring in your clothes to be tailored?

::hangs head in shame:: YOU BETTER BELIEVE I will be wearing that dress every chance I can! Thank goodness it is colorful and can be worn in many ways!!!

Side note: I've gone to this tailor before and she does a great job puts the bottom of jeans back on if they need to be hemmed for $10). I've used them all of 5 times and been happy each time.

[misshark122]

I would have asked in advance even before pinning. I have a few dresses I want shortened so I've gone in and shown the tailor the dresses and ask what they think the tailoring price will be for it. And when I've called over the phone they have always asked me about layers! I'm sorry that happened though, that sucks!

[bimbi284]

$70 still isn't a bad overall price for a summer dress you want to wear a lot...

I always ask before, and if I don't they usually offer it up. With something that had multiple layers like you mentioned (especially if said layers aren't actually sewn together), I would have expected it to be more.

Considering how little you spend for other jobs there and the quality of the work overall, I think it sorta evens out...or at least that's what I would tell myself in order to justify it ;-)

[Deleted]

Jun 8, 2012 11:16:25 GMT -5 misshark122 said:

I would have asked in advance even before pinning. I have a few dresses I want shortened so I've gone in and shown the tailor the dresses and ask what they think the tailoring price will be for it. And when I've called over the phone they have always asked me about layers! I'm sorry that happened though, that sucks!

This.

And IMO $60 isn't bad for taking a 3 layer dress in 3 sizes. This sounds just about right.

[mrsacornblue]

My tailor usually tells me the price before I leave. I don't think it's too much to ask of the tailor to name the price before dropping something off to be fixed.

[Deleted]

Jun 8, 2012 11:16:25 GMT -5 misshark122 said:

I would have asked in advance even before pinning. I have a few dresses I want shortened so I've gone in and shown the tailor the dresses and ask what they think the tailoring price will be for it. And when I've called over the phone they have always asked me about layers! I'm sorry that happened though, that sucks!

This.

[incognitotoday]

Jun 8, 2012 11:17:06 GMT -5 bimbi284 said:

Considering how little you spend for other jobs there and the quality of the work overall, I think it sorta evens out...or at least that's what I would tell myself in order to justify it ;-)

You just took some of the madness out of me. It's true, they do a great job there, and I have paid less for the jean hemming there than I have other places. I guess I am just mad b/c I paid little for the dress and then the tailoring was so much more costly. I'll know for next time to ask beforehand; regardless.

And I love how you wrote: "to justify it" .... this could so spin off into another thread of "things I do to justify other not-so-good behaviors." LOL!

[bimbi284]

Jun 8, 2012 11:26:01 GMT -5 incognitotoday said:

And I love how you wrote: "to justify it" .... this could so spin off into another thread of "things I do to justify other not-so-good behaviors." LOL!

LOL...yeah I tend to justify a lot of things...especially shopping-related things! My friends know when to take me shopping based on this, because I will apply my justification on to them as well.

[Deleted]

I always call ahead and ask for a starting price, most places will say it's $X and up to do whatever service. Then when I get there I ask them how much it's going to be and get it in writing so there are no surprises when I pick up the item.

[joanis018]

I'm surprised they didn't tell you how much it would be. I had something hemmed once and the tailor wasn't in so he called me to tell me how much they would be. And that was just a hem.

But such is life. Now you now. And have an awesome dress.

[treedimensional]

I'm sorry this caught you off guard. But to me, $70 is still a great deal!
(((hugs)))

[mrssavy42112]

Yeah, I agree with the others that you still made out pretty good, although you should’ve asked before you left. There have been quite a few times where I bought a super cheap dress because it was on clearance, even if it was a few sizes too large & then got it tailored, like for a friend’s wedding. In the end, it’s still less $ than if I bought the dress brand new. So, no need to hang head in shame

[futurepivko]

That sounds reasonable...I'd love to see a PIP!

[incognitotoday]

I will take one when I wear it tonight b/c like I said I am going to get as many uses out of this darn dress.

Tonight C and I are going to watch the sunset on the beach and look at real estate around this quaint neighborhood in NY.

Looking forward to it b/c it is 76* and BEAUTIFUL!

[adhdfashion]

Jun 8, 2012 11:18:41 GMT -5 @uwhuskygirl said:

Jun 8, 2012 11:16:25 GMT -5 misshark122 said:

I would have asked in advance even before pinning. I have a few dresses I want shortened so I've gone in and shown the tailor the dresses and ask what they think the tailoring price will be for it. And when I've called over the phone they have always asked me about layers! I'm sorry that happened though, that sucks!

This.

And IMO $60 isn't bad for taking a 3 layer dress in 3 sizes. This sounds just about right.

[/b]
This

[statlerwaldorf]

I would've asked, but I don't think $70 is too expensive for a dress that fits you perfectly. I don't think $60 is high for the work either.

[FormerCityGirl]

I bring the piece in and ask at the counter how much it will be. Considereing mine charged $20 to just to take up the straps on a dress that was a single layer in a low cost of living area, $60 for three layers to be fitted and have straps created is actually a good deal. She had to take the dress apart, cut, and resew it 3 times. Ripping out seams is time consuming,expecially if you have to do it three times and keep from ripping the fabric.

The other tailor that I tried in the same town only allowed prepayment on all items because she had so many people drop things to be altered and never to be picked up when she finished even when quoting prices at fittings. She said she's have a few dozen items that she altered go unclaimed every time her hold time was up. She'd do all the work and get stiffed.

[mrspost08]

I usually ask how much it will cost before I try it on for them.

[ralphlauren]

I would always ask before agreeing to let them do the work.