AFFORDABALL DRESSES
reviews and complaints

Back in February we purchased a dress for $400 plus additional to have it altered. As this was being worn to a school ball, one of the deciding factors for buying from this store rather than off the internet was the fact the company "guarantee" you will be the only person wearing the dress at your function. Yes someone else could have it in another colourway (but not similar), and a great deal is made of noting down which school you are from and the date of your ball. So with the ball the NEXT DAY, my daughter gets a text from a friend "think ... has your dress" - daughter responds "not possible but send me a photo". Sure enough, it's the EXACT same dress, exact same colour and confirmation that it was purchased from Affordaball in Hillsborough Road - both in store, not on line.

At this point daughter has just had nails painted to match blue dress and is understandably quite upset. Phone call to the shop - husband answers phone & is very apologetic - will ring wife & see what they can do. Delighted that they agree to swap for something else. Only 1 dress in her size that she likes (and not registered to someone else at same event) but of course it needs alterations. Up till now I was understanding that a "human error" had been made but they were doing their upmost to fix it. What I DID NOT appreciate was having emergency alterations done at OUR COST when we'd already paid to have the original dress altered! So a $400 dress cost is suddenly sitting at around $500 - ouch! Tailor was very accommodating (and couldn't believe it had happened - recalled altering the initial dress), did an amazing job and store dropped dress to our home late that evening. Had to return it to Affordaball the next day as it hadn't been steamed (and being very delicate chiffon, we were advised with original dress not to attempt).

Yes we make mistakes, but it's the putting right that counts. This store trades off it's ability to "guarantee" they won't sell the same dress to anyone else at your event - NOT so. On the night this was evident with 2 girls in identical dresses - yes you guessed it - both purchased from Affordaball. Their dresses are lovely (but expensive), yet you don't mind paying a premium for a special event. Their assurances of uniqueness are worthless - before you decide to purchase from here, weigh up and see how you'd feel if someone turned up to your event in the exact same outfit. Balls & events of this nature are a special time in a young girls life - they should be fun & stress free - our experience was exactly the opposite.

*Just another comment, even though some dresses of hers are expensive, they are still priced similar to other shops and in some cases some of hers are even cheaper. I discovered this is just what you have to pay anywhere.

You have serious issues dude. I have been all throughout Tauranga and Auckland trying to find the perfect dress, and finally I came across her shop. And she was the most helpful, genuine ball dress seller that I've been to. I can't say I completely disagree with your statements about her prices. Some of the dress prices seem absolutely absurd to me but because this was the only place that had the dress, I had to get it at the high price. And I didn't mind that much, because I was glad I was buying off her and not some of the other shops where the staff were rude and unfriendly. You really need to calm down because there are two sides to every story, and I think It'd be interesting to hear what you did in the first place, because I guarantee there is a lot you're not telling us about what you did.

I have bought many dresses from this lady and she is absolutely amazing to deal with.
You must have done something to make her do this, her shop is the absolute best.