Posted on 05/22/2011 10:27:50 AM PDT by rawhide
MYFOXNY.COM - Sophomore Jackie Genovese, 16, of New Jersey, had the perfect prom dress and date. But tragedy struck last week when her boyfriend of two years was killed in a car accident.
Jackie's boyfriend, James, died on the way home from a baseball team dinner. He was a popular Jackson High School senior only weeks from graduation.
She bought her $1,200 dress at Freehold's Diane and Co., also known for their popular Oxygen show "Dress Coutoure."
She wanted a refund for her dress so she could help pay for her boyfriend's funeral. Jackie's mom asked the owners of the store for a refund, which is against store policy. Instead they offered credit. But Jackie's mom said when she showed up to bring the dress back, they were nasty and unsympathetic.
Now her friends have started a Facebook page to call on boycotting the dress store.
Diane and Co. denies the accusations. Over the phone, owners said "this terrible tragic situation has been spun out of control. It's not a matter of being vicious or uncompassionate, but we are faced with tragedy all the time. And we weren't given a chance to rectify the situation."
A woman with a dress store in Indiana saw the Facebook page and offered to give Jackie a dress.
She still has the $1,200 store credit, which she is not sure she will.
Diane and Co. is standing firm on the no refund policy, but has offered to make a donation to a memorial set up in James name.
This is one of a number of stories on this. The msm love these type of stories. If all the msm types piling on the store feel this strongly about it, why didn’t they chip in a couple hundred each? As far as I can see no one from the store was driving the car her boyfriend died in. Yet, the store still went further than they needed to. Is she happy? Of course not! The store did not do exactly what SHE wanted them to. I am not unfeeling, but I also think reassigning fate to something human is ridiculous.
If this was a custom order I can see the no refud but if the dress is off the rack and never worn what is the problem?
If this was a custom order I can see the no refund but if the dress is off the rack and never worn what is the problem?
Maybe when you grow up, you'll learn to read and see where I already acknowledged that.
"It’s actually irrelevent that her BF died."
No, in fact it's very relevant. She bought the dress to go to the prom with him. Now, as I already said, the store legally owes her nothing. The credit is pretty much meaningless, basically a slap in the face, "here you go little girl, run along and come back for another dress when you find yourself a new boyfriend."
As others here have indicated, and I can confirm having a girlfriend who was formerly an office manager in a bridal/tuxedo shop, the mark-ups on such dresses are nothing short of astronomical. At the height of prom and wedding season, yeah, the store might eat a small profit; but the good will and word of mouth advertising alone would have quickly recouped that and then some. It's a bad decision from both a business and moral standpoint.
I suspect that dress shops hear many stories/reasons/excuses for dress returns. Of course it’s a tragedy but I’d guess that some girls have come in with clipped out obits to “ prove” their boyfriends are “dead”.
Yeah right. I'll bet if you look into it even further, you'll find she arranged the *accident* and had her boyfriend killed.
Everybody has the “right” to do what they’re doing with this.
I guess its a standoff.
I think that the store was foolish not to grant the refund; its just one of those public relations decisions that some get right and some get wrong.
Did the mother ask or is it her contribution - the dress she bought to be with him at a milestone event she wants to contribute to his family for his burial. I happen to think it’s a very touching story - too bad the greedy retailers didn’t see it that way. I’ve long learned - what you give comes back many times over when you least expect it. Some don’t have it in their hearts for compassion when money is involved.
quite true, it is sad.
You don’t get death certificates until weeks after the funeral, so that’s hardly possible.
I’m with you, Captain!!
You’ve taken cynical to new heights.
Um...I was being sarcastic.
here, here, I wouldnt buy my wife a dress that expensive either. man do people not have priorities...i am thinking well maybe they are well to do,...then why would they need a refund?
I agree. And you know what else is missing in our country - common sense.
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