Buyer Beware!

Photo of Adorae by Sottero and Midgley Designer Gown

Stolen Photo from Chinese Knock off Site.  Can you tell the difference?

For far too long the American public has been duped by unscrupulous wedding websites that rely on misleading advertising.  These sites offer bargain-basement prices for the season’s hottest designs and then fail to deliver the promised goods.  The average consumer is unable to reliably determine if the website is offering a legitimate product or a fake because the pirated images are the exact same photos.

The off shore pirates are not subject to US laws or responsibilities which costs are not being collected on the direct shipments to consumers.  What the consumer also does not know is that the designers and owners of the images and copyright products that are currently flooding the US have banded together to enforce the rights of protection that are already in our laws and legal system. 

Did you know that:

Your wedding dress could be intercepted by US Customs and if it is determined that your gown was made from a pirated image or contains trademarked lace or beadwork or design, officials would be forced to destroy your dress because it is illegal for the knock off companies to copy such merchandise.

Even if your gown was made legally Customs officials may inspect your gown and apply any value that they want and you would be required to pay 17% duty (just like the legitimate designer does) before you can receive your gown.

When a US company imports goods they must ensure that products are safe.  When you buy directly off shore you have absolutely no assurance.  We have seen reports of dresses and fabrics that are tainted with dangerous substances and/or pins, needles, etc. being left in gowns. 

Buyer Beware.  If it seems too good to be true it probably is. 

Cariad wrote: "thats because they are using designer images i tell anyone considering buying online to contact the company before purchase and ask to see an actual dress they have made and not the desinger image most wont even reply when asked to see their actual work"

Hey Rebecca! I did not order from Lily’s, but I did order from Dresstimes. IT IS A SCAM!!! Honestly, I would not buy a wedding dress from any website, AT ALL! I spent 450$ on a dress that could never be used! The workmanship, color, everything was terrible. Luckily, I had one on lay-a-way here in case it didn’t work out and it didn’t. I ended up spending 560$ on the one I wore (which ended up being perfect!). With that I could have bought the original Maggie Soretto I tried to go cheap on. Rebecca, I was married in May and my advice would be to NEVER buy a dress you can’t try on or even touch! I hope this helps

"Just appropriate to add here that today had a bride come in for a first fitting with her Lightinabox gown......she never took it out to look at because she literally got it last night and opened it in my store............lol. After her horror, dry heaving and tears she walked over to my rack pulled one gown out herself and bought it for $1200.00, she was so disgusted and kicking herself for spending the $200.00 on the piece of crap she bought and was beside herself. We had a little discussion about these knockoff sites and she herself stated she couldnt believe that these factories were allowed to do business and sell such a piece of *hit.". Boston retailer posted this today.

Rossen Reports: Are top websites in business with counterfeiters? Sellers of fake goods are paying big bucks for prime placement on Google

We have repeatedly reported that US Customs has been known to seize illegal copies of everything from DVDs to Clothing.  Here is a national report on it.  Also, stay tuned for the new law New York is working on which will give you a $1000 fine or a year in jail for purchasing illegal copies of items.


Sellers of fake goods are paying big bucks for prime placement on Google. The underground world of counterfeiting scams Americans out of billions of dollars. Now there’s a new twist deceiving consumers. TODAY National Investigative Correspondent Jeff Rossen reports.  Read More


Here's another link to a counterfeit wedding dress blog.  Click Here

Bridal Shops Can't Fix the Problem

Shop locally and save money, time and more.

Even bridal shop owners feel bad when a consumer gets cheated by China.  I have hundreds of friend nation wide who own bridal shops and have posted a few of their recent comments regarding Fake Chinese Dress Copies.

A website can never give you the security and ease of a brick and mortar shop

"Knockoffs seems to be a common occurence anymore.  Last year a girl came into the store and wanted to purchase a tony bowls dress that retailed for a little over $700.  Her mother had sticker shock, and did not purchase the dress from me.  A few months past and she came back, desperate for the dress she tried on, and unfortunately we had already sold the sample. Her mother then told me she ordered it directly from china, 'to cut out the middle man'. It was hard not to laugh at this statement, but I let her continue with her story. She said she was able to get the dress ordered for $150. She asked me if I could check the order for her, because it had not arrived and prom was in two weeks!  I told her I was unfortunately not able to do anything because it had no been placed under my account.  I told her the best I could do was check hanging stock, and see if there were any left in her size, so we could order her one from our store, but she would have to pay our price. Luckily there was one left in stock!  The dress arrived from Tony quickly and we did a few minor alterations.  The knock off arrived a month LATE, and was sewn with purple, red, green, and blue threads, made of organza instead of silk/taffetta, and to top it off the sequins were glued on! I don't understand what people think they are going to get for $150. Why does the red flag not go up in peoples' minds?"BR

"I had a girl come in a couple of weeks ago with a really bad knock off.  Dress was glued together and sequins were glued on.  It looked AWFUL!  Money was not the issue (her dad is a local plastic surgeon) she just had to have THIS dress and couldn't find it in any store.  She bought something from me to replace it but was still upset it wasn't "THAT" dress!" DS

"Had a pageant girl and her mom in on Wed. with two eBay specials that were supposed to be Tony Bowls knockoffs.  The mom had ordered the gowns, spent over $600 and had two pieces of trash.  Mom had the printout from the eBay site and both gowns plainly had the TB logo.  The dresses were hideous.  Nothing was salvageable and she ended up buying another pageant gown from me.  Ka-ching!  You just CANNOT educate people about these knock-off gowns!!!" Tricia

How to Spot Fake Reviews

 When you understand the nature of the Chinese knock off business it becomes easier to spot the fake review.  Look at the grammar.  The order of the words can be a tip off as well as using the wrong form of a word.  The review below is from a thread on this very subject.  There are girls who state that they got what they expected but I do wonder if they are just too embarrassed to say that they got cheated after so many warnings.

"Laura,
I went through DHGate and bought 2 dresses. I had found “MY” dress and they had the picture that was from the model that you would see in the magazines. DON”T DO IT! Both dresses were poor quality and not what is pictured. They use the pictures and send you cheap imitations.
Even with their no hassle money back claim – i was never able to get a refund. Even the veils I bought were horrible. I could’ve had a kindergartner make them look nicer. Save yourself the money and go find a dress you can try on and a bridal shop you can hold accountable in the USA! " Click here to go to the thread.   Click Here for another site with photos of fake wedding dresses.