Do I have to pay a registration fee to try-on dresses?
No, you pay a registration fee to submit dresses to Encore Ballroom Couture for consignment and/or rental.
What is the fee for a try-on?
The fee for a shipment of 1-2 dresses is $70.
Do you offer a professional discount on the try-on fee or shipping cost?
No, there is no discount offered.
Does the try-on fee go towards the rental fee or purchase price of the dress?
What method of payment do you accept for the processing of the try-on fee?
We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express credit cards.
NOTE: We currently do not accept Discover or debit cards.
How long can I have a dress for a try-on?
Dresses sent for try-on must be returned within 48 hrs of receiving them.
Do I receive the actual dress I see on the website for my try-on?
Yes, all of our dresses are one of a kind. Also, we never substitute dresses in at the last minute for other dresses. What you see and request online is the dress you will actually receive.
Can I contact the owner of the dress I am trying on to ask questions about the dress?
Absolutely not! No personal information will be given out to any clients for any reason.
Are there any special instructions for trying on a dress?
- Wash your hands before touching the dresses! Please make sure your hands are free from makeup, gels, hairspray, food, lotions, and other oils that can stain the fabric of the dress.
- You must shower before putting the dress on so that sweat, perfumes, glitter, tanner, bronzer, makeup, deodorant, and lotions do not come off on the dress.
- Please remove all of your jewelery prior to trying the dress on.
- If you have longer fingernails, please be mindful while handling the dress.
- Please do not spray any glitter, perfume, hairspray, other fragrances, or smoke around or while trying on the dress.
- It is requested to help us maintain the strictest hygiene standards, that you wear panties while trying on the dress.
- Sit down to try the dress on, being careful with the heel of your shoe.
- Please be delicate with the dress while trying it on. If you are rough, stones can be knocked off or damage can occur.
- You may NOT alter any dress you are trying on! If you do, it will be treated as a purchase.
- Do not use foam double stick tape on our dresses for any reason.
- DO NOT DRYCLEAN OUR DRESSES FOR ANY REASON!
- The Try-On Contract is strictly between you and Encore Ballroom Couture LLC, do not let others try the dresses and any accompanying accessories on.
NOTE: If there are any stains on the dress, you will be held financially responsible for up to the full purchase price of the dress, which is listed on the website. If there is no purchase price listed, then you will be responsible for up to the full original retail price of the dress listed on the website. Assessment of the damage will be at the discretion of Encore Ballroom Couture.
Can I remove the price tag during my try-on?
No, absolutely not. If the dress is returned with the tag detached, it leads us to believe you wore the dress for a show, competition or event.
Why do I see two charges on my credit card statement for a try-on?
The first transaction is the $70 try-on fee. The second charge is the shipping cost. We keep the transactions separate so they can be easily distinguished. You will be sent invoices and receipts for both.
Why is a security deposit necessary?
The security deposit is to protect the financial investment for the owner of the dress. The purchase price listed on the website is the amount of the security deposit. If there is no purchase price listed, than the security deposit will be the original retail price.
The security deposit will be placed as an authorization/hold on your credit card prior to the dress being shipped and held until it is returned. If the authorization/hold is declined, you will be asked for an alternate method of payment before the dress will be shipped. If none is provided then the order is canceled. When the dress is returned, we will release the authorization/hold on your credit card. If for any reason the dress is not returned we will force the charge of the security deposit. A security deposit will be held for each dress in your possession.
What does a forced charge mean and when would it be used?
A forced charge makes an authorization/hold a sale. This occurs when the dress is not registered in the FedEx system within 7 days, lost, stolen, or damaged beyond repair.
What if I am late returning a dress from a try-on?
Each day past the ship date a dress is not received, you will be charged $200 late fee per day, per dress for up to 7 days. After 7 days it will be treated as a purchase and you will not receive a refund of your try-on fee, or security deposit. We will also charge a 5% credit card processing fee to your security deposit/purchase. This will apply to each dress in the shipment.
What if the dress I have for a try-on is lost or stolen?
If the dress is lost or stolen while in your possession, it will be treated as a purchase and you will not receive a refund of your try-on fee, or security deposit. We will also charge a 5% credit card processing fee to your security deposit/purchase. This will apply to each dress in the shipment.
What if the dress I currently have reserved for a try-on is purchased?
The purchase will take priority. You will be notified immediately and have the option to choose a different dress.
What if the owner of the dress I have under contract for try-on, wants it back before it is shipped to me?
The Try-On Contract will be void. You will be notified immediately and have the option to select a different dress.
What if the member’s registration of a dress I want to reserve for a try-on expires in the near future?
If this situation arises, call the Dress Studio at (703) 573-1640 or email any inquiries immediately. The owner of the dress will be notified, and we will look into the possibility of extending their registration.
How do I cancel my Try-On Contract?
Email notification is required for all cancellations. If you cancel within 48 hours of your ship date for the try-on, then you will still be charged the full try-on fee.
Can I custom order a dress on your website?
No, we do not make dresses and do not accept any custom orders.
Why are there multiple dress sizes listed in the dress details?
Due to the elasticity of ballroom dresses, one dress can sometimes fit more than one standard dress size. Please note, we do not carry multiples, all of our dresses are one-of-a-kind.
What does the height requirement mean?
It is a suggested height range for the dress as is. If you purchase the dress you can always add fabric or embellishments at the bottom of the dress to make it longer, or hem it to make it shorter. If you want to rent the dress, you are not allowed to make ANY changes to the dress.
