KC Weddings .net - Ripping Tags from Bridal Gowns

Why Salons Shouldn’t Rip Tags From Bridal Gowns
Part Two By Dorothea Salo

What To Do
Knowledge is power. Inform any bridal salon whose gowns do not contain a tag they are breaking the law, and that you do not do business with lawbreakers. It might help to have a copy of the law or a copy of the FTC’s guidelines handy to show them; they may not believe you. Then walk out, and write them a letter telling them the same thing. Including the text of the law or the FTC’s guidelines as an attachment to your letter isn’t a bad idea. Also, if you plan to report these folks to the FTC, tell them so.

Write down the date and time of your visit to the salon, the name of the salesperson (if possible), and as much as you can remember of what you were told. Keep this information; the more you can tell the FTC about what happened, the more likely they are to take you seriously.

You can file a complaint with the FTC by contacting the Consumer Response Center. Their phone number is 202-FTC-HELP (382-4357), and their TDD number is 202-326-2502. The snail mail address is: Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580. The FTC also has an online complaint form.

The Better Business Bureau may also be interested in what you have to say. You can file a complaint with them at www.bbb.org; your complaint will be forwarded to the appropriate chapter of the organization.

Another source of aid may be local scambusters associated with newspapers or radio/TV stations. As long as you’re sending letters out, drop one by these folks.

What To Say
Here is what you should say when you write to agencies about offending bridal salons. These are only recommendations; you may of course ignore them, or modify them as you wish.

This is a business letter. Don’t forget to include your return address (top right), the address of the agency you’re writing to (below your address, at left), and the date (below their address, at left). Use a colon after the salutation.

The opening paragraph should be an attention grabber. Explain that you have witnessed X shop (give the shop’s name, address, and telephone number, along with a contact at the shop if you know of one) breaking federal law (include the law: the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act, United States Code Title 15, sections 70b and/or 70c) and you are concerned about it and would like to see action taken.

In the next paragraphs, explain concisely and in detail what happened to you at the shop, and precisely how this breaks the law. Use direct quotes (in quotation marks) from the people at the shop if and only if you wrote them down word for word at the time; otherwise, make it clear that you are paraphrasing what went on, but do be as specific as possible about what was said and done.

Explain what you would like done in the next paragraph or two. If you want the shop to disclose information about its gowns to you, say so. If you want the agency you’re writing to to punish the shop somehow, say how. (Be realistic. Not all agencies will have the power to do anything to the shop.) If you’re writing to the FTC, explain that you want to see the law you mentioned enforced, both in the case of this salon and across the country.

Include a final paragraph reiterating what you said at the beginning of your letter, and thank the agency for its time and attention.

MORE... READ THE ACTUAL LAW