I really hate making posts like this
I really hate making posts like this, especially about a small business, but I feel like other dance parents should know about our experience with Pearl Dazzle. We ordered a custom costume from them last year for $375. There were some communication issues during the process—we were initially told our sketch would be started right away, then later told the costume was already in production even though we had never received or approved a sketch. Eventually we found out there had been a mix-up on their end and it actually hadn’t been started yet. I was understanding about the situation, everything eventually got worked out, and most importantly, the finished costume was beautiful. We loved it, which is exactly why we chose to return this year. At the end of this past dance season, I contacted Pearl Dazzle about another costume. I sent them the exact design we were interested in, which was based on one of their previous designs with some color changes. They looked at what I sent, told me they could do it, and quoted me $475 for a child-size costume. That was already a $100 increase from the $375 we paid last year, and I was completely fine with that. I understand that prices go up, businesses grow, and costs change. I told them I just needed approval from my daughter’s dance teacher. Once I received that approval, I came back ready to place the order. That’s when I was told the costume would now start at $575. So within the span of one year, the price went from $375 → $475 → $575, with the last $100 increase happening after they had already looked at the costume I wanted and specifically quoted me $475 for it. That is where I have an issue. I wasn’t asking them to honor last year’s $375 price. I wasn’t upset about paying $475. I had already accepted that increase and was prepared to place the order at the price I had been quoted. My disappointment comes from being given a quote for the exact costume we discussed and then being told it would cost another $100 when I returned ready to purchase it. More than anything, the entire experience made us feel very unvalued as returning customers. We came back specifically because we loved their work and wanted to support their business again, even after the communication issues we experienced last year. I want to be fair and say that their work is beautiful. Our costume last year really was gorgeous. Unfortunately, beautiful work doesn’t make up for inconsistent communication and pricing that changes after a customer has already been given a quote. I’m simply sharing our experience so other dance families can make their own informed decisions. For us, after two years of communication issues and this year’s pricing situation, we’ve decided to take our business elsewhere.
By Amelia E.