Do not trust Kari Zoril/Influence Apparel. Wayyy overcharges and doesn’t do what they say they’re gonna do. (She also tells people she’ll discount their bill if they leave a positive review; pretty unethical.) I’m sure her response is going to be something super positive saying she’s sorry (only after I’ve left this review) and probably that she appreciates the feedback. 🙄
Edit: I thought I could make this brief, but her response warrants me explaining the truth... I was uneasy from the very first appointment, when no one showed up. But I decided to give another chance. At the second appointment before I even saw the seamstress I was told very plainly that she would offer a DISCOUNT if I left a POSITIVE REVIEW online (which seamed unethical, but money is tight and if I had a good experience I would’ve shared it). During the fitting the seamstress who was barely allowed to speak, started pinning the dress in a way that made the dress take a weird shape (I’ve been through my share of alterations and know how this usually goes), but I was emphatically reassured that the bust of the dress would keep the natural form it came in with. We finished the fitting and I was given a quote of over $500 (I didn’t even pay $500 for the dress and I was told that what I needed were basic alterations.) I was blown away and told her that I thought it best that I get a second opinion. Her response was that I would be charged an additional $50 for a second fitting if I decided to come back. I decided to leave the dress there with the pins in place and call back with my decision the next day. I called back and asked if I could do some of the easier work and then they could finish the more challenging stuff. She said she would work with me, but that she had another seamstress that wanted to look at my dress to see if she could do the same alterations in a different way that would cost less; I was told she would call me back over the weekend. So I waited for a call back. And didn’t get one. I called her early the next week and left a message, and then called again and finally spoke with Kari. I was told the same alterations could be done for $100 less. Great, lets do it... I was then told I would need another appointment for my second fitting when the first alterations would be done and they would see if there are any small adjustments to make. I call to make my appointment and I’m told they don’t need to see me until 2 weeks later (5 weeks from the fitting). I scheduled and when I got there none of the work was done (with the exception of one piece of netting which had about 3’ cut off) nothing was sewn and the pins on the right side of the bust were changed. I asked why the alterations weren’t done and the response was that this appointment was because women’s bodies change around their period and they wanted to make sure everything was going to fit appropriately. It was then that I told her she was making me very nervous and frustrated, and that it is getting so close to my event that if something goes poorly I’m not going to have time to get it fixed. She told me I needed to trust her. I told her I was trying and scheduled my next appointment another 3 weeks out (which was 2 weeks before my wedding). I was so uneasy, within the week after I messaged and explained that I was cancelling my alterations and wanted to pick up my dress. I got there and she charged me $75 for the fitting and the one piece of fabric that was cut. I argued that I shouldn’t be charged full price for a fitting I was cancelling and a “hem” that wasn’t even done. I was very upset at this point but she took my card swipes it and said that I wasn’t going to be happy with her no matter what she said. Which is probably true, because this was a huge waste of my time and now money. I found an amazing seamstress who is charging me a third of the price and...
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