Vera Wang made headlines recently as reports were brought forth that potential clients of the new Shanghai-based bridal flagship were being charged a fee of 3000 Chinese Yuan (1770 AED) to try on bridal dresses during a ninety-minute fitting session that included tea. The boutique personnel informed that such a fee, which would be redeemable off the purchase of any gown, had been implemented due to frequent college students coming in to try on dresses without any real intention of making an actual purchase. But the backlash that ensued, which included over 2000 complaints on Sina Weibo, the Chinese micro-blogging site, forced Vera Wang to quickly reassess their customer service. The brand has since released the following statement: “Upon careful investigation and review of the policies of our international operators, we will be abolishing appointment fees in all of our stores. We wish for all Vera Wang customers to enjoy the same standard of excellence worldwide. Treating our customers in a fair and equitable way remains a priority. The store in Shanghai has only been open to private VIP preview appointments. The official opening to the public will take place on April 29.”
