Darius Cordell

My experience with Darius Cordell was extremely disappointing. The dress and additional email charges were paid in full, including approximately $700 in email-related charges, yet the dress still had not arrived in time for the May 28 wedding.

Back in 2017 I was looking for a way to have my dream wedding dress made. I came across Darius Cordell designs and reached out. After a little bit of back and forth I decided to engage to have them make my gown. I made the initial deposit of 1750 in two parts via paypal October 2017. Life has a way of coming at you fast! That January my hubby's mother died and that July my baby brother was murdered. That put everything on hold. We also lost our income and housing. I mean talk about terrible. Who can even think about a wedding? I received the following email early 2018 (direct quote) "Your garment is just about ready to enter the shipping portion of the process. So we are now contacting you for your final balance. ...Once your payment is confirmed I can authorize your order to leave our production facility (when it is totally finished). It will then be shipped to our offices for final inspection. Once it passes the final inspection it will then be shipped on to you. You will receive email notification on the day it leaves our offices. This process is not instant or overnight. Sometimes adjustments need to be made here in office right before final shipment. So we appreciate your patience during this final portion of the process. Best Regards, Jacquelyn" I reviewed the invoice they sent for final payment and I had a question about the extra 525. I received an inappropriate disrespectful response directing me back to the FAQs. First red flag, but 1750 was invested now. Their so-called itemized statement was not clear, but to be fair, in a different version sent, it listed the fee as a customization fee. Fine. If they charge that, that's all I wanted to know. I asked on April 5th to see a picture. I was imformed it doesn't work that way. I thought that was odd. We went back and they even threatened to hold the dress hostage until I paid. After some back and forth I decided to let it go and try to pay it off. I received devastating news and contacted them shortly after my brother's murder trial began and after a major emergency with my oldest son to let them know things were on hold. I expected another loss since we lost all monies on all deposits. They agreed to hold the dress and were actually very kind. It honestly would take me a while before I resumed payment but I checked in at least twice more, and each time they assured me all was well. This was mid 2018 and I kept every email. I was notified to restart there would be a 500.00 fee. No problem. Paid it in two parts in October 2019. I never received any communication after that until I contacted them again early 2020 to get it finalized. I requested an updated invoice, and the one I received initially seemed low. I knew I hadn't made that many payments. I sent my itemized list of payments and screenshots just to square up. I didn't want to under pay. I was working from the original invoice. When they responded the amount owed was higher than the original invoice. I noticed the dress price was listed almost 300.00 more. I was sure this was an error. I did receive a link but we could not open it on my end, so all I had to go on was an emailed screenshot. My family and friends agreed to help me pay, but I couldn't explain the price difference. Try getting away with that with your husband. Anyway I was a little bothersome because I needed to know where the extra money came from. Ive got family and friends paying this off during Covid-19 while they can. Of course I was anxious while I had help. I sent 3 emails and I marked 2, 2nd & 3rd request. I do that for my records. It's not personal. I received the most disgusting email telling me I was a brudezilla, I had no respect for Covid-19, I dragged this out forever, and that it's not their fault I couldn't read a simple invoice. I was furious! We lost 9ppl to Covid-19 and my nice committed suicide. I was only trying to get them their money! They refused to answer any questions about the charges. My maid of honor could open the link and showed me random charges ever so often that were some change on every dollar. I asked again how the fees accrued and if they would continue while paying the balance. They refused to answer. My family paid the dress off to stop the bleeding. That Monday I got an email stating that they received final payment and my dress would be in hand in 30 days. That would have been June 12, 2020. June 12 came and I checked in. I was told (direct quote) they got a call the previous Thursday that they needed more time for beading but I would have the dress asap this month (June). It would have been nice if they called or emailed. July 1, no dress. I email again. They tell me (direct quote) I expect it to go in transit Monday or Tuesday. I wait until early Wednesday morning and still no dress shipped. They referred me back to the last email sarcastically, and I reminded them expectation is not the same as it actually is in transit. I asked them to clarify if "in transit" means from production to them or from them to me, and for a tracking number. No response to voicemail or email. I took the risk of mail order dress. I own that. I had tragedy occur and delayed. I own that. But I kept my word and so many came together to help me do this, and still no dress! Almost 2 months of run around. I have no reason to believe there even is a dress. They've gone silent, and I lost more money and time rescheduling. No one should have to go through this. I will provide and even screen shot every single email, every payment and every invoice to prove everything I have said is true. Sadly I didn't see other BBB complaints, and I have experienced the exact same thing. I just want my money back, and Im filing with small claims court immediately. This makes no sense. 4500 stolen!