Kaufman's Wedding World is a rip-off! Lancaster Pennsylvania

I am a former employee of Kaufman's Wedding World in Lancaster, PA. I worked there in 1997 and 1999, while in high school. We had a great management staff at that time in our store, and I really enjoyed my job... helping to make a special day memorable by helping brides find their dream dress.

Upon moving home to Lancaster from Georgia, after being gone several years... I was HORRIFIED to find out from a friend who worked one day a week at Kaufmans to find out what they were doing to customers. Back in April of 2004, my friend worked there part time and she recieved her paycheck one day to find that the Kaufman's had lowered her payrate without telling her. On that same day, an irate Mother of the Bride came in because her daughter's wedding had passed and they had still not gotten the dresses in.

The management staff would not refund this woman's money,due partly to the fact that they did not have the amount of cash on hand, since most of the payments are made by check or credit card. My friend called Mrs. Kaufman to find out why her payrate was lowered by several dollars an hour, and Mrs. Kaufman never responded to her. She quit that very day that she witnessed the incident with the mother of the bride. I can only speak for the late 90's but when I worked there as a salesperson, we only assisted customers picking out the dresses and colors. Once the orders were ready to be placed, we turned it over to the management staff at the counters.

None of the salespeople had ANY access behind the counter or in the computer system or files. If a dress was not in when it had been promised, there was no way we could even check. I know that these lower level salespeople had nothing to do with the deceiving that occurred, and in fact, the salespeople have not been paid their last few checks either. The day my friend left, she stole a list of brides whose dresses were not in and called them personally after she quit to tell them their dresses were not in and probably won't be by what she had witnessed.

I truly feel sick to have ever been involved with the Kaufmans and hope that those whose special day was ruined receive their just reward in prosecuting them in court like the criminals they are. For those of you who made purchases on credit cards or debit cards, your bank or credit card company HAS to legally refund your money. Your money is federally insured and you were victims of fraud. Speak with the supervisors at the banks and DEMAND your money be credited. By the Consumer's Protections Act, you do not legally have to pay for something you did not receive. Don't let yourself get pushed around anymore and educate yourself on your legal rights.

Sincerely,
A sickened community member

*Please read the other complaints, including the one with Ira Kaufman's cell phone number... give him a piece of your mind!!! Someone should turn it in to radio stations!!!

Keri
Mount Joy, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.