Frequently Asked Questions

 

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Orders

Important Order & Shipping Information

- All orders require 24-48 hours for processing.  TJ Formal does not process orders during weekends or after normal business hours.  Therefore, TJ Formal does not guarantee same day shipping.

- Approximate shipping time via UPS (in stock items):
        Ground: 1-5 business days plus processing time,
        2nd day air: 2 business days plus processing time,
        Next Day Air: 1 business day plus processing time,
        International: 3 days-2 weeks.  
Special orders have additional delivery time.  Additional charges & shipping time apply to AK & HI & International packages.

- Approximate shipping time via USPS (in stock items):
        Priority Mail: 1-5 business days & 1-2 weeks for APO/FPO plus processing time,
        Express Mail: 1-2 business days plus processing time,
        Global Express Mail: 3 days-2 weeks plus processing time.
Special orders have additional delivery time.  Additional charges apply to AK, HI, & International packages.

    - All special orders may have additional production, delivery, or shipping time (from manufacturer).  You will be notified of this via email after your order is processed.

    - The items you order are subject to availability.  Most items are special order & you will be notified of your item's availability & delivery date, via email, when your order is processed.

    - As stated throughout TJ Formal.com, there are NO returns, exchanges, or cancellations on orders.

    - Please notify TJ Formal immediately of any problems with your order or change requests by calling 1-877-769-1336.
 
    - All sales are subject to TJ Formal's Terms and Conditions of Sale.  TJ Formal reserves the right to refuse any order.   

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What is a "Special Order"?

A special order is when we order in a item from our manufacturer because it is out of stock in our store. Sometimes the manufacturer has the item in stock and can ship it out to us immediately. If they do not have it in stock, it must be made to order and delivery time can vary from 2-16 weeks.Once the dress is received in our store, it is shipped to you that same day.

Although we carry thousands of items in stock, most orders are special orders do to the wide range of products that we offer. There is no additional charge for a special order, but we do not accept returns, exchanges or cancellations on them. [top]

How long does it take to get a "special order"?

The quick answer is:
Dresses that are not in-stock in our store, but are in-stock with the manufacturer can take anywhere from 3-12 business days to get to you.  Dresses that are not in-stock at our store OR at the manufacturer and are special ordered, can take anywhere from a few days to several months, depending on the production time.

The detailed answer is:

If it is in-stock with the manufacturer: If we don’t have the dress in-stock in our store we will immediately check with our manufacturer to see about special ordering the dress you want.  If they have the dress in your size and color hanging on their racks they will ship it out to us within 1-6 days (this depends on the season).  After we receive it in our store we ship it out to you the same day!  See: How long does shipping take?

If it is NOT in-stock in our store or with the manufacturer:  If the dress you want is sold out, both in our store and with the manufacturer, we will ask the manufacturer for the next available ship date for a special order.  They will give us a date (anywhere from a few days to several weeks) that the dress you want, in your size and color, will be available to ship, according to its production time.  As soon as they make/receive the dress, they will ship it to our store within the quoted time.  After we receive it in our store we ship it out to you the same day!  See: How long does shipping take?

The above answers are generally for prom dresses, but can also apply to other dresses, shoes and accessories.  Here are some more important guidelines for those items that are almost ALWAYS specially made-to-order for you:

    -Bridal gowns: Generally take 12-18 weeks for delivery.  Rush delivery/production (8-10 weeks) is often available for an additional charge. (Occasionally the style, size and color you need is in stock at our store or with the manufacturer and can reach you in as little as a week or two, but this is rare, so let us know if you have availability questions regarding specific items.)

     - Bridesmaid gowns: Generally take 10-14 weeks for delivery.  Rush delivery/production (3-8 weeks) is often available for an additional charge. (Occasionally the style, size and color you need is in stock at our store or with the manufacturer and can reach you in as little as a week or two, but this is rare, so let us know if you have availability questions regarding specific items.)


Additional notes:
We cannot drop ship items from the manufacturer to you!  This is a strict policy enforced by all of our suppliers to protect the integrity of their retail stores, so it’s important to plan ahead so that there is plenty of time for your dress to be delivered to you.

Upgrades in shipping are always available if you are on a tight schedule or if you just want your dress sooner!  Keep in mind that shipping upgrades only affect the actual shipping time from the manufacturer to our store, from our store to you, or both, but NOT the production time.

Every order, for every dress, for every event date is different!  These basic guidelines can change based on the situation, so please contact us for more information or if you’re working within short time frame.  We’re more than happy to work with you to find a solution that and ALWAYS want to help you find a dress!

More info.: How do I know if a dress is in stock? & How do I check availability and delivery time?
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What is a "Wear Date"?

Your wear date is the date that you will be wearing your item. If we can't get your item to you before this date, we will cancel your order and notify you via email. We realize that most people need to receive their item well before their event for alterations, accessory shopping, etc. so we always keep this in mind when processing your order.

If you have a scheduled alterations appointment, will be leaving town to travel to your event, or simply require your dress earlier than your wear date, please feel free to list this date as your wear date. [top]

Can I cancel my order?

Orders that have been processed cannot be canceled or refunded. Due to the special order nature of most items, we are not able to cancel orders that have already been placed with our manufacturers, especially those that are already in production or in transit. In stock items are generally shipped out within 48 hours and cannot be canceled once in transit.

Because orders are processed and shipped as quickly as possible in order to ensure that you receive the gown you want before your wear date we can not allow a cancellation period. Most orders are processed within 24-48 hours, but during business hours they are often processed within a few hours. However, if you are able to contact us immediately following the submission of an order, before it is processed & shipped, we will do our best to help you! [top]

My order status says "Cancelled", why?

Did you check your order status online only to find that the estimated ship date said "cancelled"? Unfortunately, this means that we were unable to fill your order.  Please accept our apology for not being able to fill your order!  We note "cancelled" here as a back up to our email confirmation.  Please check your email to find out specific details about your order, why it was cancelled, and possible alternative options.  Remember that we won't charge your credit card if we have to cancel your order.  For more info. about this see: When is my credit/ debit card charged? & How do Paypal payments work? &  How are personal checks and money orders handled?

Believe us, we always want to help you find a dress and we always want to fill your orders!  Unfortunately we aren't always able to.  A few reasons for this are that we may not have been able to get you the dress you wanted in time for your specific wear date and dresses sell out fast and your size and color may already be gone.  Especially during prom season, the hot dress styles will go fast so be ready to make your decision quickly and to always have a second or third option. If your dress wasn't available, don’t get discouraged, there are thousands of dresses to choose from and we’ll do our best to help you find another one that you’ll love! Please call or email with questions or to check availability on another dress.

Keep in mind that inventory can change everyday, every hour, and even every minute during our peak season.  We keep our inventory and website as updated as possible, and although we apologize for the inconvenience, we are not responsible for items that are no longer available and can not guarantee the item you want will be available at the time you order it, in time for your wear date, or at all.

(If you were to add up the number of prom designers that we carry, times number of dresses in their lines, times all the colors and sizes each of those dresses is available in you would have get a total of approximately a quarter of a million dress options!  And that's just for prom dresses! Considering this huge amount of dresses that we offer on our website it is impossible for us to keep our website updated according to our manufacturers' ever changing inventory, so we appreciate your understanding if the dress you want is no longer available.  Please keep searching or ask for our help because we want to help you find a dress that you love!)

See: How do I know if a dress is in stock? and learn how to find dresses that are available for immediate delivery!

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Why has my order been cancelled?

Did your confirmation email say that your order was cancelled?
Please accept our apology for not being able to fill your order!  Believe us, we always want to help you find a dress and we always want to fill your orders!  Unfortunately we aren't always able to do so.  A few reasons for this are that we may not have been able to get you the dress you wanted in time for your specific wear date, dresses sell out fast and your size and color may already be gone. Please check your email again to find out specific details about your order, why it was cancelled, and possible alternative options.  Remember that we won't charge your credit card if we have to cancel your order.  For more info. about this see: When is my credit/ debit card charged? &  How are personal checks and money orders handled?

Especially during prom season, the hot dress styles will go fast so be ready to make your decision quickly and to always have a second or third option. If your dress wasn't available, don’t get discouraged, there are thousands of dresses to choose from and we’ll do our best to help you find another one that you’ll love!  Please call or email with questions or to check availability on another dress.

Keep in mind that inventory can change everyday, every hour, and even every minute during our peak season.  We keep our inventory and website as updated as possible, and although we apologize for the inconvenience, we are not responsible for items that are no longer available and can not guarantee the item you want will be available at the time you order it, in time for your wear date, or at all. 

(If you were to add up the number of prom designers that we carry, times number of dresses in their lines, times all the colors and sizes each of those dresses is available in you would have get a total of approximately a quarter of a million dress options!  And that's just for prom dresses! Considering this huge amount of dresses that we offer on our website it is impossible for us to keep our website updated according to our manufacturers' ever changing inventory, so we appreciate your understanding if the dress you want is no longer available. Please keep searching or ask for our help because we want to help you find a dress that you love!)

See: How do I know if a dress is in stock? for dresses that are available for immediate delivery! [top]

I bought a dress yesterday, but I have a coupon today, can I still use it?

We’re happy to offer you discounts on our merchandise whenever possible; however the coupons can only be used at the time of purchase, while valid.  We can not reimburse you for the amount of a coupon on previously purchased items. Coupons are only valid for the dollar amount or percentage as stated, prior to the expiration date stated.  TJ Formal reserves the right to change prices at anytime without prior notice.   We encourage you to hurry and take advantage of the coupons we offer! [top]

The dress I bought yesterday is on sale today, can I get the sale price?

We’re happy to offer you discounts and sales on our merchandise whenever possible; however we can only offer the sale prices as listed at the time they are listed.  We can not reimburse you for previously purchased items that are presently on sale or that may go on sale in the future. TJ Formal reserves the right to change prices at anytime without prior notice.  We encourage you to take advantage of our discounts and sales as they’re offered!

Sign up for our email newsletter and we'll notify you about sales and discounts!
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How will you contact me (about my order)?

We will contact you regarding your order status and with questions about your order via EMAIL.   It’s VERY important that the email you gave us on your order is correct, in use, and that you check it often.  If you need to correct yours or if you haven’t received an email from us within 24-48 hours confirming your order, please call us at 1-877-769-1336!

In the event that there is any type of emergency, or if we need further clarification regarding something in your order we will call you at the phone number you supplied on your order form. [top]

I just placed my order, can I change something?

Because orders are processed and shipped as quickly as possible in order to ensure that you receive the gown you want before your wear date, we often can not make changes to them. Most orders are processed within 24-48 hours, but during business hours they are often processed within a few hours.  However, if you are able to contact us immediately following the submission of an order, before it is processed, we will do our best to help you!  Please have your order number ready when calling. [top]

I think I placed a duplicate order, what should I do?

If we receive more than one order for the same item from the same customer we realize that it’s most likely a mistake or technical problem, so we’ll ask you before processing them both! If you’re not sure how many orders you placed or what items you purchased on that order, you can check your order status to keep updated on your orders.  Just let us know, as soon as possible, if something isn’t right!  Please have your order number ready when calling. [top]

I just placed my order, now what?

First, thank you for choosing TJ Formal! We hope that you'll love your dress and we will keep you as updated as possible about your order status until the dress is delivered to you. We can't stress enough how important it is that you check your email frequently as this is the way we will communicate with you about your order status. Please be sure that the email you gave us is correct, in use, and that you check it often. If you haven't received an email from a member of our staff with your order status and it's been more than 24-48 hours, please call us at 1-877-769-1336 so that we can confirm!

After we receive your order a member of our staff will begin processing your order. If we can get the dress you want, when you want it, we'll email you telling you this and get the dress on its way to you! If we can NOT get the dress for you before your wear date, we'll let you know that as well, and give you some other options to choose from. Don't worry, we will NOT charge your card if we cannot fill your order. During peak season it can often be difficult to get the most popular dresses due to the high demand, so it's really important for you to check your email or contact us to be sure that your order was filled. We don't want you waiting for a dress that wasn't available, and we always want to help you find another one!

Want more details about the availability and how order delivery works? See : If I order a dress, how long will it take to get to me? [top]

How can I order a gown?

You may order from our website shopping cart, by calling us at 1-877-769-1336 or by visiting our store in Joplin, Missouri.

When ordering on our website simply choose an item, color, size, etc. and "Add to Cart". Once you’re happy with your selections, proceed to “Check Out” and follow the instructions.  Make sure you provide the correct billing and shipping information, correct email (this is how we’ll contact you regarding the order), phone number (in case of emergency), and payment information.  Double check your dress style, size and color as well because we do not accept returns or exchanges.  We will begin processing your order as soon as possible, but remember that your order is not complete until you receive a notification email from a member of our staff with the availability and delivery details.  We will never charge your credit card unless we can fill your order by your wear date!

We communicate with our customers via email concerning their order status so it’s VERY important that the email you gave us is correct, in use, and that you check it often.  If you need to correct yours or if you haven’t received an email from us within 24-48 hours confirming your order, please call us at 1-877-769-1336!

If you prefer to order by phone, please call us at 1-877-769-1336.  Be sure to have your dress style number, size, color and wear date ready to give to a member of our staff.  Also have your credit card handy so that we can complete the order for you if the dress you want is available.

Please contact us if you have trouble placing your order or if we can be of any assistance!


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How can I check my order status?

You are able to check the status of your order online or by phone. Online, click to Login at the top right of the home page  From here you can view your order, billing/shipping information, estimated ship date and tracking number, when available.

Please note:  We recommend checking back often because if there is a problem or cancellation with your order we will note that here (after we notify you by email and/or phone, of course), so if you haven’t received an email, check here.

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Prom Hair Styles

A great prom hair style is so important for your prom look! To make sure you look your absolute best on your big night be sure to plan ahead. It's a good idea to practice your prom hair updo several weeks before your prom to see how long it will take, what items you will need, and if it's really the style for you and your dress. If you're having your hair done at a salon, make an appointment well in advance and take along a picture to show your stylist exactly what you want. Your prom pics will be great and you'll have more fun as you dance the night away.

Dressing Your Maids

The first step to choosing a bridesmaid gown is to determine the formality, style and fabric of the wedding gown so that the maids gowns do not overpower the bride. Choose the color first to narrow choices. You might want to begin choosing a gown style with the larger maids in mind. In recent years, prices have declined making the average maid's dress only $140. With careful selection, your bridesmaids will be happy with the final results and spend the wedding day celebrating with the bride and her groom.

How to Shop for Your Dress

Start shopping early. Try on lots of different styles to narrow your choices. Formal dresses run about one size smaller than your regular clothes. Take the salesperson's suggestions about what styles and colors look good on you. Let them help you try on the dresses to save you time. Alterations are important for a perfect fit. Allow plenty of time for alterations and fittings. Bring the shoes you will be wearing to your appt. Buy your jewelry, shoes and other accessories at the time of the dress purchase. Have a great time at your formal event!