AniA Collection

04/06/2008 Posted by studentshopper

This place is hideously over-priced and lacks any commitment to customer service or satisfaction. They came across as "trying to make a buck at ANY cost" EVERY time I had to talk to them on the phone. They made it extremely hard for me to do business with them as an out-of-town bridesmaid for a wedding I was in. You'd think that they could possibly pony-up for shipping my bridesmaid dress to me after I spent over $300.00...but no. It is completely unfortunate that you are a beholden audience to the bridal industry and this shop knows it. They will do anything to clean out your wallet. Additionally, when I phoned in for various questions and scheduling, I always received a different answer from each person I talked to. This is extremely unprofessional. They can't even get their facts straight. This place is an utter disaster to deal with. I do NOT recommend them.

Pros: The dress is beautiful, but then again it better be seeing as it costs an arm & a leg

Cons: over-priced, terrible service, rude, rigid, unknowledgable...the list goes on!

03/06/2008 Posted by WritingFool

Too frequently, shopping for a bridal gown carries all the joys of a root canal; a tedious and painful procedure performed in an un-empathetic atmosphere run by professionals profiting from an exclusive market. Whatever happened to those dreamy, exciting gown-shopping montages girls imagine in childhood? We all know that it’s never going to be “perfect,” but does that mean a bride has to put up with rude treatment and dishonesty? I should think not. ANiA’s provides a welcomed alternative: good service, great dresses, and straightforward business practices. A writer and recent graduate in southern Oregon, I was determined to make the most of my gown-scavenging trips to Portland. I went during a trunk show—which usually means poor, rushed service. My experience, however, could not have been better. The staff is friendly and familiar with their inventory . Within minutes Megan had pulled a generous number of gowns for me, and I found the gown of my dreams without pressure or sales pitches. I was impressed by the associates; they didn’t ignore if they were not your assigned associate. I was also the type of customer that tends to annoy and aggravate—I went in worried and paranoid because of a wedding dress fiasco my sister had gone through a year earlier at a different dress store. My sister found the wedding dress of her dreams at a shop that was anything BUT ‘Fabu.’ The experience was a disaster. Even though she ordered her gown a year ahead of time, we almost didn’t receive it. The owner swore the gown was on its way—on the rare occasions she bothered to return calls. Only after directly contacting the manufacturer did she receive the dress. When shopping, finding the dress is only half of the battle, and the only part of the process you can control. Read store reviews and do your research. Bottom line, I went into ANiA’s paranoid, hesitant, and bitter, but came out ecstatic about my purchase, their shop, and the experience. ANiA’s is a safe bet.

Pros: Beautiful Dresses, great service.

Cons: Some dresses fairly expensive.

02/28/2008 Posted by maidofhonor08

AniA is wonderful. I went to try on bridemaids dresses, the same weekend as the Mika Inatome bridal trunk show. It was very busy. Rachel helped us out that day and she was wonderful! We probably tried on 30 dresses. Rachel was very knowledgable and friendly. She talked about all the options with each of the dresses in terms of fabric and color. It was great. We have 7 bridesmaids in the wedding and Rachel was able to help us select a dress that would be flattering on all of us. It was a wonderful experience.

02/23/2008 Posted by JadeRose1987

BEST BRIDAL SHOP OUT OF 8 I WENT TO IN PORTLAND METRO AREA! I have been to 8 different bridal shops from couture shops to basic wedding and formal places and this by far was th best experience! I walked in and was overwhelmed with all of their dresses, the sales lady asked me what I was looking for, my budget etc. She pointed me to a few different racks for me to look through and I ended up collecting 13 dresses to try on! She brought them all into the perfectly size dressing room and we tried each one on. She never pushed a design I didn't like or a dress out of my price range, my budget was $1000, so when she brought me a couture gown ("last seasons" design, even though you couldn't tell!) It was perfect! I got it for $700! She was really kind and really listened to what I wanted and what I was looking for. She brought over accessories just so I could see about how the whole thing would look with a veil etc but didn't even ask me to buy those things! She just wanted me to feel how I would on my wedding day! She was great! Highly recommended and great prices on beautiful gowns! they have things for everyone's budget, just be honest with them and they would be happy to find you that perfect gown! Soon-to-be Mrs. Didriksen :)

Pros: They listen to your wants and needs!

01/07/2008 Posted by saraschoemp

I had very a pleasant experience during my visits at AniA Collection. The staff (especially Josie) is very friendly, helpful, and willing to squeeze you in at a moments notice (though I would suggest making an appointment out of courtesy). Their bridal gowns, though a little more expensive than other stores, are gorgeous and unique. They also carry the most beautiful bridesmaid dresses in town.

04/08/2007 Posted by buttercup8301

....Because I have nothing to say except great things about AniA's. My appointment was during the week and not only did my saleswoman help me find my absolute dream gown, she then took the time to help me find my bridesmaids' dresses and all my accessories. The store is beautiful, the girl who helped me was professional, extremely knowledgeable, and by the end of my appointment, someone I felt completely comfortable with. I would really recommend going during the week...I stopped by on a Saturday and all the salespeople were busy with people who did have appointments so make an appointment or go on a Wednesday in the middle of the day. The dresses in the store are by far the most beautiful I've seen in Portland and the employees are very lovely and accomadating. If you want a really memorable experience when you pick out your wedding gown (great customer service, beautiful gowns, and a relaxed environment), go to AniA's!

Pros: Fantastic customer service, beautiful gowns

Cons: Slightly more expensive dresses (but worth it)

02/09/2007 Posted by diapod

If you want to be helped by an inexperienced anorectic teenager who makes comments about how you really do have a whole 10 months to lose weight for your wedding while she helps you into a dress, rolls her eyes when you walk in without an appointment and then directs you to a book without actually allowing me to look at any of the dresses, then this is the salon for you. The moment I walked into the store, I was asked, where have I looked for dresses? What was my budget? Did I have an appointment? My sales-child kindly pointed to a book on the table and told me that maybe I could afford something in that book since my budget was "only $1000". I had the pleasure of overhearing the saleswomen complain about how I didn't have an appointment and how could I just walk in. There was one other customer in the store who was being helped, and at least 3 sales people standing around. Apparently, they did not want to sell dresses because none of them felt like helping me despite not having other women (with appointments). These women were rude, unprofessional, and not worth the time it takes to find parking.

Pros: I know what bad service is.

Cons: Waste of an hour on a saturday, overpriced dresses, snooty saleswomen.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

12/18/2006 Posted by pdxchiatl

Things must have dramatically changed in the past couple months...because I had a VERY positive experience when I went in Nov 2006. I went in hopes of trying on one particular designer's bridal gown and expecting the less than desirable service, but I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. I had a mid-week appointment, so the store was not busy - which seems to make a difference in all bridal stores. The woman who helped me was friendly, approachable, and more than helpful. She encouraged me to I try on many dresses, and even brought me a couple of dresses similar in style to the others I liked. They even let me look through the racks (a rarity in high-end bridal shops). Even though I decided to have a vintage family gown altered for my wedding, I would highly recommend AniA's to any of my friends. If you have ample room in your budget - AniA's has a phenomenal collection.

Pros: Beautiful collection, High-end & hard to find designers

Cons: Must park on street or in parking garage

01/05/2006 Posted by alibear

This is a horriby unprofessional bridal shop. The consultant that worked with me did not use any clips on the dresses I tried on so I couldn't tell if anything would look right in my size or not. They did not offer me a strapless bra so my bra was hanging out of every dress I put on. After choosing a few dresses from a catalog (they won't even let you look through the rack), I was told that four dresses was enough to try on during my appt. The dressing rooms consist of curtains pulled around you and offer almost no privacy. I can not even believe I wasted my time in this shop!

Cons: rude consultants, poor selection, no privacy

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

05/12/2005 Posted by dsisk

This store carries some wonderful designers, but the employees are extremely unprofessional. The three young women that were in the store during my appointment were more concerned with comparing their heights with one another than assisting me during my appointment. They don't allow you to look through the dresses and tell you a certain number that you are allowed to try on (6). They hand you this book to flip through and then go back to socializing with one another. Obviously they are not trained in the likes of customer service. If I were the owner of this store, I would hire a new, older and more professional staff that isn't comprised of caddy young girls.

Cons: unprofessional, inexperienced, immature