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Local bridal shops offer SharNett customers solutions

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By Jennie Szink, Staff Writer Updated 11:30 AM Friday, July 10, 2009

DAYTON — Beth Fleck said she’s been waiting her whole life to get married, or 49 years to be exact.

She finally met the love of her life, Joe Harper, on eHarmony’s Web site and was going to get the day of her dreams on August 29.

“This has been such a wonderful experience, until this happened,” Fleck said, referring to SharNett Bridal and Prom closing while her wedding dress and bridesmaids’ dresses she ordered through SharNett were still with the vendor.

SharNett closed without notice on Tuesday, July 7. Owner Sharon Arnett said the economy forced her to make the decision the day before. She said she is currently delivering dresses and finishing all customers’ orders.

Having yet to hear from Arnett, Fleck joined the wave of SharNett customers who are taking their business elsewhere in the area. Fleck learned from Altar Bound Bridal and Prom in Dayton that she can reorder her wedding dress through the store. She called her credit card company to open a dispute with SharNett and cancel her payment.

Altar Bound owner Tasha Northcutt said brides can call her store with their name, wedding date, dress manufacturer, dress style, color and size and an employee will call the vendors to find out the order status.

“We are closely talking to each of the vendors we have in common,” Northcutt said.

Linda’s Bridal and Formal in Union is offering help, as well. The store is offering lower prices, discontinued dresses for $99 and has ordered one bride’s dress for only what the vendor was still owed.

“The vendors have to wait until they hear from SharNett,” owner Linda Pierce said. “They’re not releasing dresses to companies until then.”

Help is available at other area bridal shops including Athena’s Bridal and After Five in Centerville, Bethany’s Bridal and Prom in Beavercreek, and Madison Avenue Bridal in Covington, Ky.

Miamisburg detective Jim Duff has received about 100 calls regarding the issue and he and Susan Neely, Montgomery County consumer fraud investigator, will be meeting this afternoon to decide a course of action, Neely said.

Fleck said all she wants from Arnett is a phone call knowing the status of her dress. Until then, she doesn’t know if she can trust Arnett to honor her commitment.

“Not even just for me, but for all these other girls, it just breaks my heart,” Fleck said.

<p class="note">Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2282 or jszink@DaytonDailyNews.com.</p>

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