The Sample Rack

I would definitely recommend the Sample Rack to brides-​to-​be. This was the 6^th store I went to, so I knew what I wanted by the time I came here. I sent Anna pictures ahead of time, and she and Rachel had already pulled a number of great options when I arrived. The atmosphere is friendly and having the store to yourself makes the experience feel more relaxed. I came in with my mom on a Thursday and actually found 3 dresses I liked, but I couldn’t decide. Rachel and Anna were very accommodating in letting me come back another day with my sister to make a final choice. One small note: if you have a firm budget, you will need to explicitly say that you don’t want to see dresses above that price, otherwise they may bring you dresses that are a couple hundred over your max price.
When I purchased the dress, Anna said that the designer was Marisa. I noticed after I purchased the dress that the tag had been removed from the dress (you could see where it had once been sewn in), so I didn’t have any info about the style number or name. I called Anna, and she let me know that the dress was missing the tag when they got it, so the only info she had was that the dress was a Marisa. After combing the internet, I found the dress, and the designer was actually Paloma Blanca (Style #4415). The dress comes with a unique detachable flower attachment for the sash, which removes any doubt that it’s the same dress.
Given that they thought it was a Marisa, I was worried that the price they charged me might have been off, but I was relieved to see that I had paid a fair price (~$ 500 less than what the dress retails for, so a 25% discount). I’m happy with my purchase and again, would definitely recommend the Sample Rack to others, but I just wanted to share this experience so other brides are informed consumers. Buying a dress that has had the tags removed, without first verifying what you’re really buying (including the style number/​name), is not a savvy move, and it’s easy to miss these details when you’re making such an emotional decision– so always check!

I had been holding out on coming here until I was adequately prepared (mentally and physically) to go dress shopping. When I saw the time slip by and I only had 5 months left to look, I sucked in my abs and finally made an appointment. It took some phone tag to finally speak with Carlene, but we were able to schedule a definite appointment date and time for the next week while putting me on a waiting list for the more coveted Saturday afternoon appts. Carlene followed up 3x on getting me in on the weekend. 1^st call on Thursday was to tell me that there might be a spot opening up on Saturday. 2^nd call on Thursday afternoon to tell me that all the brides had confirmed. 3^rd call on Friday evening to tell me that she had a last minute cancellation. Great followup!
Now the appointment itself — I had tried on a few dresses at David’s and wasn’t blown away by anything. I thought I had an idea of what looked good on me, but wasn’t sold on any particular style. I arrived at the shop just as Carlene and Rachel were finishing up with another bride and they chatted briefly about likes and dislikes. They showed me to the dressing area in the back, had me undress while they started pulling dresses. Every dress they chose was super flattering and I could see that they had really taken my size/​shape into consideration and the helped match accessories to show a completed look.
I ended up with a dress that if they hadn’t selected for me, I would have written off as too ornate. But it’s true what they say… you know when you know. I knew because I was actually sad to take it off.
Without Carlene and Rachel, I probably would’ve settled for a dress that I felt was flattering and appropriate for the event. But now I have an amazing and beautiful dress that I’m excited to wear.

I came here on short notice while passing through town with my mom. Rachel and the gentleman who greeted us (Jim?) were amazingly accommodating and welcoming! They explained the dress options (I’m planning a wedding just a few months out and sample dresses are a great option! Keep it simple!) and they helped me choose things that would work for me. Rachel immediately recognized my style as «not cutesy» (which I appreciated) and gave me great advice. We really enjoyed our visit and highly recommend this place. They have a lovely and not overwhelming array of options and styles at reasonable prices. The space is beautiful, too!

We came in on time and they weren’t ready for us for another 10 minutes. We looked through the racks and I didn’t see anything I liked. I can’t remember who was helping me but she made me try on a «gorgeous» gown in her mind that was nothing like the pictures I showed her. It was terrible. And then she blamed my budget even though no matter how much it would have been they had nothing to offer that I would have liked. They were discouraging and said «that kind of dress will cost way more than your budget». Thanks for your help and encouragement for someone looking for a dress…
Also, This place was much smaller than I anticipated and more expensive as well. I don’t think the pictures they posted are really fair to what they have in stock because it’s always changing.

I understood I was shopping at a Sample store and was told that the dresses were sold as is and at a significant discount. My daughter fell in love with a dress, but being very cost conscious asked if they could do a bit better than the $ 1000.00 we were quoted. The saleswoman excused herself to call the store manager to see if this was possible. She returned and said the price was firm and that we were getting a real deal, as the original cost of the dress was $ 2000.00. We took the dress, feeling as if we had gotten a good deal. Unfortunately, I was able to find the dress on many online websites (including The Knot) and the price range was $ 1000 – 1499.00. I called Carlene to address the issue and request a discount of $ 200, based on the fact that we bought the dress with the understanding we were getting a 50%discount. She called the owner and he refused our request. Carlene explained that she could not change what we were told by her staff and that we were still getting a good price. She further relayed that the owner offered to throw in a free veil or take back the dress. At that point we were offered no other discounts. (At no point did I threaten a bad review if I did not get what I wanted.)We were not interested in any of the three veils in the store. After much back and forth and Carlene not wanting a poor review for the store, she offered to give us the 10% discount that the owner gives to Jefferson Hospital employees. I responded that we were not interested in taking the discount as we were not affiliated with the hospital. It felt like I was being bribed to not write a negative review. Shame on me for trusting that I was being told the truth by the salesperson and manager. Shame on them for the way they handled the issue. Research before you buy.

Hands down the best bridal experience that I’ve had. I went to 2 other shops before The Sample Rack, both of which were excellent experiences, but TSR was simply superb. Carlene took the time to give me a personalized experience from the first phone call. I went with my mom and sister and we had the shop to ourselves for an hour. Carlene and 2 other associates were knowledgable and personable. They made us feel like family! They took their time with me, and never rushed me out of a dress, or out of the store (even when the next appointment showed, they let me try on my dress again to be sure it was the one). They helped me into and out of each dress; this is what celebritites must feel like! The only difficult part of the experience was choosing a dress as there were several strong contenders to choose from. All of the staff gave detailed and concise feedback which helped me make my final decision. This is a must-​go for all brides! I have always had champagne taste on a beer budget, and I was nervous about purchasing a gown, as I wanted to get the most bang for my buck. I am able to rest easy now, because I got an absolutely exquisite gown that was right within my budget (around $ 1000). I could go on forever, just make an appointment and see for yourself!

I went to The Sample Rack this past weekend with my mom and one of my bridesmaids. This was the second bridal boutique I visited.
What an incredible experience! We had the store to ourselves for about an hour and the personalized attention was unreal. We had two women assisting — I believe it was Anna and Carleen? They were fabulous — so polite, gracious and welcoming. They listened to what I wanted and helped us select gowns that were a good mix of what I thought I wanted and a few different silhouettes just to experiment (you never know, ladies! Try a few different types and see!)
One quick tip: since this store only carries sample gowns, you really should go to a few other bridal boutiques first just so you can try on different types of dresses and have a good idea of what will/won’t work for you. If you find your dream gown here, you have to act fast as there is no guarantee it will be there the next week (they turn over their inventory on a regular basis). The ladies will tell you this on the phone when you call to make an appointment — -take their advice!
I did select a gown I saw in the window display and just had to try on — -it fit like a glove and that was that, wedding gown purchased!
Seamless, fun and stress-​free experience. HIGHLY recommend!!!

I cannot say enough good things about Carleen and the Sample Rack. I had been to four dress stores previously and looking back, none compared to my experience at TSR. Carleen has a true skill and is honest and resourceful. I am so pleased with my experience and my selection! The Sample Rack is a must :)

Rachel and Carleen are amazing. Helpful, not pushy, warm, and friendly. I had a great experience and found my dress! I would definitely recommend The Sample Rack to anyone who is looking for a wedding dress!

Absolutely wonderful!
I had a less than stellar experience at another bridal shop so I wasn’t too excited about dress shopping (even after loosing 30 pounds a couple years earlier), but Carleen… she’s wonderful.
Every bride gets undivided attention. She really listens to you and doesn’t do the whole «oh just try this on — you never know» thing, so you won’t end up feeling terrible about yourself because it’s just the wrong kind of cut for your body.
She had me look around and then she pulled some additional dresses that I never would have thought to pull, but were great options. She knows what will be flattering, has great suggestions, and is so, so nice.
The prices are stellar, too!

After reading The Sample Rack’s fantastic Unilocal reviews, I decided to give it a try. Carlene and her team were exactly what I needed. They were professional, blunt, assertive when needed, and not afraid to slip in a wild card suggestion. The dress I bought was the first dress I tried on; however, Carlene was patient and guided me through the process.
She was most respecting of my budget and really made my mom and sister feel comfortable about the experience, too. The dress I purchased is beautiful, timeless, and not cookie cutter at all! I am so thrilled that The Sample Rack was my first and only stop!

I was sent to the Sample Rack after a friend found her gown there. I called and after a few tries, got through. Talking to Carleen on the phone, I knew she’d try her best to find the perfect dress.
I went to server all shops beforehand, and found a dress I loved. When I got to the Sample Rack, Carleen showed me a bunch of fantastic gowns, but none lived up to my favorite. She actually told me that clearly Ioved the other dress and recommended that I go back to another shop and buy it! She clearly wants every bride to be happy and wants you to pick the perfect dress, even if it’s not from her shop.
If you want a comfortable, enjoyable, stress free experience, go to the sample rack. They will try their best to find you the perfect gown, but will be honest and will never make you feel guilty for choosing elsewhere. I highly recommend this amazing shop.

After reading rave reviews for The Sample Rack, I called and scheduled an appointment with Carlene. She asked if I’d tried on dresses previously and advised me that if I found a dress I loved, I should purchase it today because it could be gone tomorrow, so to speak. Sample Rack was the last stop on my day of wedding shop appointments and boy did I save the best for last. I brought my mom and close friend along. Carlene recommended bringing a maximum of two people along since the shop is small. When we arrived, Carlene’s wonderful assistants took care of us because Carlene was out sick. The shop is beautiful and caters to only one bride at a time (this ain’t David’s bridal ladies). We were treated with such respect, offering us water etc. They were so patient and even allowed my mom to help choose the gown (mom’s choice was the gown I ended up purchasing). They worked to find a gorgeous dress within my price range that I’d love. No one said «oh you can always change this or that» as some other pushy shops did. They worked to find the dress I loved. I didn’t want to take the gown off and became one of those weepy women from «Say Yes to the Dress» (don’t judge me lol). I would absolutely recommend the Sample Rack for stunning and affordable designer gowns and the best service.

I’ve passed The Sample Rack countless times while driving down Pine Street. There are always gorgeous dresses in the window and they rotate constantly. I called to book an appointment and spoke with Carlene, who explained the unique nature of the shop (samples only; designer dresses offered at a discount, etc.).
The shop is open by appointment only and you receive the undivided attention of the staff. Carlene and her colleague (whose name I forget — she was so sweet!) pulled a really lovely array of dresses according to my preferences. I tried on an incredible gown that was discounted by several thousand dollars. It wasn’t quite what I was looking for but I’m sure the woman who purchases said gown will be absolutely thrilled with the find.
Leading up to my appointment, I booked an appointment at another store just to get an idea of the styles that I would like. I wasn’t expecting to find something that I loved at the first store, but that’s exactly what happened. I kept an open mind for my appointment at The Sample Rack, and even found a couple strong contenders for runner-​up, but ultimately decided on the dress at the first store. I called Carlene after I made up my mind to let her know and she was so sweet and genuinely happy that I had found my dress. I wouldn’t hesitate to send a friend to The Sample Rack and will continue to sing their praises!

This is where I bought my wedding dress! The prices here are reasonable, there is a great selection of beautiful gowns, and the ladies are so sweet!
Now, I am not the princess type, but when I was here, the staff treated me like a princess and I loved it! I had the entire store to myself and two employees helping me with dresses. It was a wonderful experience. The store was warm and cozy. The dresses they picked out for me were pretty spot-​on for what I was interested in.
I had two dresses that I had trouble deciding between. The ladies let me change into each dress three times! Back and forth and back and forth and back and forth, so that I could be 100% sure which one I wanted. They never complained about how long I was taking or that I kept wanting to try on the same dresses again. In the end I chose the first dress I tried on!
I didn’t feel any pressure from the ladies about having to buy my dress right then and there. It was a great experience and I would recommend this store to any bride, whether or not you have a small budget!

I had a great experience at the Sample Rack. Carlene listened when I told her what I was looking for. Granted, we tried a few things that were a little bit far from my vision, but she helped me see what a few small alterations could do to turn an eh dress into a great dress. She was also never pushy when I felt like a given dress wasn’t for me. I was the only customer in the store for my appointment, so I had everyone’s undivided attention. Also, you absolutely can’t beat the prices for such high quality gowns. Brides, go here!

The selection and prices beat out all the other bridal shops I visited in the area. The sales ladies tirelessly brought out dress after dress until they were sure I was absolutely in love with one. I was very happy with my experience. I highly recommend a visit.

I am so glad I purchased my dress from The Sample Rack. When I called to make my appointment the lady advised me that they wouldn’t see me until I went and tried on dresses elsewhere so that I could familiarize myself with the styles I like. They warned that they only have one of each dress so if I found one I liked I would need to buy it but wanted to ensure I’d be comfortable doing that. I made an appointment for a later date and then tried on dresses at two other stores prior to coming to The Sample Rack.
They offered a large variety of styles in my size. I found the dress I loved on my visit and purchased it that day. They also had a selection of veils ($ 40) which I purchased as well. They offer a 10% discount for healthcare employees and no dress is more than $ 1000. My dress only cost $ 900.
The staff was personable and though the general air is a bit informal at first, they were very accommodating and helpful. I highly recommend them.

I was so glad I finally made to the Sample Rack! All the dresses here are under $ 1000, and since I really was not interested in spending a ton of money on my wedding dress, this was a perfect place to shop. The selection of dresses, even with some of my specific requests, was pretty good. I agree that some of the dresses that were pulled for me were not what I had described, but I was willing to try on lots of things. I finally found one that I loved, but couldn’t pull the trigger. The store was able to hold it for 24 hours for me, so I could sleep on it!
Also they recommended a seamstress Nilah and Co., whom I used. I was thrilled with the final product. It fit perfectly. Thanks everyone!

New to Philly and had no idea who would have gorgeous gowns to fit my budget!
First off, I beg to differ on their employees… these ladies are put together, eager to help, fabulous and have the Philadelphia attitude that’s honest and straight forward. For me, there’s nothing worse than when someone is fibbing to you just to appease you.
This was bridal dress shop # 3 for me in my search for a gown. The first was a boutique in Kansas and the second was a David’s bridal. Needless to say, my David’s Bridal experience wreaked of smelly feet, stained carpets and tired looking employees. Nobody likes to buy your dream dress from a Chuck. E. Cheeses. I felt so pressured at David’s that I left before saying «yes to the dress» and poured myself a glass of Merlot. This is a big purchase… but bride’s shouldn’t feel that pressured, ever.
Flash forward to Sample Rack! Beautiful interior, fun and sassy employees and great dresses for prices that fit my budget. I gave them a tough order: under 600 dollars, trumpet or mermaid fit and not strapless. I realize that 600 may be considered low for most gowns (at David’s it will get you a white or off white thing that fits like a lumpy pillowcase). But here? It will get you a designer gown that’s been tried on before, but never worn on a wedding day. EVERY dress they pulled out for me respected my budget.
The two ladies pulled a dress out for me that I wouldn’t have picked for myself but then I tried that baby on.. .. .. . WOWZA. It was perfect. Brides; have your vision… but be OPEN to new ideas on dresses. These people put dresses on brides for a living. Lastly, I got a giant hug, a personal cell phone # and a genuine «Welcome to our city! «. I was gently reminded to call back as soon as I made my final decision, but I felt no pressure. Their job is to sell dresses, it’s not personal! :D
If you want to have your budget respected and feel like a goddess, go to the Sample Rack :)