I am pretty sure that if you went to Cindy and said I just want to be in one outfit and just sit there for 4 hours she’d do that too. She worked me cause I wanted to have a number of looks and a number of pics so that’s what happened.
Said I didn’t want painted nails and we did false ones and they did pop off a lot, but it was funny to us at the time.
Oh, I want as many outfits as possible!
I don't know when I'll be able to visit again, so I want lots of pictures to remember the day by!
I'd like nice long false nails, but I'll leave it up to Cindy to decide what will look best on me, painted or stick on after both fine with me.
I didn't realize Transformation was still going?Originally Posted by kayegirl
I went to the Birmingham branch (which has closed) twice, first time probably approaching twenty years ago now, to use their makeover/dressing service. The first time it was excellent, staff were lovely and helpful, really friendly, and I thought the lady who did my makeover did a really good job.
My second time though was like every horror story I have subsequently read about the place. This time there was some chap running/managing the branch (I was always under the impression they didn't have male members of staff do to it making customers uncomfortable?) and he was very pushy, constantly trying to up sell products on to me for the makeover (eye lashes, false nails etc). In regards to the actual makeover, I thought I looked terrible; a cheap, badly fitted wig, shoes which were uncomfortable and far too high for me to walk in, stockings that had ladders in them, so clearly worn previously, and when I opted for tights instead, they were too small and the gusset was hanging low, and the wardrobe looked like it hadn't been updated in years. I didn't even bother to keep the photos from this makeover, destroying them. I genuinely got the impression that they saw me as some fetishist as opposed to someone who wanted to be as passable as humanly possible.
That was it for me with Transformation. I'll always be thankful for that first makeover (my first ever one) but it's just a shame Birmingham and the Midlands has been so poorly served when it comes to dressing services.
Oh lord Laura!
You really had a bad time on that second visit didn't you?
It's such a shame companies like that are so pushy and make you feel so uncomfortable, as it means you will never go back, and word of mouth is a powerful thing! So they've lost so many potential clients.
At least your first experience was a good one. If I had gone for my first makeover, and it was as bad as your second one, I would have been really upset and disheartened.
Reconnecting with my feminine side - and just enjoying each day!
(Since questions about BWBG are what brought me here in the first place, for future visitors to this thread who may find it dusty and cobwebby months from now but have questions feel free to send questions via message and if I'm still around to help and can I'll do my best)
Yup, with no other options in the Midlands I would have continued to use their dressing service, but like you say, one awful experience and that was it, they weren't getting another penny out of me. I wonder if that is why it eventually closed down? Word spread and people stopped going/buying from them.
This was also the early-ish days of the internet, so I wasn't aware of other people's experiences with them then, and it was when Transformation used to advertise in the back of the Sunday papers (which is where I first saw them). Whether that first visit was a fluke I don't know, or whether their customer service just declined, but in the years since I have read so many negative reviews about them and their almost exploitive nature of nervous CDs, TSs etc.
Transformation really were the pits, weren't they?! Out of desperation, I used to go a branch near Euston in London - the clothes were overpriced and cheap tat basically. Thank heavens for the Internet and click & collect!!
I think I remember seeing those adverts for Transformation in Sunday newspapers back in the day in the 80s. I thought it was really exciting seeing them, but as I was only in my teens back in the 80s, there was no way I would have ever been able to use their services!
As you say Emma, thank goodness for the internet these days - it's so easy to search for dressing services, and find reviews.
Even though I'm going to go to BWBG for my first makeover, living in the NW of England, I'm pretty lucky that there are a few decent services that other ladies in this thread have recommended, which I'll hopefully have the opportunity to try at some point in the future.
Reconnecting with my feminine side - and just enjoying each day!
Posting Permissions
