Macy's Review: Prom Dress Stores

Macy's is a name almost everyone knows. As an American department store chain with a rich history dating back to 1858, Macy's is one of the retailers on our list that offers access to physical stores across the United States. The retail giant encompasses three well-known brands (Macy's, Bloomingdale's, and Bluemercury), and it offers an extensive range of products, from beauty items to home decor and clothing. Macy's stands out as one of the largest department store companies in the United States.

Navigation is a little confusing

Finding the prom dresses section on Macy's extensive website can take a little trial and error. The simplest way is to travel to the "Women's" tab and click on "Juniors". Then, you'll need to scroll down the left-side navigation and click on prom dresses. However, if you use the "Dresses" page from the top-dropdown menu, you'll see a much more limited selection of prom dresses which is very confusing. Thankfully, once you get to the "Prom Dresses" page, there are plenty of ways to narrow your search. You can choose from some curated filters like "Plus size dresses," "Dresses under $150," or "After Party" or you can use the more traditional filters like dress length, color, price, style, size, brand, sleeve length, and more.

414 dresses in stock

At Macy's, there are over 400 prom dresses to explore. Most dresses are available in sizes ranging from 2 to 18. You can find 340 full-length dresses and 11 dresses in the short category. You can also expect to find dresses in almost every style from bodycon to ball gown. Whether you want a traditional dress or a more modern take, Macy's has plenty of prom dresses to choose from.

Prices from $35.53 to $798

At each retailer in our review, we looked at three different dress styles. This way, we could get an accurate price comparison between similar products. We looked at A-lines, ball gowns, and mini dresses to get a range of different tastes, and then we searched for the most and least expensive dress at Macy's. Here's what we found:

• A-line dresses: $39 to $698
• Ball gown dresses: $39.99 to $798
• Mini dresses: $35.53 to $109
• Cheapest dress: Juniors' Tiered Mesh Fit & Flare Dress (Black) for $35.53
• Most expensive dress: Women's Embellished Feather Cap Sleeve Illusion Neck Trumpet Gown (Black/Nude) for $798

90-day returns for most items and free shipping on $25+

Setting itself apart with a generous return policy, Macy's allows customers to return prom dresses within 90 days of purchase for any reason. However, keep an eye out for some prom dresses that have their own policies. For example, the most expensive dress sold at Macy's had a policy statement saying that you have to return it within 30 days rather than Macy's 90-day policy. On the bright side, that's still a pretty long policy, and Macy's offers free shipping on orders totaling at least $25.

Mixed reviews due to shipping concerns

While, like any large retailer, Macy's is not immune to criticism, it maintains a strong reputation and an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau. However, from third-party review sites, Macy's isn't as popular as some of our other competitors. For example, Macy's has only a 2.5-star rating average on Sitejabber. But, many of the comments are related to specific Macy's locations rather than the company as a whole. On the other hand, there were a few complaints about shipping to the wrong address or items not shipping fast enough, so you might want to keep an eye on your prom timeline if you want to order your dress to be delivered at home. Otherwise, you can always pick it up in the store right away.

Top option for reliability and quality

With a unique selection, a wide price range, an extended return window, and a solid reputation from the BBB, Macy's stands out as a truly reliable option for those seeking prom dresses online. It has dresses in every category with a range of sizes and colors available. You can make returns within 90 days on most items which is far above the industry average, and generally, you can trust the name-brand quality of the dresses sold at Macy's. For this reason, it gets a 5-star rating in our review for reliability and an impressive inventory.

On the Macy's website