Hard to say here? Sorry for your issues. IF they did not allow you to pick it up that is one thing. If you chose not to do so, that's another. Some folks keep these dresses for a lifetime, others sell them as used once or in your case, if you went that route, as 'never' used. Perhaps your best bet is going to a local TV station for help? Good luck with it!

If they refuse to give you a refund even considering you were never able to use the dress and they failed to deliver when it was due, it seems you have at least two choices available to you. 1. Take possession of the dress to use at a later date, or so you can sell it to someone who can later make use of it. 2. File a small claims case for breach of contract and fraud against the store where you bought the dress and ask the court for orders that you be refunded your money plus any other damages you suffered as a result of the breach of the contract in which you were promised the dress by a specific date and time.

If you choose option 2, you can file your claim by yourself, because no lawyer is allowed to represent clients in small claims cases, and you can get the forms you need from the California Courts website here https://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm?filter=SC

Copy and paste the link in your browser and then review the instructions and forms for filing your claim (Form SC-100). All the instructions are right there when you download the form.

Good luck with your claim. I'm sure if you share this with all your friends who wound up in the same situation, you could get some leverage with the store to see if they might just give you the refund after all. That is, if you really don't want the dress now.