Three months ago a size twelve bride-to-be was told by a staff member of GASP that she was too big for their clothing.

In an email the store management then accused her of wasting their time, and suggested she shot elsewhere.

But now everything has changed, and the store has done a complete about-face.

• Customer's ultimate revenge
• GASP store face-off
• The art of complaining

After the most gasp-worthy customer service debacle of the year, the store has finally come crawling back.

Keara O'Neil’s shopping expedition for bridesmaid dresses at GASP became a worldwide sensation in September.

First she copped the wrath of a rude sales assistant by the name of Chris, who referred to her as fat and asked her leave.

How to get results when you complain

And then, after making a written complaint, she received an insulting email which exploded online, going viral for millions to see.

A nameless company spokesman told her its big price tags were designed keep the store's clothes inaccessible to the undesirable, and that people who are ‘retail superstars’ don't tolerate their time being wasted.

It hit the British and U.S. tabloids. and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton weighed in, as did local celebrities.

• Complaint email to GASP
• Response email from GASP

Australia's biggest retailers sent the email around as a test case of what not to do.

But there was no apology in store, and certainly no apology from PR Manager Matt Chidgey – that is, until today.

“This apology is genuine. We would also offer Keara and her friends to come into our stores and pick out a new outfit, and GASP will match the value of that outfit, and we will give it to the Make a Wish Foundation for Christmas,” Chidgey said.

“I apologise that her experience in our stores wasn't 100 per cent positive. She's broadened our horizons a lot more, and now we do cater up to a size 24 in all our stores,” Chief Executive and owner of the company, Mickey Yozefovich said.

She wanted to make a personal plea. “I really wish you could come back, give me a chance, and I will dress you up personally, myself.”

The store, where the incident took place was shut down two weeks ago. A new store in Melbourne's CBD has opened, but today it was almost completely empty.

“I realised it was wrong straight away, I just didn't have a chance to apologise. I did not know what happened until everything (went) on the air,” she claimed.

Despite the plea for customers, GASP claim they are thriving. “Some stores have doubled in their takings.”

Russell Zimmerman from the Australian Retailers Association finds that hard to believe.

“It would be very unusual. I hope it is really happening for them, but my view is if you've got a problem like this you get under control, and you quell it as quickly as you can,” he said.

Just two weeks out from her wedding Keara O'Neil was unavailable for an interview, although she said on the phone she is not after any freebies. All she wants is a guarantee that this won't happen to any other woman.

In a statement she questioned whether the apology was genuine, pointing out that GASP had numerous opportunities to apologise three months ago, but back then they insisted she apologise to them.

She also asked what exactly prompted the sudden turnaround. “Does it have something to do with their Chapel Street store closing and their current 90 per cent off sale? Probably.”

Despite claiming that this debacle has helped their sales, GASP is pleading for customers to give them a go, offering our viewers 25 per cent off all stock, in all stores, until midnight tomorrow.

• GASP - www.gaspjeans.com.au