Date: 8/2/2005 2:12:18 PM
Author: Matatora
I guess I would like to be treated with respect. Ask me what I am looking for, what my budget is and then help me. If you cant direct me to someone who can.
When I recently bought my 1.04ct J/SI1 ideal cut rb from an online vendor, I went to my local B&M store first to see what they had and to also see if I liked that size on my hand. I had a 0.72ct J/SI1 that I was going to trade up so I knew I wanted a stone around H-I-J color. The store I went to didn''t have anything lower than a G, VS2 for me to look at. When I told them I wanted to drop down in color and clarity b/c that was out of my price range, the owner apologized and said he normally doesn''t stock diamonds lower than H color but if I wanted he could "try" to find one for me. I had printed out a copy of the stats of the 1.04ct that I did eventually buy to show roughly what I was looking for and he told me that even if he could get a diamond like that, there was no way he could sell it to me for the price they were asking. Granted, this was a stone that the online vendor owned, not one they had access to.Date: 8/3/2005 4:44:21 PM
Author: mepearl53
Wow! Pretty interesting stories! Yet, they say, that only 5% of the jewelry sold is on line and I have not a clue how much of it is engagement and wedding rings. You must have friends who don''t use the net for this type of purchase. What are their experiences? Are there not B & M''s that try to get a clue what you are seeing on the net? Will they not offer comparable pricing on a stone they would get in to show. I can understand the problem they have competing if they inventory the diamond pricing? But just as I have seen on the price comparisons on this site many of the on line vendors don''t own the diamonds either for they are just databases. So basically they could do the same if they wanted to. How does sales tax affect the decision? If the prices were equal from a B & M would you be willing to pay this tax? In CA where the taxes are 8% + on a 10,000.00 stone the difference would be $800.00+ Pretty spooky!
Keep in mind that the question posed is about as effective to post on this forum as it would be to say "tell me about the good and bad experiences that you''ve had with fur coats" on a PETA forum. Okay, so maybe not that bad (no offense to any PETA members)Date: 8/3/2005 4:44:21 PM
Author: mepearl53
Wow! Pretty interesting stories! Yet, they say, that only 5% of the jewelry sold is on line and I have not a clue how much of it is engagement and wedding rings. You must have friends who don''t use the net for this type of purchase. What are their experiences? Are there not B & M''s that try to get a clue what you are seeing on the net? Will they not offer comparable pricing on a stone they would get in to show. I can understand the problem they have competing if they inventory the diamond pricing? But just as I have seen on the price comparisons on this site many of the on line vendors don''t own the diamonds either for they are just databases. So basically they could do the same if they wanted to. How does sales tax affect the decision? If the prices were equal from a B & M would you be willing to pay this tax? In CA where the taxes are 8% + on a 10,000.00 stone the difference would be $800.00+ Pretty spooky!
With one or two exceptions, this is how I feel these days.Date: 8/2/2005 8:57:35 PM
Author: sapphic
I am done with going to local B&M stores. As nice as some salespeople may be, I find better info, selection, and prices online. There''s no reason to get an average cut diamond for the same price as a super ideal cut diamond online with one of the PS vendors. Another important point is the whole price haggling thing. It''s great to know you are getting a good price with Internet vendors without pressure and haggling.
Actually this is a great forum for me to ask these questions. Realize I am a B & M store and I see both sides of the equasion. The only way I can get your perspective is to ask here. I take this information to my designers to let them know that this is a for real happening. I catch quite a bit of heat for my presence on the net and I am constantly defending the net people as viable customers. The industry sees the net as a nat and has for the most part ignored it as a viable marketing tool. Look at the websites out there to see where they are coming from. They spend big bucks advertising their products and when they lead the consumer to their website they, for the most part, fall down. Most have little or no presence. Thus, if I want to be on the net I end up spending the money they should be spending to show case their products. Effectivally advertising for their customers. In the greatest majority of the designers I represent their section of MY site is larger than their own. So, in all reality, one down loads a picture from my site, takes it to their local jeweler, and they get the business off my inventory. Or, (pet pieve)Date: 8/3/2005 5:30:55 PM
Author: mrmedoes
Keep in mind that the question posed is about as effective to post on this forum as it would be to say ''tell me about the good and bad experiences that you''ve had with fur coats'' on a PETA forum. Okay, so maybe not that bad (no offense to any PETA members)
It''s a rather safe assumption to say that many online buyers were driven to the internet for this type of purchase because of bad B&M experiences. The remainder of people are early adopters who trust the internet as much as, if not more than their local retailer.
Date: 8/3/2005 5:58:16 PM
Author: mepearl53
Actually this is a great forum for me to ask these questions. Realize I am a B & M store and I see both sides of the equasion. The only way I can get your perspective is to ask here. I take this information to my designers to let them know that this is a for real happening. I catch quite a bit of heat for my presence on the net and I am constantly defending the net people as viable customers. The industry sees the net as a nat and has for the most part ignored it as a viable marketing tool.