Does anyone ever feel wary of reviews on Pricescope?

[Squizabel]

I have been looking for a really well cut diamond and have narrowed it down to a few companies that seem to offer these. I've been searching through reviews for them. I can't help but notice that one company (that seems thoroughly reputable and is highly recommended by regulars here) seems to have a lot of newbies posting positive reviews in the same "style". By which I mean, a very articulate, long-winded, detailed description of the entire purchase process, full of the highest praise. Has anyone else... noticed this?

I don't want to point fingers as perhaps the company just attracts a lot of similar clients, perhaps highly educated and detail-oriented people. Who knows. I've just been burned before by falling for fake reviews (with a cat sitter last time!) so it might be that my paranoia level is too high.

 

[AprilBaby]

Where are these reviews? I guess I haven't seen them?

 

[PintoBean]

Which vendors are you interested in? I suggest narrowing to 3. Call each and talk to them to get a "vibe" - I think all PS recommended vendors give customer service that is above and beyond most jewelry stores in my locale.

IDJ is my favorite right now. They keep upping their game. I think the quality of what I got in 2010 was good but what they deliver in 2017 is excellent. Yekutiel also knows what I like so he'll put things on the table for me to consider lolol - like my EC when I was thinking about another round.

BGD was perfect for my moms projects in 2010-2011. They are still good but I sorely miss the rep I dealt with there. She was tops and we clicked. BUT their existing reps are also good but I miss that little extra chemistry.

WF - I never clicked with any reps but I've spoken to a variety of reps for small purchases and price quotes and they are consistently good. Consistency is very important to me.

GOG - they are local to me and I always tell people that are further east than me not to bother going to NYC or go to another local brick and mortar store bc they far exceed anybody we have locally. Also lots of happy online customers as well.

HPD - their customer service is great. I've reached out to them for setting design work but had to put that on a hard hold bc of personal life drama. Really lovely, warm people who help to quell the anxiety and stress associated with purchasing diamonds.

DBL - David is like one of the nicest, outgoing NYers! We've talked a few times about pieces. He's clearly passionate about what he does. Great sense of humor to boot. I like his personality but I'm a NYer too lololol!

JA and BN I only like searching independently. Their reps frustrate me.

I hope this helps!

 

[Squizabel]

Thank you so much PintoBean, that's really helpful and reassuring to have a firsthand view. Thank you for taking the time to summarise your experiences with those vendors. I will definitely make some calls. The vendors I am considering are within that list.

AprilBaby I don't want to name names in case (as I think is more likely now) I'm wrong and the similar reviews are just a coincidence. The best way I can describe it is a formality of language, and I only noticed it as I searched for reviews of this vendor and was reading them one after another. But if no one else has picked up on it then it's probably just me.

 

[tyty333]

Pinto...since you have worked with him in person...how the heck do you say Yekutiel??? In my mind I say You-ca-teal...and I know thats got to all WRONG!

Carry on!

 

[Squizabel]

Another thing I thought of was maybe the vendor asks customers if they would review their experience on Pricescope. Nothing wrong with that of course. It would explain why a few people seem to join just to give a detailed, glowing review, and then disappear again.

 

[PintoBean]

Thank you so much PintoBean, that's really helpful and reassuring to have a firsthand view. Thank you for taking the time to summarise your experiences with those vendors. I will definitely make some calls. The vendors I am considering are within that list.

AprilBaby I don't want to name names in case (as I think is more likely now) I'm wrong and the similar reviews are just a coincidence. The best way I can describe it is a formality of language, and I only noticed it as I searched for reviews of this vendor and was reading them one after another. But if no one else has picked up on it then it's probably just me.

Well when I first started writing reviews I did model my write up on what I had read from others. PS is also my first foray into the world of forums. Perhaps other posters, especially new ones are modeling the tone and structure as well lolol.

 

[Squizabel]

That's a good point PintoBean. Thank you.

 

[PintoBean]

Another thing I thought of was maybe the vendor asks customers if they would review their experience on Pricescope. Nothing wrong with that of course. It would explain why a few people seem to join just to give a detailed, glowing review, and then disappear again.

Well what I think happens is that when someone has a positive experience they will come out of lurkdom to post. Then life goes on and they move on - perhaps to parenting forums lololol.

 

[BlingDreams]

Pinto...since you have worked with him in person...how the heck do you say Yekutiel??? In my mind I say You-ca-teal...and I know thats got to all WRONG!

Carry on!

I'm dying laughing here because it was what terrified me about working with him! When BF and I went to see him in April to choose our engagement diamond I was positive I would be pronouncing it wrong (and I was - lol!). I wanted to say "YEH-koo-teal", but it's "Ya-KOO-tee-al". At least, that's how it sounds to me when he says it with his heavy Jewish accent . No matter how you say it, he's an absolute doll and a true pleasure to work with!

 

[PintoBean]

Pinto...since you have worked with him in person...how the heck do you say Yekutiel??? In my mind I say You-ca-teal...and I know thats got to all WRONG!

Carry on!

Yeh- COO-tea - el

(Or if you're my mom you call him Yakov )

 

[Squizabel]

Thanks again PintoBean, you've helped me to straighten it all out in my mind. I can get on with finding what I want now

I'm glad too that my intentions on this thread haven't been misunderstood. I was worried people would think I was stirring up drama and jump all over me, so thanks for not doing that I genuinely wanted to clear up something that had been bothering me.

 

[PintoBean]

Thanks again PintoBean, you've helped me to straighten it all out in my mind. I can get on with finding what I want now

I'm glad too that my intentions on this thread haven't been misunderstood. I was worried people would think I was stirring up drama and jump all over me, so thanks for not doing that I genuinely wanted to clear up something that had been bothering me.

You are doing the right thing. Don't blindly drink the koolaid. Always be a little skeptical. Nobody should jump on you UNLESS they are taking up an offer from you for a piggy back ride.

 

[marcy]

I can only speak from personal experience and I would not hesitate to recommend Whiteflash. I've bought several pieces from WF and they have always been great to work with and quickly addressed an concerns I had with my purchases.

 

[tyty333]

Thank you ILikeShiny and Pinto...I feel better now that I wasnt too far off. Definitely had the accent on the wrong syllable and the 3 syllable vs
4 well, missed that too! I'll need to practice it some to get the old way out of my head though!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I just had a wonderful experience with ID.

 

[PintoBean]

Thank you ILikeShiny and Pinto...I feel better now that I wasnt too far off. Definitely had the accent on the wrong syllable and the 3 syllable vs
4 well, missed that too! I'll need to practice it some to get the old way out of my head though!

Run around telling everyone they have COOties!

 

[Calliecake]

Squizibel, I know one of the vendors listed has asked people to write reviews and has basically told the customers what to say in their review. This is just wrong in my opinion. Now I'm curious if it's the vendor you are referring to.

 

[cmd2014]

I've read a number of fake sounding one-off reviews on here lately. I can't recall who they were for, but they were long, overly glowing, and something felt off. It wasn't just a "hey, look at my beautiful new piece, I worked with so-and-so and I couldn't be happier". Plus, none of them have pictures. It turned me off too.

 

[carbonfan]

I have noticed the same thing. I don't remember which vendor it was referring to, but there seemed to be a formula to several of the reviews. It gave me a strange vibe as well.

 

[OreoRosies86]

In using vendors familiar to PS, Jewels by Grace and David Klass were my best experiences, both of whom I purchased pieces from. Both ridiculously patient and reassuring about what were for me very big purchases.

 

[azstonie]

I've noticed the same thing.

I'm aware of PS-ers who've been hassled about providing specific language in their responses to purchases.

Most of us come to PS to have fun and enjoy bling, so bringing up unpleasant experiences isn't congruent with this. In the past, posters who've spoken their truth about their vendor experiences have had a terrible and virulent response to their post.

I've had horrific experiences with 2 vendors who got/get a lot of work from PS people and I've not posted about them because in one case, it would most likely ruin the jeweler and for the other, would just result in a lot of arguing, neither of which I'm interested in. When I buy or commission a jewel, the last thing I want is anything unpleasant or unsettling. When a jewel goes south, I'll tell individuals about it *if they specifically ask me* and I just either take the jewel somewhere else to be fixed or I put it in my jewelry box in the "Mistakes" section

 

[Arcadian]

I stick in the colored stones area mostly but when I upgraded my studs I went through the list of favorites here. They're favorites for a reason and boy I did indeed love that they were extremely patient with me. colored stones are just a whole other beast (and easier one for me to deal with) But I eventually went with IDJ. They won't work for everyone but they did for me (and I also can't pronounce Yukatiel's name. I just call him Y....lol)

When I had my anniversary ring done I went to Brilliantly Engaged. For me that was a great experience because I can be extremely HANDS OFF LOL. I didn't have to do any thinking just asked where to send the money and a wee little change on the prongs and It was all good.

SO yes by and large Pricescope vendors do great work and have good service, and I think most of us are happy to write abut that, But sometimes a project DOES go south and it could be for a number of reasons. IMO problem resolution is huge in my book, so I see how a vendor goes about resolving things with the customer. To me thats equally important as the work they do.

 

[Karl_K]

Suspicious reviews should be reported to the admin using the report post button.
It is up to everyone to help keep the forum clean.

There always have been some reviews by people with one or 2 posts.
Less than 1% of viewers of this site actually posted the last time I heard the numbers.
That leaves a lot of people who could have had a great experience and decide to post about it.
Some will read other reviews and post the same type of review.
Where there is a lot of them and all follow the same format for the same vendor in a short amount of time the admin needs to be alerted.

 

[Ella]

I have been looking for a really well cut diamond and have narrowed it down to a few companies that seem to offer these. I've been searching through reviews for them. I can't help but notice that one company (that seems thoroughly reputable and is highly recommended by regulars here) seems to have a lot of newbies posting positive reviews in the same "style". By which I mean, a very articulate, long-winded, detailed description of the entire purchase process, full of the highest praise. Has anyone else... noticed this?

I don't want to point fingers as perhaps the company just attracts a lot of similar clients, perhaps highly educated and detail-oriented people. Who knows. I've just been burned before by falling for fake reviews (with a cat sitter last time!) so it might be that my paranoia level is too high.

Yes, please feel free to report these. We take review integrity very seriously. Worst comes to worst, you report it, we watch it, and decide it's nothing. Do not think by reporting it that alone will get someone in trouble.

 

[Dancing Fire]

I have had purchased from WF, GOG, BGD and Wink. They all carry top cut stones and are excellent vendors. I was working with one of the above vendor on a custom piece and the total came out over what I put down on deposit, then when the piece was ready they shipped overnight and asked me to send them a check for the difference.... That's what I call trust b/t customer and vendor...

 

[madelise]

I've purchased from JBG, GOG, DK, otherwise smaller preowned shops on IG or via LT/DB.

I think we all have our own preferences for vendors. But hey, if it smells fishy, it probably is a fish. I'm always weary of rando posters. There is a jeweler here that I adore the work of.. who, for a season, had a bunch of random people posting SMTB threads for with lengthy write ups. It was weird. He may have been asking his customers that mentioned PS to write reviews. If they're honest, I think no biggie. I just put more "weight" into reviews of people who have been around on PS longer than a one night stand, ya'know? #NUTANDBOLTS

 

[MissGotRocks]

I recently purchased from Whiteflash and was extremely pleased with both product and service. At no time during the transaction did they ask me to write a review for PS or their website. I did write a lengthy review of my experience but only for the purpose of sharing with other PS members. I would not like being asked or prodded for a review. You are right to question some of the reviews but I generally think there is truth in numbers - if a large amount of folks have had good experiences with a particular vendor and have pictures of what they have purchased, then there is probably something to it. If you read something that makes you question, then by all means trust your instincts.

 

[missy]

All the vendors I ever purchased from are amazing. Grace, Erica, Adam and Yekutiel. None of them ever asked me to write a review or share my experiences with PSers. However I learned from a few of my PS friends that there is an unprincipled (IMO) PS vendor who did solicit them to write reviews and even told them what to say. Since it didn't happen to me because I never dealt with that specific vendor I will not share the name. It is up to the individuals it happened to if they want to but I respect the fact they don't want to because it is sure to lead to drama. I know I will never do business with that vendor because of this. It was not just one PSer who told me but a few PSers.

 

[Tekate]

I have purchased from B2C, GOG, and Whiteflash... all were extremely helpful.. as my purchase from GOG and WF were of more expensive items I did get much more attention, but at all the vendors I felt very well taken care of.. Becca at WF and David (dear David) at GOG. . . I'd work with either in a nanosecond.. truly great people