$115 viewing fee

[TracyBear]

I recently visited a respected local jewelry store who claimed to have the largest inventory of diamonds in my city. I told them my budget and what I was looking for. They said it's doable and that they had four stones in mind, but these stones aren't in their inventory. They'll call it in for a viewing fee of $115. I asked for the specs of these stones since the stones that they've shown me in the store had mediocre cut and proportions. She told me that she can't reveal any details about the specs besides color and carat weight. After I pay the fee, it takes a week for the stone to come into their store, then they''ll let me have access to the specs.

I've never been asked to pay a fee just to view a particular diamond, let alone a diamond that I don't know the specs for. Is this normal? I thought that the advantage to purchasing on site was that you can view and compare the diamonds for free.

 

[kenny]

I recently visited a respected local jewelry store who claimed to have the largest inventory of diamonds in my city. I told them my budget and what I was looking for. They said it's doable and that they had four stones in mind, but these stones aren't in their inventory. They'll call it in for a viewing fee of $115. I asked for the specs of these stones since the stones that they've shown me in the store had mediocre cut and proportions. She told me that she can't reveal any details about the specs besides color and carat weight. After I pay the fee, it takes a week for the stone to come into their store, then they''ll let me have access to the specs.

I've never been asked to pay a fee just to view a particular diamond, let alone a diamond that I don't know the specs for. Is this normal? I thought that the advantage to purchasing on site was that you can view and compare the diamonds for free.

Screw that.
What a scam.

I'd rather 'buy' 2 or 3 and return all but one and pay return shipping from briangavindiamonds, whiteflash, jamesallen, or goodoldgold.

Cheaper than $115.
Better too.

 

[SB621]

I have heard of a viewing fee before and it covers the cost of shipping and insurance the diamonds from point A- to point B. I don't think it is outrangeous since I'm sure it is expensive to ship but I don't like that you don't know anything about the diamonds till you pay. It is to just keep you using them since you are now "invested." Go somewhere else....

 

[TracyBear]

I'd rather 'buy' 2 or 3 and return all but one and pay return shipping from briangavindiamonds, whiteflash, jamesallen, or goodoldgold.

Cheaper than $115.
Better too.

Totally agree with you. I wish we had the budget to purchase a couple of stones online to compare them then return the undesirable ones because that would be the best way to get a good deal. Up front, we can't afford to simultaneously buy two 2.5+ G, VS1-VS2 stones to compare. I knew that I would be ripped off buying on site, but it would be worth it since I could compare these larger stones side by side. That turns out not to be the case since most stores that I've visit don't carry stone above 2 carats in a G color above a SI1 in their inventory. I got close on one occasion where a jeweler did found a stone in my price range and had the stone on site. She called and we confirmed the asking price over the phone. After I hung up, I immediately drove right down to her shop to view the stone and I kid you not, when I arrive there 15 mins from talking to her on the phone, she increased the asking price.

SB621: When she told me about the fee, I was like, "Ok, that's fine." When she said that she wouldn't have access to the specs of these diamonds until they've arrived at the store, I felt she wasn't being honest with me.

 

[madelise]

The fact that they're claiming or boasting to have the most inventory…. then they don't even have it and need to ship it in… is the biggest lie on earth. Yes, they have ACCESS to a lot of stones in inventory that they call in… that they don't own… SO DOES EVERY OTHER JEWELER.


Keep your $115. Drive to the next jeweler. Or do yourself the favor, and just call a vendor that has a bajillion good reviews on PS and deal with them online without even wasting $ on gas.

 

[HoratioNelson]

I don't think that fee is wholly unreasonable in itself, given the cost of transporting diamonds between states/countries.

If I were looking to buy a diamond and the store had to ship a specific stone over for me to look at, and it sounded like a great stone, I'd consider paying a fee at that level (subject to it being deducted from any purchase price).

However, there is no way whatsoever I would even contemplate paying a fee if they couldn't tell me the spec of the stone being shipped! What's to say it won't be a M Si2, or a tiny D VVS1? Obviously if you have absolute trust in the jeweller, it could be overcome, but that doesn't sound at all right to me.

 

[lknvrb4]

I can't believe she does not have access to the specs, but yet she knows there are four that fit into your price range? Something sounds off about the whole thing, I would keep on moving.

 

[jmarshall]

Is it a fee? or a deposit? That would make a big difference in my decision.

 

[Christina...]

I would not do business with this person under any circumstances. Not because of the viewing fee....I understand the reasoning for that, but because of the claim that she wouldn't know the specs of the stones until after they arrived! That's ridiculous and doesn't pass the straight face test at all as far as I'm concerned. And if she is the same person who increased her asking price on you in the beginning...well that just gives me even more reason to not give her my business.

 

[TC1987]

It should be an easy thing to get an electronic copy of a grading report nowadays. Unless they are going show you the specs and let you pick which stone you are interested in, walk away. Probably none of them meet the specs you quoted to her but she's hoping you'll buy whatever she brings in, thinking it's good enough and it's right here and you've already invested $115 to look at it, and she can maybe guilt you into buying it. I also rather think that $115 fee should be credited toward your purchase, if you do choose to buy. This kind of hassle is why I don't even shop at local stores anymore except for the pawn shops, ha ha!

 

[partgypsy]

The reason that she doesn't want to give you the exact specs, because you can look up these stones in any virtual stone directory, and then compare prices.
She doesn't want you to do that, and maybe buy elsewhere.

Understandable from a business view, but not from a customer service view.

 

[HoratioNelson]

There's a difference between saying you have sourced a stone which is F VS1, EX VG, 53.4% table, star length of x , GIA No 238663421 etc etc, and saying that you have sourced an F VS1 stone. It sounds Iike the vendor isn't even doing the latter.

 

[WillyDiamond]

walk away...........no, run as fast as you can.

 

[luvmysparklies]

Agreed. Go somewhere else. While I don't think that the 115 fee is exorbitant, I just don't like tricks designed to hold the customer hostage. The seller could give you an inkling of what has been sourced and I just don't see you being in the total dark on such a major potential purchase.

 

[John P]

The reason that she doesn't want to give you the exact specs, because you can look up these stones in any virtual stone directory, and then compare prices.
She doesn't want you to do that, and maybe buy elsewhere.

Understandable from a business view, but not from a customer service view.

Precisely. Jewelers are struggling with the current trend of showrooming, which is understandable, but information-blackout is a response which I predict will do some damage. The claim of not having specs is spurious. It erodes trust and risks possibly insulting a shopper's intelligence.

http://www.twice.com/articletype/news/showrooming-overstated-cea-panel-says/107496

An alternative is to redact some information, such as report #, date of issue and mm measurements. That's enough to imply "I'm working for you. Here's the info. I prefer you not shop this around." Of course, the stone can still be shopped.

Caveat vendit, in this case.

 

[delight]

I think $115 for shipping fees is decent considering insurance and stuff. But the way it is put across sounds more like a way to "lock" you into a deal and with no specifications, it sounds risky to work with them. Many other vendors can do the same thing of calling in a stone without holding back any information from you.

 

[TracyBear]

I'm not going to do business with these people, they're too shady. I wanted to have my shank built up by an on site jeweler and theirs does the best work in my area so I asked him about it. He said it'll take him 4 hrs. I can come and watch him in the waiting room since he videotapes everything that he does in his workroom/under the microscope and the visuals are transited to the TV there. He quoted me twice what other jewelers charged which I agreed to because I felt it was worth the security of knowing that the stone aren't being switched out or damaged in the process. He drew me a visual of the adjustments that he'll make on the quote paper and told me to come in early morning the following Saturday. I came and the manager said that their jeweler is too busy right now so I'll have to leave my ring at the shop and pick it up in 2 weeks. She'll call me when it's ready. I told her this was a mistake because it's suppose to take 4 hrs with me on site and she told me that I must have the wrong shop because that particular jeweler doesn't exist. I gave her the quote paper and asked whose handwriting it was and she said she'll be right back. Their jeweler came out and took my ring.

He truly did work on it for 4 hrs straight except for smoking and bathroom breaks. The end product was flawless. I'm incredibly impressed by his work. During my wait though, the staff kept insisting that I go get coffee, breakfast, lunch, etc. and come back when my ring is done. The shop itself is huge and I was sitting in a corner, not in anyone's way. It was awkward and uncomfortable for me to sit and watch the man work, but I honestly felt that if I left, the jeweler would work on the other projects and I might end up sitting at the shop for an entire day or worst yet they'll call and make up some excuse and have me come back the following week. When my ring was completed, I asked to use their microscope because my stone is internally flawless so my untrained eyes can't tell it apart from a CZ under a 10X loupe without confirming the GIA inscription. Also I wanted to view the details of his work. They were touchy about me using the microscope which was ridiculous because it wasn't being used at the time and I didn't take up their staff's time because I've been using microscopes since elementary school. The staff insisted on operating the microscope themselves so I let them and they said they can't find the inscription. Mentally, I freaked out. I asked if I could have a try and I found it in less than a minute. At this point, I knew in my heart that I wouldn't be buying a diamond from them. The lady who told me that this jeweler didn't exist was the same one who told me that she doesn't have the specs of the diamonds that I'm suppose to pay have shipped in. When I asked her about the cut quality, she says that she won't know until they get here, but she suspect they'll be a good cut. What the heck does that even mean? I asked if the stones had florescence and she looked at me like this... . I thanked them when I left, but I don't intend on coming back.

 

[distracts]

Wow... just wow.

 

[Enerchi]

you dodged a bullet there, TracyBear!!

This was a lesson learned and run, don't walk, away from this shop, never to darken their doorstep again! I would imagine it can be pretty cutthroat at times, but there is nothing at all in any of your transactions that is inspiring confidence to return and do further business with them.

Glad you got your beautiful ring back (diamond included!) but boy, how frustrating and stressful that must have been for you!

 

[astar11]

Whoa...seems like that lady is un-knowledgeable.

There are lots of other better place to buy / see the stone without viewing fee !