About to buy from Harry Winston...

[ginzagirl]

Thanks a bunch Urseberry! I will try to repost later when I have little more time. I totally love your idea of drawing the correct size on my finger! It may sound silly to non-diamond lovers but so right on for us fanatics! Love it!

Surfgirl- you are right about the here and now. I should try to fit in (though after having been here almost 10 years, I still really don''t!) The Japanese are very funny about having to fit in. There are 3 HWs here in Tokyo! One is the flagship salon and the other two are boutiques. I was at the flagship store trying on a 1.01 F/VVS2. It was 4.4 million Yen! That would translate to about 44,000 U.S.D!!!! The ring did look like it was the substantial on my size 4 finger though. The SA offered us a discount of about 7-8 percent. Yah.. thanks but no thanks! Why would I spend that when I can buy from the U.S. cheaper. I guess this is what makes me a Pricescoper.

Well, am still not able to work out an acceptable discount amount with HW. The way I see it is that if they are not willing to give me a 15% reduction then I''d rather build my own ring from scratch. Tell me if I''m being too fussy in negotiating a couple of grand but honestly, it''s better for them to sell at my offered price then having that darn ring sit there for a month or two right? I''m just not willing to have to pay practically full retail for a ring that was not made in my size. Hubby has increased my budget am I am able to get the 1.51 but based on my own principles, I''m not going to budge!

 

[IheartDiamonds]

Hi Ginzagirl!

Get the 1.51 and start a new trend in Japan

Another reason why I would go bigger is because- after a few years the 1.33 might look small to you, of course it''s going to look big now (it''s new) but if already you are sorta doubting that 1.33 may be too small in your future, your probably correct. If hubby has already approved the 1.51 then do it! Think about it.... If your not happy with your HW 1.33 ring a few years from now and want another, thats going to cost him a hell of a lot more than the 1.51 HW he can buy you now.

In regards to the quality of stone... Wouldn''t worry too much. It''s a Harry Winston ring it will never loose value thats why you pay the huge premium... For the name. HW is very very selective with their diamonds, whenever I bought something from a Tiffany''s, Cartier, Chopard I don''t stress about stone quality because all those companies hold high standards. Just worry about choosing the right size and style...

Good Luck!

 

[BlueJeans]

1.51! Keep dickering with them, sooner or later they''ll cave in!

 

[ginzagirl]

I am now waiting for them to cave in!!! I''ve basically told them to look for something else and make the ring from scratch. They are to get back to me in a week or so.

Honestly, with the lower consumer spending in the U.S. they should just take my offer.

I''ll keep you posted.

 

[Imdanny]

Date: 3/12/2008 1:20:51 AM
Author: ginzagirl
I''ve basically told them to look for something else and make the ring from scratch.

?

 

[ginzagirl]

I''ve asked them to look for stones about 1.4-1.5 range. Once the stone is found, we will have it made in my size... unless they take my offer on one of the other two rings (which they''ve declined.) My offer isn''t a terrible one and if they don''t want to take it then they can keep those rings and wait for them to sell! My ring size is a 4, and the two rings I''ve put an offer on are 6. For less than 15% discount I might as well pay full retail and have one made in my size. I''m not sure what resizing will do to the original ring (if anything at all,) I''m just a little disappointed that they wouldn''t cave. Am I being too emotional over a few grand and a few percent? Should I wait for the right diamond to come along or should I cave in and just take one of the rings?

 

[Cleo]

Hello!

I would definitely go for the 1.5!!!

With regard to negotiating a good price, it may be that they are pretty confident that you have already decided to spend the money, and don't feel it's worth their while dropping the price too much.

If I were you, I would:
- Go in and look at the 1.5 again, and do a LOT of umming and ahhing over it in front of the sales assistant.
- Have an idea in your head of the amount of money you are prepared to pay for it.
- Tell them you absolutely LOVE the ring, but it's just over your budget (without saying what that is).
- Mention you are so disappointed, you would really love to be able to afford it, adore the ring etc etc
- Ask them what their BEST PRICE is for that ring ('Best Price' is a fabulously valuable phrase when negotiating).
- Um and Ah a bit more if it's still not low enough
- Ask them if they might be able to a little lower, as it's almost within your reach.. 'so close' etc.
- In the end, say "Do you think it might be possible to do it for $xxxxxxx" (whatever the price was you thought of to begin with).

Don't let them know that you'll spend your money with them anyway, even if you don't buy that particular ring, otherwise they will have nothing to lose! They need to think that if you don't get that ring that they will lose the sale altogether and you will end up spending your money in Cartier or somewhere else (pretend there's another ring somewhere else within your budget that you don't love as much, if you want to). They need to believe that buying that particular ring is their only chance of getting your money!

If they already know you, and you've showed your hand already (so to speak) maybe get your husband to do it, or a trusted friend.

If I wasn't in England I'd go in there and do it for you in a heartbeat!! I LOVE negotiating!!!

Hope this might help a little - good luck on getting the price you want and I can't wait to see photos of your awesome ring!

x x x

 

[ginzagirl]

Cleo - I wish I would have been smarter in my negotiation with them. I wish you could come with me too... I went to try the ring on in Tokyo but am buying from the U.S. because of a huge price difference. I called them and told them my budget (a lower one of course) but asked for a larger size.

So do you think I should wait till I''m in New York in summer to get it? I then could do what you''ve carefully written down for me! Thanks ever so much!

 

[ginzagirl]

OMG!!!!!! Can''t believe I managed to post a picture on my own! That was the HW 1.33cts.

The wedding band one is not working for me. Oh well, I''m making progress right?!

 

[Cleo]

Ginzagirl - *hugs* awww, thankyou

I wish I could come with you too! Apart from negotiation being one of my absolute favourite things in the whole world, combining it with buying awesome diamond jewellery (even for someone else) would be such fun!!

I don''t suppose they have a HW in New Zealand do they? I''m moving to Auckland in May, I could meet you there! LOL! ;D

If you are going to buy the ring from the USA anyway, because it''s far cheaper there, I would say you definitely stand a better chance of negotiating a great price in person, rather than by telephone or email.

In person you can use your feminine charms, friendly attitude and nice smiles (you know the sort of thing!) to make the SA in the shop like you and make them feel more inclined to discount the price. It''s up to them if they discount or not, and you get to use your personality in your favour if you buy in person.

By phone or email you are just a faceless name and totally anonymous to them.

Honestly, if you can bear to wait until the summer, I would do that and actually go into the store (which is much more fun anyway!).

Try to act like you''re happy to walk away if the price isn''t right (without actually saying those words!)... but that you are completely in love with the ring and prepared to spend the money on the spot if they can do a good price for you.

Maybe even try on loads of styles and pretend to ''discover'' that ring while you are in there.

I had heaps of fun negotiating for a lovely tsavorite bracelet and ring (which I will post pics of one day, honest!) in a jewellery shop in the Maldives... and actually ended up with 50% off the marked price - mainly because I kept almost walking away!

Not quite HW I know, and HW probably don''t have quite that much room to move on the price - but I have every confidence you can get the price you want.

Maybe get a book on negotiation beforehand, and do a bit of reading - just for a bit of fun - and look at it rather like a game! Negotation really IS fun, and liek a game... and it will help you if you have an idea of the ''rules'' before you play!

That ring is yummmmmmmy!!!

x x x