Am I oblivious or is this a new policy from WF?

[Gypsy]

Since when has WF had the disclaimer that they won''t sell their settings without the purchase of a diamond? That was one of the things that bugged me most about Dimend Scaasi.

I don''t remember that disclaimer when I was looking for a setting, and Leslie and I even discussed the Divisi as an option for me. Is this a new policy?

If so... I don''t like it, sorry.

 

[milton333]

Gypsy, my post on this, as far as I understand it. Maybe someone more knowledgeable can chime in.

 

[strmrdr]

Its new, the old policy was on a case by case basis they would make a ring with outside stones that passed their approval process.
I wonder if they had an incident with an outside stone that prompted the change or if they are busy with their own customers and want to concentrate on them?

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 12/10/2007 4:38:39 PM
Author: milton333
Gypsy, my post on this, as far as I understand it. Maybe someone more knowledgeable can chime in.

There is a clear conflict there.

I hope that they''ll at least take stones on a case by case basis... some people on here are have their stones and are looking to upgrade settings only.

Storm... maybe something did happen. Still, requiring insurance and proof thereof should help with that if the stone is an outside stone.

 

[chrono]

I was very surprised to see this today too. Maisie brought it to my attention as I was assisting a new Pricescoper find a setting for his stone.

 

[aljdewey]

Gypsy, where are you seeing that information?

I went here, and this includes language about sending ready made settings elsewhere, so I'd have to say you've gotten misinformation.

Among quotes in that link: "If a customer buys a ready-made setting from Whiteflash and buys the diamond elsewhere we will either ship out the empty setting, or set the diamond for an additional charge (diamond must be insured by owner). This does not apply to simple 4 and 6 prong style settings which can only be purchased with a diamond from Whiteflash."

The way I read this, the only settings they won't sell without a diamond are 4- and 6-prong simple settings....which honestly makes some sense to me. 4- and 6-prong simple settings are available pretty much anywhere.

Have you even phoned them to ask them if they would reset your stone in the Harmony setting? If not, don't you think it's a bit premature to start sounding the sirens.....until you know?

 

[Gypsy]

HI Aljd... at the bottom of page of the settings I looked at (Divisi, Legato Micro Pave, Harmony) there is a disclaimer. It does conflict with the language you qouted though. I agree (as I said above

).

Here: It's in light blue at the bottom of the page: http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/The--Legato--with-Micro-Pave_1071.htm


ETA: I did find a couple that don't have the disclaimer... but many of them do... including this one as well: http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/Classic-tiffany-style-Knife-Edge_1137.htm

 

[milton333]

Date: 12/10/2007 4:46:48 PM
Author: aljdewey
Gypsy, where are you seeing that information?

I went here, and this includes language about sending ready made settings elsewhere, so I''d have to say you''ve gotten misinformation.


Among quotes in that link: ''If a customer buys a ready-made setting from Whiteflash and buys the diamond elsewhere we will either ship out the empty setting, or set the diamond for an additional charge (diamond must be insured by owner). This does not apply to simple 4 and 6 prong style settings which can only be purchased with a diamond from Whiteflash.''


The way I read this, the only settings they won''t sell without a diamond are 4- and 6-prong simple settings....which honestly makes some sense to me. 4- and 6-prong simple settings are available pretty much anywhere.

At the bottom of the listing of apparently all the settings (the ones I''m interested in, anyway), it now says: "This setting can only be purchased with a diamond(s)." See, e.g, here. This is in conflict with the FAQ page. I''m curious, too, because I''m torn between re-setting my original engagement diamond for an anniversary, or upgrading to a new stone. Even with a new stone, I really, really want at least medium blue fluor, and WF ACA and ES stones basically never have anything more than negligible fluor, so I''d probably be sourcing my stone from somewhere else, unfortunately.

 

[Gypsy]

I should probably clarify since apparently someone interpreted my post to mean that I was interested in re-setting my stone... I''m not at this time, as I''ve just re-set it. But I am interested to know what''s going on as WF is someone I refer folks to for settings a lot, and if they are changing their policies, I think it''s good to know.

They used to have this policy with the champagne setting. Now it seems like many of the ones of their own, in house, design, have this disclaimer.

 

[JohnQuixote]

Gypsy,

We have not changed policies in a very long time. Please refer to our FAQ (linked here). We will ship out a ready-made setting (like the sleek line or the fine line) or set the diamond here for an additional charge. For more involved settings, our Whiteflash Design, custom work and settings where we are the authorized setter we do require the diamond to be sent in.

Since they are not clearly differentiated on the site customers will need to call and ask, or email us about a particular setting. We’re happy to discuss this and our toll-free number is available to anyone in the US.

As we grow, perhaps we can begin indicating on the site which settings fall in which area with an asterisk (or similar).

ETA: Having read the last few posts I'm off to investigate the code on these pages. I'll let you know what I find out.

 

[chrono]

John,
Thank you for taking the time to check this out. If it turns out that WF will NOT sell settings their separately, then I cannot recommend them to other PSers. It would indeed be disappointing as WF has many beautiful settings.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 12/10/2007 5:14:58 PM
Author: Chrono
John,
Thank you for taking the time to check this out. If it turns out that WF will NOT sell settings their separately, then I cannot recommend them to other PSers. It would indeed be disappointing as WF has many beautiful settings.

Ditto. Thank you John. I hope that it''s a mistake or something because well, you have such lovely settings, and it would be unfortunate if we couldn''t refer folks to them-- even if they didn''t buy the diamond from you. Plus, there''s the whole colred stone issue. I was eyeing one of your settings for a sapphire down the road. And I would most likely be purchasing the sapphire elsewhere.

 

[JohnQuixote]

Hey, no need for pitchforks and torches. We're on your side here.

Have a Starbucks and let me find out who coded the wording on those pages.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 12/10/2007 5:23:00 PM
Author: JohnQuixote
Hey, no need for pitchforks and torches. We''re on your side here.

Have a Starbucks and let me find out who coded the wording on those pages.

No pitchforks here or torches here... sorry if I gave that impression. Not my intention. Just genuinely confused, promise.

 

[Lord Summerisle]

Date: 12/10/2007 5:23:00 PM
Author: JohnQuixote
Hey, no need for pitchforks and torches.

aww... please, tis about time we had a good lynching...

i mean
















































nobody expects the spanish inquision!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 12/10/2007 5:23:00 PM
Author: JohnQuixote
Hey, no need for pitchforks and torches. We''re on your side here.

Have a Starbucks and let me find out who coded the wording on those pages.

We don''t have a Starbucks around here. I''ll have a Bailey''s.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 12/10/2007 5:30:07 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 12/10/2007 5:23:00 PM
Author: JohnQuixote
Hey, no need for pitchforks and torches. We''re on your side here.

Have a Starbucks and let me find out who coded the wording on those pages.

We don''t have a Starbucks around here. I''ll have a Bailey''s.

Will you pour me one too Ellen? I''ve had a hankering for one and we keep forgetting to buy it.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 12/10/2007 5:31:59 PM
Author: Gypsy

Date: 12/10/2007 5:30:07 PM
Author: Ellen

We don''t have a Starbucks around here. I''ll have a Bailey''s.

Will you pour me one too Ellen? I''ve had a hankering for one and we keep forgetting to buy it.

*here* I got a whole bottle.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 12/10/2007 5:39:10 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 12/10/2007 5:31:59 PM
Author: Gypsy

Date: 12/10/2007 5:30:07 PM
Author: Ellen

We don't have a Starbucks around here. I'll have a Bailey's.

Will you pour me one too Ellen? I've had a hankering for one and we keep forgetting to buy it.

*here* I got a whole bottle.

My kind of lady!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 12/10/2007 5:39:10 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 12/10/2007 5:31:59 PM
Author: Gypsy

Date: 12/10/2007 5:30:07 PM
Author: Ellen

We don''t have a Starbucks around here. I''ll have a Bailey''s.

Will you pour me one too Ellen? I''ve had a hankering for one and we keep forgetting to buy it.

*here* I got a whole bottle.

Thankies Ellen and cheers to you and your drinkiepoo; I was wondering about this too Gypsy! Thanks John.

 

[TravelingGal]

Aw come on John...doncha know that sometimes PS stands for Pitchforks and Stoning?

I don''t care if you won''t sell them stand alone or you will. I''d still recommend WF anyday.

 

[JohnQuixote]

Ok - Answers: As I suspected, the FAQ trumps the sentence on those pages.

We're happy to sell our settings - that policy has been in place for eight years - but in many cases we require an outside stone be sent in so that we will mount it ourselves. This is common practice among craftsmen doing proprietary design and custom work; to discourage those who buy empty settings for the purpose of duplication.

This could be made more clear on those pages. Our tech guys are on overloaded so please bear with us for now. The sentence was intended to imply that we will not send the setting out empty, but the FAQ lists the complete policy.

Always feel free to phone in with any specific questions. Thanks Gypsy and all for helping us make it clear.

PS: Ruth's Chris, across the street, makes a grrreat Irish coffee... You tempters you.

 

[Gypsy]

I'd recommend them too TG. Just not for settings, obviously. For diamonds or for rings from one vendor, sure. But well, I recommend them quite a bit for just stand alone settings, and it would make me sad if I couldn't do that anymore. That's all I meant above.

BUT clearly that's a non-issue as John just clarified what the disclaimer was SUPPOSED to say and imply (which it really doesn't so your poor overworked tech guys are gonna have to fix that, which I'm sure has them quite unhappy). Understood John. And that makes perfect sense, your are trying to protect your designs-- that's completely fair and understandable.

ETA: YOU mention Ruth's Chris and WE'RE the tempters? I'd kill for a porterhouse from them right now, with their asparagus on the side with hollindaise sauce, and mmmm their cheesecake. Oh MAN, I haven't been there in too long. Drat you John!

 

[chrono]

Thank you for the clarification.

TG, I meant not recommending buying just the settings from WF. This does not affect my recommendation for loose diamonds, which I will as long as WF continues to cut and sell dazzlers at competitive prices with top notch service.

 

[Ellen]

Thanks for the clarification John.

Now, everybody drink up. Cheers!

 

[Gypsy]

CHEERS!!! *glug glug glug*

 

[JohnQuixote]

Date: 12/10/2007 5:54:05 PM
Author: Gypsy

ETA: YOU mention Ruth''s Chris and WE''RE the tempters? I''d kill for a porterhouse from them right now, with their asparagus on the side with hollindaise sauce, and mmmm their cheesecake. Oh MAN, I haven''t been there in too long. Drat you John!

Oooh... Seems like we all have a black belt in tempting!

Cheers!