Hi Guys,
I've been lurking of price-scope for about 6 months looking to buy my engagement ring. Learning about diamonds, settings, cut clarity etc.
Most of my friends have purchased from Blue Nile and have been very happy and even though there seems to be some negative experience around, I was pretty much set on but a 1.1 - 1.2 VS1-VVS1 H-E coloured round Excellent cut.
Last month my boss sees me on Blue Nile and immediately goes into detail about his fabulous experience at James Allen dot com.
I do my research, here in particular, seems that the stones, service etc are all better, so I add James Allen to my "Watch List".
Fast forward to 2 weeks ago. My girlfreind has decided to take a 3 month work program in Cambodia, she Leaved on the Third of August.
The diamond search picks up intensity and I finally settle on this:
http://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?pagename=GST%2FDispatcher&childpagename=GIA%2FPage%2FReportCheck&c=Page&cid=1355954554547&reportno=5146958070
From James Allen.
They Didnt really have the setting I wanted, so I enquired about the stone and requested a gemologist inspection.
I immediate get back this great response:
Sold. Completely. I ordered the diamond and asked about payment methods and delivery time.
Here is where I've obviously made a mistake.
I live and work in Australia. I have 3 business partners and we do business with a few larger companies operating out of NYC, Toronto and Manchester in the UK.
As such, my business partner is in new york until the 23rd of July. So I enquired if I could have the stone shipped to him or have it picked up. No problem according to JA, easy, they'll even ship it to Jersey to Avoid the 8.5% tax in NY.
Great.
I need is ASAP, can I pay with a credit card ? Yep, no problem assures the sales assistant.
Can I pay with my business partners credit card? Yep no problem assures the sales assistant.
So I have my business partner on the phone with me, give the credit card information, charge the card.
Anything else? No, thats all I need assures the sales assistant.
Great. Diamond purchased, picked up by partner next thursday, off to see a Jeweller about a setting.
4 Days later I get a "Request for Additional Information Order" from JA.
They want me to confirm Identity of cardholders email.
Confirmed mine and my business partners Email Address, Home Address, Mobile Phone numbers, Work email addresses.
They then asked for photocopies of Drivers Licence and Credit card of my partenr.
I sent them -> high resolution, both sides.
Time is ticking, I rang and checked what was going on twice.
Then this morning.
I have rung, spoke to multiple people, asked what the issue is, how it can be resolved, can I repay with cash, can I provide more information, anything. This is my engagement.
Nope. Order is cancelled we decline to tell you why.
Can I purchase again, in another way?
No explanation.
No reason, no explaination, nothing.
I am disgusted, offended and at this point unable to even organize another stone, because I am petrified of trying to buy a diamond online again. Our bank declines transactions regularly for fraud detection, they did not even blink at the 10k plus charge, what is it that James Allen needed? I would have provided anything they asked. Everything I did, I did at their recommendation??
If they had said, wire transfer was required, I would have done a wire transfer?
If they had said my partner could not pick it up I would have shipped it?
How can they in good conscience decline legal tender with no explanation?
Am I going to have the same problem at blue nile?
I'm lost. Not to mention even if I had the confidence to try and buy a similar stone on BN I can't even find one as good for a similar price.
I've been lurking of price-scope for about 6 months looking to buy my engagement ring. Learning about diamonds, settings, cut clarity etc.
Most of my friends have purchased from Blue Nile and have been very happy and even though there seems to be some negative experience around, I was pretty much set on but a 1.1 - 1.2 VS1-VVS1 H-E coloured round Excellent cut.
Last month my boss sees me on Blue Nile and immediately goes into detail about his fabulous experience at James Allen dot com.
I do my research, here in particular, seems that the stones, service etc are all better, so I add James Allen to my "Watch List".
Fast forward to 2 weeks ago. My girlfreind has decided to take a 3 month work program in Cambodia, she Leaved on the Third of August.
The diamond search picks up intensity and I finally settle on this:
http://www.gia.edu/cs/Satellite?pagename=GST%2FDispatcher&childpagename=GIA%2FPage%2FReportCheck&c=Page&cid=1355954554547&reportno=5146958070
From James Allen.
They Didnt really have the setting I wanted, so I enquired about the stone and requested a gemologist inspection.
I immediate get back this great response:
Thank you so much for your diamond inquiry, and it's my pleasure to answer your questions about the diamond you selected (380471) This 1.21 G Internally Flawless Round Brilliant is a gorgeous option. The brilliance, brightness, and fire all appear to be spectacular. I know you had a particular concern about fluorescence and it's effect on the diamond's performance. In my experience as a gemologist, Medium Blue Fluorescence most likely will not have any negative impact on brilliance or the overall appeal of a diamond. Usually I can detect if there is any cloudiness or haziness just by looking at the 360 diamond video, and I am not seeing any visible impact. In fact, in G color diamonds, the Medium Blue fluorescence may actually improve the overall face-up color of the stone and make it seem whiter. We can have the diamond inspected by a gemologist but this will take about 3-5 business days, and I'm confident the results will be the same as my observations!
Sold. Completely. I ordered the diamond and asked about payment methods and delivery time.
Here is where I've obviously made a mistake.
I live and work in Australia. I have 3 business partners and we do business with a few larger companies operating out of NYC, Toronto and Manchester in the UK.
As such, my business partner is in new york until the 23rd of July. So I enquired if I could have the stone shipped to him or have it picked up. No problem according to JA, easy, they'll even ship it to Jersey to Avoid the 8.5% tax in NY.
Great.
I need is ASAP, can I pay with a credit card ? Yep, no problem assures the sales assistant.
Can I pay with my business partners credit card? Yep no problem assures the sales assistant.
So I have my business partner on the phone with me, give the credit card information, charge the card.
Anything else? No, thats all I need assures the sales assistant.
Great. Diamond purchased, picked up by partner next thursday, off to see a Jeweller about a setting.
4 Days later I get a "Request for Additional Information Order" from JA.
They want me to confirm Identity of cardholders email.
Confirmed mine and my business partners Email Address, Home Address, Mobile Phone numbers, Work email addresses.
They then asked for photocopies of Drivers Licence and Credit card of my partenr.
I sent them -> high resolution, both sides.
Time is ticking, I rang and checked what was going on twice.
Then this morning.
Good afternoon Geremy,
Unfortunately, we are unable to move forward with your purchase from JamesAllen.com. We provided the additional information you provided for verification to our review department and they have denied the fulfillment of the order. The Visa card has been authorized rather than charged and that authorization will be released. I would expect those funds to be available again in the next 3-5 days.
Best wishes,
Eileen Thomas
I have rung, spoke to multiple people, asked what the issue is, how it can be resolved, can I repay with cash, can I provide more information, anything. This is my engagement.
Nope. Order is cancelled we decline to tell you why.
Can I purchase again, in another way?
No explanation.
No reason, no explaination, nothing.
I am disgusted, offended and at this point unable to even organize another stone, because I am petrified of trying to buy a diamond online again. Our bank declines transactions regularly for fraud detection, they did not even blink at the 10k plus charge, what is it that James Allen needed? I would have provided anything they asked. Everything I did, I did at their recommendation??
If they had said, wire transfer was required, I would have done a wire transfer?
If they had said my partner could not pick it up I would have shipped it?
How can they in good conscience decline legal tender with no explanation?
Am I going to have the same problem at blue nile?
I'm lost. Not to mention even if I had the confidence to try and buy a similar stone on BN I can't even find one as good for a similar price.