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Asking for quotes

that_someone_special

that_someone_special

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Mar 23, 2008
Messages
5,384
OK so another thread got me thinking...

What is an acceptable amount of quotes for jewelry over X amount of time?

I ask this because I am going through this process right now ::)

I think about it this way- if I was car shopping or house hunting I wouldn't just go to the first place and say, "How much? Oh.. seems high.. but ok!!" without looking around. Same goes for jewelry. If I want to do a custom piece or reset a piece or get some earrings, I wouldn't just go to the first jewelry store and say "Sure, wrap 'em up!".

With online "stores" the consumer has an advantage to write to 2 or 3 places asking for a quote. If their quality is similar and you're not biased on which item you love the most, wouldn't you pick the lowest/ best quote for what you are getting? I mean, I wouldn't pick the highest quote based on it being the highest quote.

I have written to a certain company 3 times now (different projects) and each time, their quote has been way higher than the other quotes and included extra costs left and right. So, I didn't choose them. But, if they are not going to answer any further quote requests because I've asked for X amount in X amount of time.... I mean.. at what point are they being ridiculous and at what point am I, the consumer, being ridiculous?

Thoughts please.......... :geek: :mrgreen:
 
I don't know the answer, but I do know that when I am in the midst of a project I am also quote happy and have had a few vendors become... ummmm... slow to respond as a result. I usually just call them and talk to them if I really want the information. Usually a call solves things in 20 minutes that would have taken 4 days and 20 e-mails, for me.

I acknowledge that I am a demanding customer.
 
I feel like I am too. One of my purchases may only be $500 here and $1500 there, so small pea's sometimes but it won't always be like that.

I recently was treated like cr@p at a local jewelry store and will NEVER, EVER EVER go there again. In fact, I will go out of my way to tell people NOT to go there. And will write online reviews about them ;)

Now, if I had a stellar experience I would be raving to everyone about how great they are. You know? Please a customer and word-of-mouth can mean a lot of bucks!!

I guess with the quote thing, and not getting back in a timely matter (or, at all in my case once) it can mean a missed sale (is anyone above making a sale anymore?) and have a negative impact further down the road.
 
I think if a place has been the *high* quote more than once ... they are probably ALWAYS going to be the high quote? Why bother continuing to ask them if they aren't going to get the work? At what point does it become pure WISHFUL THINKING that a company is going to do xxx job for yyy money.

I also believe that sometimes folks quote high when they don't want the work or think the customer is being a bother. Again: no need for further quoting.
 
I was just wondering the same thing. I have asked for quotes from a couple of different vendors and usually have found something I love just as much at a much better price and usually buy that instead. However, there have been a few times where I have actually needed help and don't trust outside sources and ask for quotes from vendors for even very simple things, such as sizing, etc. I've had issues getting replies back for those things, which did need to be done, and have had to take them else where, which is fine. I am just disappointed to see that because I choose to spend my money else where, that I'm less likely to get a reply back because I have "cried wolf" in their eyes. When in fact I have spent money with vendors and other sites. Because of this I am no longer going to work with a certain vendor because I haven't received a reply on my most resent quote, which is a shame because I love their work so much. I thought about going to them to reset my new OEC earrings into bezel settings, but instead of doing that, now I'm going to keep them as is. Not that they probably care because it's only a 400.00 project for them, but never the less, I'm going to be using a different vendor (probably JBEG) instead of the other vendor that would have had me for life for all my future projects. I have also found a guy on etsy who does AMAZING engraving and metal work and his prices are BY FAR the best I have seen. I was quoted by WF over 2k for a pendent project in which I provided most of the stones for. This guy was going to charge me 1k for the same project. I'm pretty excited to have found this guy, and he will be getting many projects from me in the future. Probably starting with my OEC bezels as soon as the funds are there!
 
I don't know what an acceptable amount may be, but I think if you ask someone for 2-3 quotes and don't buy, I understand if they de-prioritize you. Some of these vendors are a smaller operations and I don't see an issue with trying to make money and putting food on the table by prioritizing the business that seems immediate. The trick is doing your best to not make anyone feel like they're the bottom of the totem pole, of course.

Quotes for many vendors take a bit of time to put together. I think Leon after 2 quotes asks for a retainer. I can see why people don't like that policy, but I always thought it was reasonable. I think I'm also assuming a custom quote...not something like (I saw that on your website but there's no price, how much is it?" where it might be easier to just shoot out a price.

But I'm not in the business, so I guess I really don't know!
 
redrose229 said:
I was just wondering the same thing. I have asked for quotes from a couple of different vendors and usually have found something I love just as much at a much better price and usually buy that instead. However, there have been a few times where I have actually needed help and don't trust outside sources and ask for quotes from vendors for even very simple things, such as sizing, etc. I've had issues getting replies back for those things, which did need to be done, and have had to take them else where, which is fine. I am just disappointed to see that because I choose to spend my money else where, that I'm less likely to get a reply back because I have "cried wolf" in their eyes. When in fact I have spent money with vendors and other sites. Because of this I am no longer going to work with a certain vendor because I haven't received a reply on my most resent quote, which is a shame because I love their work so much. I thought about going to them to reset my new OEC earrings into bezel settings, but instead of doing that, now I'm going to keep them as is. Not that they probably care because it's only a 400.00 project for them, but never the less, I'm going to be using a different vendor (probably JBEG) instead of the other vendor that would have had me for life for all my future projects. I have also found a guy on etsy who does AMAZING engraving and metal work and his prices are BY FAR the best I have seen. I was quoted by WF over 2k for a pendent project in which I provided most of the stones for. This guy was going to charge me 1k for the same project. I'm pretty excited to have found this guy, and he will be getting many projects from me in the future. Probably starting with my OEC bezels as soon as the funds are there!
Click to expand...

Please do share this etsy person...I would love to check out his work!
 
WhiteFlash and Michael E of Gemshoppe, I will ALWAYS work with because they have never onced told me that I've asked for too many quotes, heck I am a terribly wish washy customer (and they know it, but I sure do recommend them!), sometimes I've asked for more than five and then scrapped the whole project or have too many projects all at once, But in the end even though my purchases or upgrades have been very little $$ in comparison to new Diamond Projects, I come back to them for everything because they always value me as a repeat customer.
 
Deco- I think I explained it wrong.

My example is, I wanted to reset a stone. The setting on their site was in the $700 range and was quote $1300 for the project. The next item, I asked for a different carat weight (less than half) and was quoted nearly the same price as what double the carat weight was (stock settings). Another project, I asked about some diamonds and was ready (paypal in hand) and then never was responded to with multiple emails. That is all one vendor.

Another vendor I contacted, I said this is my budget (example $1200). And every single time, I would get quotes for $1500+. And I would say, no, I understand those stones are nice, but I only want to spend $1200, I think I need smaller stones then. And then I would get another quote for $1400. Recently, I inquired about sending an item out to this same vendor and was given a $1800 quote plus an additional $700 shipping. When I asked if there was any other way to ship it, other than $700... NO response, NOTHING. Funny thing, is that it's the same representative as the $1200-$1500 quoter. I am basically fed up at this point.

It's not like I'm emailing these people and saying I want a quote for X Y and Z and then don't respond and then the next week ask for another quote on another item... I was asking about things that I really wanted to do!

I think at a certain point (re:TGal) that de-prioritizing is a good idea, but if the customer never hears back from the company (ever) or it seems like they just dropped communication at that point, it's really rude :(
 
$700 shipping charges? Good grief - what is up with that???
 
Sorry, that was $700 to them, and then back to me.
 
bean said:
Sorry, that was $700 to them, and then back to me.
Click to expand...
:confused:

What was going back and forth with shipping costing $700?? :confused:
 
The insured value of the item?

I still have not heard a response... which I figured... even a simple email saying "No, sorry, that is the best price on shipping we can get" would've been nice.
 
bean said:
The insured value of the item?

I still have not heard a response... which I figured... even a simple email saying "No, sorry, that is the best price on shipping we can get" would've been nice.
Click to expand...

I insured my package for 25k and it was like 60 bucks... 700 or even 350 is a HUGE stretch beyond that.
 
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