Attitude from jeweler...not buying stone from them?

[slbrides]

Should I expect attitude from the jeweler for not buying a stone directly from them? I plan to buy the stone online, I have the band, but will need a new head to mount the stone...from what I understand. So I will be paying for the head and the mounting.

I just got off the phone with local guy trying to figure out ball park what the head and mounting will cost me, and he gave me that "tone" I dislike and explained why I should buy from him. I understand he needs to try to sell, but don''t knock all the research and time that I have put in to this. "Usually it is cheaper online because the cut is not as good..."

Is this how it will be with others when I say I bought a stone online? Some folks need some brushing up on their customer service skills...

 

[D&T]

I''d move on and find another benchman. There are many other jewelers or places that does mostly repair or rework that won''t give you attitude.

 

[HVVS]

Money spends anywhere. Have the vendor that you buy the stone from set it. It''s better to have that vendor mount the stone, anyway, in case it''s chipped or damaged in mounting. A peg head and a reset, here, cost $100 to $150 two years ago, depending on how badly they wanted some work. And I''ve quit dealing w/ the two local jewelers here b/c they increasingly did sloppy work and gave me the attitude. The one that sells overpriced Hearts On Fire actually told me to take my repair jobs back where I''d bought the rings. There''s nothing like giving a customer the bum''s rush, lol. I guess lil'' small town never stopped to consider that maybe I''d relocated from another town and maybe just happened to bring some jewelry with me. That pretty much ruled out my ever returning to that local jewelry store.

 

[Luckyeshe]

Date: 10/7/2009 10:55:51 AM
Author: D&T
I''d move on and find another benchman. There are many other jewelers or places that does mostly repair or rework that won''t give you attitude.

Slbrides, we did the same thing as you (but with a loose colored gem and a setting we bought somewhere else). Do you have a Jared''s near you? They''re a big jewelry store all over the US and you''ll be able to get your diamond set with them for $50. If you need the basket changed I know that it''s $98.95 (or something like that) for you to have the prongs changed + setting fee. If there is something wrong with loose prongs, they''ll warranty the basket/head for 6 months and they''ll fix it for free for the 1st 6 months. We ended up going with our local Jared''s to get this done and they were awesome. Give them a call and see if they can help you. Good luck!

 

[luv2sparkle]

I think this attitude is common among jewelers these days. Online vendors are taking business that they would have normally had. I have found this at many jewelers. I wouldnt trust anything they say
after that. You know that is a bold face lie, so why wouldn''t they lie about anything else. When looking for a setting I have had jewelers tell me my stone was vastly inferior to theirs and that it was not
graded accurately. Ridiculous! I couldn''t believe the words coming out of their mouths.

Find another jeweler or have the vendor you bought the stone from set it for you.

 

[swingirl]

Don't rub it in your jeweler's face that you are buying your stone elsewhere. Whether your stone is new, old, or inherited shouldn't matter in setting it so why tell him.

 

[WinkHPD]

I advise my clients that want to work with a local jeweler to just tell their jeweler that they already have a diamond and are looking for a place to buy a new ring to have it set.

This avoids rubbing them raw by saying right at the start that it is an internet stone and it seems to greatly reduce the friction.

I also tell my jeweler friends both in Boise and on Polygon that they make more money on the mountings these days than on diamonds anyway, so to be gracious and grateful for the work.

I was talking with "The Guild" store here in Boise last week and asked him what his margin on diamonds was. I was greatly surprised to hear that it ran right in line with Internet vendors. Diamonds are no longer a profit center for most retail jewelers, but rather a service that they offer to earn your mounting business.

Sounds like your local jeweler has not figured this out yet, so it is time to find another one who has and enjoy the experience.

Wink

P.S. Buying jewelry should be an enjoyable process. If your vendor/jeweler is not making it so, then find another who will.

 

[WinkHPD]

P.P.S. Here in Boise I AM that local jeweler that many people call. I guarantee you that you will NOT get an attitude here and most of my friendly competitors are the same way. We talk about it and we train our staffs to be courteous and helpful.

I am only pointing this out to say that there are going to be good and bad apples in every barrel and if you grab a bad one to start, you can just throw it out and grab another. Keep calling, you WILL find a good one.

 

[clgwli]

I agree with others that finding a new jeweler is a good idea. I admit I am newer to the forums while in my hunt for an engagement type ring, but I have had a lot of work done on rings and rings in particular. I use three different jewelers depending on what I need. Two of them are absolutely amazing with working with what I have. One is more resonably priced than the other but more of a drive for me. About 10 years ago I had one remount an old diamond for me and I believe the cost was $160 for a simple gold band, the head to mount the stone & the fees.

Another one I decided to switch out a stone on a ring. They are awesome with their stock, found me the gemstone in a size and color I liked and mounted it for $30 (no head replacement, but that also included the rhodium plating on the ring after the fact). Obviously the stone was not included in that cost, but since it was a citrine it was relatively cheap. This was a cost I paid just a month or two ago.

I''ve really grown to appreciate finding good jewelers. They are able to work with you and won''t ever look down on you no matter what you are doing. Good luck!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Keep calling around. I''ve had jewelers remark on how fabulous my earrings are and when I''ve mentioned they were purchased online, I''ve received positive responses.

 

[slbrides]

Swingirl, was not trying to rub in. He asked where I got it, I told him.

We bought our bands at this place so I thought they would be willing to work with me...he was, but not without aggravating me with his comments.
Having found this site, I find myself to have educated myself pretty well for a newbie.
You are right, HVVS, money spends anywhere. I would think in this economy, folks would be happy to have any business.

Wink, want to come to MA? lol

Thanks everyone!

 

[bgray]

where is mass? boston area or western?

 

[stone-cold11]

Probably eastern MA, since from her other thread, she mentioned she is in RI.

 

[denverappraiser]

It’s a funny thing with jewelers and 'the Internet’; the same folks who would never unfairly disparage a competitor across the street will say the most outrageous things about someone across the country when they can be lumped into a broad category. The same thing can happen in reverse with long distance vendors talk about 'brick and mortar' stores or stores located in the 'maul'. I suppose that’s part of human nature because they figure the chances of it turning into a fight are greater when it’s about a neighbor but the effect is the same and normally it tells you as much or more about the store and the employee making the comments as it does about who they are discussing.


Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[Todd Gray]

Date: 10/7/2009 10:24:48 AM
Author:slbrides
''Usually it is cheaper online because the cut is not as good...''

Back that statement up with PROOF Mr. Brick & Mortar, oh yea, back it up, back it up, back it up... This is reality calling

"Well I find it extremely easy to verify the cut quality of the diamonds which I''ve been considering online because the vendors which I''ve been working with have provided me with diamond details pages complete with color copies of the lab reports; a myriad of clarity photographs; Sarin | OGI | Helium | computerized proportions of the diamond showing the facet-by-facet structure of the diamond which is well beyond the information provided in the proportions representation provided on the lab report - heck, there is even a 3D model provided by many of them... And there are ASET scope images and Ideal Scope images and Hearts & Arrows images... Yea, it''s been pretty difficult to verify the cut quality online and the prices can be difficult to compare to... I''ve been trying to figure out how to do that on this consumer diamond education site called Price Scope. Have you ever heard of it? No? Well let me show you..."

Get video. I want to see video.

When we first moved to Roseburg, Oregon in October of 2000 I dropped by the local jewelry stores to indroduce myself and my favorite response to "Hi I''m Todd with Nice Ice, we just moved to town and I wanted to introduce myself" was "OMG you''re them"

"you''re really them?" which I assume was a reaction to the article recently featured in JCK Magazine that focused on how the internet was going to cause the retail jeweler to go extinct by 2000 (?) so don''t forget to mention all the PS vendors by name, we truly appreciate ''the love'' and opinion that we''re competing on price by selling a rather well documented diamond of alleged inferior quality. Not.

 

[zabak80]

If I was in ANY business, I would never give the customer an attitude.

I''ve bought many valuable items from across the country, and had them repaired, upgraded or serviced at local business that sell the same items.

Sometimes I''ve received great service, other times I got the attitude.

From those experiences, I have continued to do business with the "great service" businesses and have bought numerous items from them because of that great service.

For example: If I buy a Mazda in California and move to Massachusetts, I''d expect a local dealer to service the vehicle without the attitude given to me because I didn''t buy it from them. However, when it comes to buying my next Mazda, I''ll more likely go to my local dealer because I got great service and know they are reputable.

 

[slbrides]

I am in southeast MA...closer to RI. Going in to Boston is a drag when you have two little ones.

Bob @ WF has been great (and patient) answering all of my questions...WF just might be able to mount it for me if all checks out with my band. Anyone else ever lose the stone and head?

I have to say, after reading all of your posts, I feel like writing a nice letter to said store. Maybe I will wait for that until everything is actually set in stone. no pun.

 

[Modified Brilliant]

It amazes me that in these difficult economic times that a store wouldn''t do everything possible to win you over with fantastic service and positive attitude. It''s a training issue usually that starts at the top. It trickles down to every employee. Good or bad.

www.metrojewelryappraisers.com

 

[HVVS]

ROTFL, Todd Gray! Do they turn pale, too?

 

[Todd Gray]

Date: 10/7/2009 4:36:36 PM
Author: HVVS
ROTFL, Todd Gray! Do they turn pale, too?

Yes he did actually go ghost white and stammer a whole bunch. Eventually I got him to understand that "we service entirely different markets" (read: our customers tend to be kind of, uh, precise and yours, well, aren''t)