B&M - Why you should go....

[markymark74]

First off, thank you to all who frequently contribute to the forums of this web site. I am a first time diamond buyer and happened upon it by accident while trying to educate myself about diamonds. I wanted a little bit more knowledge than the average joe and much of the information discussed on this site and in these forums was very useful and informative for me before I plunged into my engagment ring shopping and purchase. So thank you.

Second, a frequent topic of discussion appears to be the B&M vs. internet debate. I did ALOT of shopping in both venues and had mixed experiences across the board. Many B&M stores, at least some of the ones I hear frequent radio ads for here in the Mpls area, were disappointing. It was always something....either the sales tactics were oppressive and down-talking or the settings were noticeably marked up because of a designer name tag, or the diamonds were significantly marked up themselves (specifically the Lazare and Eightstar diamonds)....but something always kinda turned me off as I left each store. Until I found a smaller, family run, local B&M that actually treated me like I was an important customer. I had a great experience with no pressure whatsoever and left knowing I got a wonderful custom ring at a reasonable price....any my new fiancee absolutely loves it. Although I shopped alot on the internet too and realize I could have probably saved a couple hundred bucks through some of the various diamond web sites, I don;t think I could put a price on the experience of being able to see all the diamonds and settings up close and talk about them and their various pluses and minuses with a jeweler whom I felt comfortable with and who ended up putting together an amazing ring for me with a beautiful custom setting. I would never buy a car without a test drive, so I''m glad I could find a B&M jeweler that made the shopping experience enjoyable. So if you are shopping now too, keep looking around and give the B&M places an honest try. It''s worth it.

And check out the HCA, it''s a pretty fun tool.

 

[denverappraiser]

markymark74,

It's always nice to hear from happy customers who have been treated well. Who was the jeweler?

Neil Beaty, GG ISA
Independent Appraisals in Denver

 

[yowahking]

Do tell markymark, I would love to pass on your thoughts to our organization and also kudos to the jeweler that did it the right way for you. Good ones are out there, they just are usually not the ones spending the most on ads.

 

[Gale]

My B&M jeweller is wonderful as well. Like the one you found, it is a small, family owned and operated business. Friendly, no pressure service, excellent benchwork, an open and accomodating atmosphere, and competitive prices. What more could a customer want? May they remain in buisness for many years to come.

 

[elmo]

I've had the same thought - it's great to have a local person with good benchwork, good taste, good sources, and competitive prices. I think I found a guy like that where I am - even though they're a full-service store, they did a fantastic job helping me track down something rather hard to find, and priced it at a reasonable premium (10-20%) over what this would have cost over the internet from a full-service bricks-and-clicks store. They're aware I'm a fairly savvy internet customer, and did a great job to make me pay attention to the benefits of shopping locally with someone like this.

So because of this positive experience I returned last week looking for a couple of gold items...not expensive but still in the $500-1000 range. But this they're discounting from triple key to keystone only. I'm still trying to decide what to do on this - they're ordering from a catalog just like someone over the net would do. Yes it's great I get local service on this but internet margin to 100% margin with hundreds of dollars difference for something that's turned around on a catalog order...I honestly don't quite know how to proceed.

 

[yowahking]

If it is truly a catalog order, and the exact item, like a book, or cd, then the jeweler has a choice. Discounting to key is not really discounting. On things like gold chain, earrings, mountings that everyone in the country has the same catalog, most people are working tighter and tighter each year. There will be a point where some jewelers will get out of certain markets like simple gold items where the competition makes no sense to stock the items. Part of why I like one of a kind items. A person can decide whether they like it or not. They can get it appraised to see if value was good enough, but duplicating it is not very easy. Reality is that there is a market for both. I also carry merchandise that can be bought accross the street from me.

 

[oldminer]

Our own shoppinjg habits and selling only what is profitable are major factors in the daily shaping and re-shaping of the retail marketplace. There are some items that can only be bought in person, some items that can readily be bought from a catalog or on-line and then many that can be bought either way although there are trade offs to be made depending on which way one chooses to go in buying them. You might save more buying on line, but you may miss a great experience buying them in person from a welcoming individual who will help you better appreciate the total product.




One things is certain. The buying os diamonds and jewelry is not a static market. There are pressures creating a changing environment. Those who are a little aware and ahead of the curve will be ready for consumers who also are a little aware and ahead, too. It may be paindful to see some tradional venues drop away, but we will see new ones created. So long as consumers can be served with integrity and fairness, no one is going to change what is seen as progress.

 

[markymark74]

Hi all,
Ironically enough, the B&M jeweler where I bought my ring is a occasional contributor to many of the discussion topics in this forum. And that is exactly how I found this website in the first place-I did an internet search for his name and his store's name and pricescope was one of the web site links that popped up (i.e., his response to someone else's question abotu re-sizing an engagement ring). Brian Knox of Knox Jewelers in Mpls.

 

[Brian Knox]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the kind words. It was a pleasure helping you and Diana.

I am glad the ring turned out as fabulous as it did.

Regarding the debate of ‘Internet vs. B&M’s.

I believe the talk of the demise of B&M’s is a bit premature.

I see it as more of a evolution of sorts, the ' natural selection' process of competition.

Without question the industry is in flux, but has been before.

Think back to Service Merchandise and Catalog sales.

Then came Home shopping channels.

Somewhere in here came jewelry shopping in the Islands.

And now, the internet.

I am not naïve; without doubt, the internet will hasten the demise of some B&M’s that do not adapt.

I look at retail jewelers that do not even have informational websites for instance; they may be the first casualties.

There is a new paradigm.

The internet search engines have essentially replaced the Yellow Pages. Retailers must adjust to this sea-change

However, the even bigger change is that consumers can find much more than just the name and location of a business.

They can research Products, Industries and Individual businesses with relative ease

This is good for the consumer and can also be good for the jewelers that adjust their businesses to these changes.

 

[elmo]

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On 8/25/2004 2:26:33 PM yowahking wrote:

If it is truly a catalog order, and the exact item, like a book, or cd, then the jeweler has a choice. Discounting to key is not really discounting. On things like gold chain, earrings, mountings that everyone in the country has the same catalog, most people are working tighter and tighter each year. There will be a point where some jewelers will get out of certain markets like simple gold items where the competition makes no sense to stock the items. Part of why I like one of a kind items. A person can decide whether they like it or not. They can get it appraised to see if value was good enough, but duplicating it is not very easy. Reality is that there is a market for both. I also carry merchandise that can be bought accross the street from me.
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After responding to another B&M thread just now I thought it appropriate to report back. Further discussions with the seller resulted in a price that I thought was acceptable if not great. What was very cool though was when the order arrived, without saying anything the seller applied a nice additional discount and included a presentation box for a piece he didn't make but knew I could use. Excellent customer service.

 

[Wacky]

I think people forget most of the time internet dealers are B&M somewhere. The internet just blows the market wide open!!!! You can search for a product as far as your fingers will take you. On the other hand I wouldn't buy jewelry from a drop shipper, some guy sitting in his basement never touching the item... Just doesn't seem right.

Wacky

 

[lmurden]

"drop shipper", Wacky

Funny!