Bezel Setting Risks Question

[neatfreak]

Date: 8/2/2007 7:16:00 PM
Author: Gypsy
It's not that they won't do them.


It's that when I FIRST contracted him I told him that I wanted those for my spinels. Then he threw all this jargon at me implying I was being difficult because I didn't have a specific time frame or budget in mind and argued with me about that.


All he had to do is respond to my INITIAL email with something other than a form letter, and say 'I'm sorry, we cannot consider your project because it involves a colored gemstone and we do not want to assume the risk or liability for stone breakage'


End of story. But that's not what happened.

It WAS the same company who said no to my E/W bezel set sapphire request, thought so. I wonder if it is the same person that for some reason hates bezel setting and said no? Because when I went into the store in person they were super friendly and accomodating. He said it couldn't be done and he wouldn't do it. Now my sapphire is happily sitting in an E/W bezel from a local jeweler who had no problems at all executing my request...

 

[Gypsy]

That's three of us then.

He told me it had to be set in platinum. Have the email to prove it.

I thought he was mistaken... but had to confirm.

Despite KC's stunning BEZEL SET garnet ring from him... apparently he doesn't want to deal with it anymore.

Interesting though that he said he wouldn't even PRONG SET my spinel though.

Guess he's had some bad luck with colored stone setting.

Should just be honest and come out and say the real reasons: HE doesn't want to do it. Not that it can't be done (like Neatfreak) or that it has to be done in platinum (me)... or anything else. He just won't do it. Fine. But jeez. Take a PR class or something.

I won't be purchasing ANYTHING from him. Whereas if he'd been NICE and Upfront, I would still consider buying something from him or recommending him to others. Won't be doing that anymore either.

ETA: Might have to get a qoute from Wink on these just to make it up to him.

 

[aljdewey]

Date: 8/1/2007 2:11:54 PM
Author: Gypsy

He got irritated when I wouldn''t give him an EXACT time frame or budget. I just told him that I don''t have an exact time frame just want it before Christmas. As for budget... I told him I had no idea what it would cost to have what I wanted done... and that''s why I was contacting him for a qoute.

Very very rude. He basically then said that unless I can give him a ''realistic budget and time frame'' he couldn''t expend his resources (bother himself) to give me a qoute.

This is the part about this story that really bugs me.

I can understand a vendor saying "I''ve made a business decision not to take on projects like ''x'', and I''m not comfortable deviating from that. We''d prefer to do those things we excel at." I have NO beef with that at all.

But I don''t see how saying "before xmas" (which is within the next five months, by the way) is too vague. Heck, I can''t TELL you the number of times I (and I know Mara, too) have asked WF or others for quotes without a firmly committed "when I''m doing this" date. Hell, part of getting the quote is figuring out how to budget whatever the project will be and how long funding it will take. THAT''S usually what drives the "when I plan to do this" question.

Of course, I understand that the cost of materials can feasibly change between the time I get the quote and when I''m ready to move on it, so I factor that into my budget as well.

What makes no sense is this: if it ''can''t be done'', then why even bother asking for a budget or timeframe? If it can''t be done (or if you''ve made a businesses decision not to accept project of that nature), then timeframe/budget should be irrelevant, no?

 

[WinkHPD]

Date: 8/2/2007 7:30:33 PM
Author: Gypsy
That''s three of us then.


He told me it had to be set in platinum. Have the email to prove it.


I thought he was mistaken... but had to confirm.


Despite KC''s stunning BEZEL SET garnet ring from him... apparently he doesn''t want to deal with it anymore.


Interesting though that he said he wouldn''t even PRONG SET my spinel though.


Guess he''s had some bad luck with colored stone setting.


Should just be honest and come out and say the real reasons: HE doesn''t want to do it. Not that it can''t be done (like Neatfreak) or that it has to be done in platinum (me)... or anything else. He just won''t do it. Fine. But jeez. Take a PR class or something.


I won''t be purchasing ANYTHING from him. Whereas if he''d been NICE and Upfront, I would still consider buying something from him or recommending him to others. Won''t be doing that anymore either.


ETA: Might have to get a qoute from Wink on these just to make it up to him.

Whew! Thanks for putting me on the good guy''s list. There are several vendors here who can do those for you!

Wink

 

[:)]

Gypsy, I am so glad you straightened things out about Wink not being involved - when I was first reading this, Wink stood out immediately as being glaringly obviously absent from the list, but I really couldn''t imagine him (or anyone who works for him) possibly being rude or unwilling to at least give a quote, esp given how often he helps us out (and no, I wasn''t the person who called him to ask!). Knox was then my second guess based on a couple of comments. I respect and completely understand that you didn''t want to tarnish someone''s reputation, but I am glad it is now out in the open for the sake of people like Wink not getting suspected of something they are not involved in!

 

[february2003bride]

Date: 8/2/2007 8:45:54 PM
Author: aljdewey

Date: 8/1/2007 2:11:54 PM
Author: Gypsy



He got irritated when I wouldn't give him an EXACT time frame or budget. I just told him that I don't have an exact time frame just want it before Christmas. As for budget... I told him I had no idea what it would cost to have what I wanted done... and that's why I was contacting him for a qoute.

Very very rude. He basically then said that unless I can give him a 'realistic budget and time frame' he couldn't expend his resources (bother himself) to give me a qoute.

This is the part about this story that really bugs me.

I can understand a vendor saying 'I've made a business decision not to take on projects like 'x', and I'm not comfortable deviating from that. We'd prefer to do those things we excel at.' I have NO beef with that at all.

But I don't see how saying 'before xmas' (which is within the next five months, by the way) is too vague. Heck, I can't TELL you the number of times I (and I know Mara, too) have asked WF or others for quotes without a firmly committed 'when I'm doing this' date. Hell, part of getting the quote is figuring out how to budget whatever the project will be and how long funding it will take. THAT'S usually what drives the 'when I plan to do this' question.

Of course, I understand that the cost of materials can feasibly change between the time I get the quote and when I'm ready to move on it, so I factor that into my budget as well.

What makes no sense is this: if it 'can't be done', then why even bother asking for a budget or timeframe? If it can't be done (or if you've made a businesses decision not to accept project of that nature), then timeframe/budget should be irrelevant, no?

Ditto! I've gotten several quotes from Bob at WhiteFlash on different potential projects over the last 18 + months. Some I've gone forward on and some I haven't. And each time there was either a general time frame or none at all! And not once has Bob ever said a project couldn't be done because I didn't have a firm timeline.

ETA: Gypsy- I'm sorry that a vendor was rude to you on something so simple as a quote! Nothing makes me close my wallet faster to a business than rude service.

 

[chrono]

Thank you, Gypsy. Yes, I had suspected it was Knox. I always oogled their settings but never purchased anything from them because of postings here in the recent past about their custom work and how they handled it. I am also thankful that Wink''s name is cleared because I love working with him.

 

[Gypsy]

I''m glad that poor Wink''s name has been cleared. I''ve talked to Wink twice. Once about having Richard Homer flat facet cut an emerald for me. Wink talked me out of it because he thought the emerald quality was too poor to invest money in. And a second time to get Ocean''s input on my project (which I decided, while she is very gifted, I don''t have Cehra''s patience for. I''m an instant gratification girl). He has been fabulous both times. Clearly putting my interests ahead of his own.

 

[WinkHPD]

Date: 8/3/2007 11:52:44 AM
Author: Gypsy
I''m glad that poor Wink''s name has been cleared. I''ve talked to Wink twice. Once about having Richard Homer flat facet cut an emerald for me. Wink talked me out of it because he thought the emerald quality was too poor to invest money in. And a second time to get Ocean''s input on my project (which I decided, while she is very gifted, I don''t have Cehra''s patience for. I''m an instant gratification girl). He has been fabulous both times. Clearly putting my interests ahead of his own.

Thank you for your very kind words.

Wink

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 8/3/2007 11:58:26 AM
Author: Wink

Date: 8/3/2007 11:52:44 AM
Author: Gypsy
I''m glad that poor Wink''s name has been cleared. I''ve talked to Wink twice. Once about having Richard Homer flat facet cut an emerald for me. Wink talked me out of it because he thought the emerald quality was too poor to invest money in. And a second time to get Ocean''s input on my project (which I decided, while she is very gifted, I don''t have Cehra''s patience for. I''m an instant gratification girl). He has been fabulous both times. Clearly putting my interests ahead of his own.

Thank you for your very kind words.

Wink

You''ve earned them, as I''m sure everyone here will agree. You don''t have to thank me for the truth.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/3/2007 12:06:52 PM
Author: Gypsy

Date: 8/3/2007 11:58:26 AM
Author: Wink

Date: 8/3/2007 11:52:44 AM
Author: Gypsy
I''m glad that poor Wink''s name has been cleared. I''ve talked to Wink twice. Once about having Richard Homer flat facet cut an emerald for me. Wink talked me out of it because he thought the emerald quality was too poor to invest money in. And a second time to get Ocean''s input on my project (which I decided, while she is very gifted, I don''t have Cehra''s patience for. I''m an instant gratification girl). He has been fabulous both times. Clearly putting my interests ahead of his own.

Thank you for your very kind words.

Wink

You''ve earned them, as I''m sure everyone here will agree. You don''t have to thank me for the truth.

Couldn''t agree more - our Wink is a gentleman and is held in very high esteem around here!!

Sorry about all this Gyps.

 

[Gypsy]

Thank you Lorelei. I was more a surprise than anything else, as I know many people, myself included, have recommended them to others. Just teaches me that unless I have personal experience with a vendor, I shouldn''t refer them.

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 8/3/2007 1:33:25 PM
Author: Gypsy
Thank you Lorelei. I was more a surprise than anything else, as I know many people, myself included, have recommended them to others. Just teaches me that unless I have personal experience with a vendor, I shouldn''t refer them.

you know gypsy, that is probably a good lesson for all of us

 

[poshpepper]

Date: 8/2/2007 7:30:33 PM
Author: Gypsy

Should just be honest and come out and say the real reasons: HE doesn't want to do it. Not that it can't be done (like Neatfreak) or that it has to be done in platinum (me)... or anything else. He just won't do it. Fine. But jeez. Take a PR class or something.

Its strange that he was so rude to you. He wasn't rude to me but WOULD NOT set a sapphire for me (wouldn't set it in prongs either!)
He said that he wouldn't do it because of liability (with a stone I provided) but when I asked if he could source a sapphire for me he said he wouldn't do that either

I guess he just didn't want our business... so now like neatfreak, I have my product from a local jeweler who would accommodate me...

 

[kcoursolle]

I thoght you might be talking about knox, but I was a little confused since they created such a lovely bezel set garnet ring for me. Perhaps knox worried a little while they were setting mine and didn''t want to go through the experience or the liability again...I''m really not sure.

I''ve only had positive experiences with Brian, so many that I''ve had him create three rings for me and I trusted him with my fiance''s wedding band...so I''m a little sad to hear that you had a negative one.

 

[Gypsy]

MsSalvo: Very true!

PoshPepper: I might have just caught him on an off day. Who knows. But it certainly is clear that he will not set colored stones any more especially as you and NF both had sapphires, which are even harder than my spinel. And he rejected my spinel and your sapphire for prongs setting as well.

KC: I''ve seen the lovely work he''s done for you! That''s why I was happy to contact him for a qoute and why I was so surprised that he was rude and wouldn''t set colored stones anymore. Ah well.

 

[Joolskie]

Date: 8/3/2007 2:34:22 PM
Author: kcoursolle
I thoght you might be talking about knox, but I was a little confused since they created such a lovely bezel set garnet ring for me. Perhaps knox worried a little while they were setting mine and didn''t want to go through the experience or the liability again...I''m really not sure.


I''ve only had positive experiences with Brian, so many that I''ve had him create three rings for me and I trusted him with my fiance''s wedding band...so I''m a little sad to hear that you had a negative one.

Wow, I am with KC here. My experience with Knox went above and beyond what I would have expected. Not only did they reset my diamond into one of their settings... they set my sapphire in the original six-prong Tiffany setting. My interactions were all extremely pleasant and customer-oriented. And both of my rings were palladium, not platinum.

After having such a great experience, it too bums me out that your experience was so negative. I''m sorry to hear it. Alas, your project is Knox''s loss and another vendor''s gain!