Bob’s Flashes - What is Value?

[dimonbob]

Bob’s Flashes - What is Value?

Some people think value is the cost of a certain product as compared to another product that is the same.

Not so…cost is part of the value.

The dictionary says: Value is the fair return or equivalent in money, goods or services for something exchanged.

If vendor A and vendor B are both selling the same exact diamond for the same exact price, where is the value difference?

If vendor A locates the diamond but has it shipped directly to you without inspecting it first, what value has been added by vendor A?

If vendor B locates the diamond, brings it into their shop for inspection, matches it to the certificate and e-mails you a copy of the Sarin before they ship the diamond to you, is that an added value?

If vendor A is selling the same diamond for $20 to $40 less and ships the diamond directly to you without inspecting it first, does that make the diamond a better value?

Let me suggest that the important “added value” is a polite and knowledgeable vendor that is patient and honest with you. This vendor adds value by inspecting the diamond and insuring it meets the needs of the customer before shipping it to you. This vendor adds value by providing certificates and the Sarin for the diamond selected. And finally, this vendor adds value to your diamond purchasing experience by encouraging you to ask questions and sharing their expertise about the particular diamond you have selected.

Ultimately, each individual customer and how the product meets their needs determine the importance of added value.

 

[mm]

Ok, but if Vendor A is selling the exact diamond for $200 less than vendor B, and you can afford to get a full independent analysis done with sarin, light return, firescope, full microscope analysis, color analysis etc etc, and still have money left over, then maybe they are adding value in a slightly in-direct way?

mm

 

[solange]

I am in the process of purchasing a ring from Whiteflash and I would like to share my experience. I was looking for a fairly large, very well cut stone and I want good value for my money. I waited several months until Lesley located what I consider the perfect stone for me and at a very good price--well under what I told her I was willing to pay. There were many other stones in my price range that she could have sold to me. She told me to wait, risking the chance that I might go elsewhere.


I believe that the manufacturers are more explicit in describing their stones because they know that Brian at Whiteflash will see them. In one case, a much more expensive stone that sounded great came up. I was ready to go but Lesley told me, after speaking with the manufacturer, that the stone was not for me.


When she finally located the stone I am planning to buy, the dealer gave her such a detailed report that she asked me if I thought it was worth a look.She did not push it.I decided that it was worth having sent to them. Brian examined it and spent a great deal of time discussing it with me on the phone. He said he thought it was a great looking stone, better than the manufacturer had described, good color, eye clean and perfect proportions.The cut is an AGS 0. I had the stone shipped to an appraiser of my choice where I saw it myself and he agreed that it is a gorgeous stone and everything Whiteflash said it was.


The result--I wound up with a stone several thousand dollars less than I was willing to pay and I am thrilled.


By the way, the appraisal cost $210. If the stone is drop shipped you may wind up paying for an appraisal on a stone that does not meet with your expectations and you may then have to go to the expense of having more than one stone appraised.


The Whiteflash screening process saved me money and I am very happy with the service and personal attention.

 

[mm]

Agreed, whiteflashes service certainly saved you money there. And in many situations, they are only $30-40 more than the cheapest drop-ship company.

What I would love to know from Diamonbob is whether whiteflash can provide a idealscope image of the stone as part of their inspection, prior to purchase. I am looking for a princess cut and the numbers don't tell it all. If i could get hold of an idealscope image of the stone before buying, i'd happlily pay the extra cost.

This is especially the case for me as I am in Australia, and an appraisal in the USA cannot be used for insurance purposes here, so I need to get it re-done over here. However, in the past i have considered it a necessary thing to do to ensure the diamond looks ok and has good light return, before I stuff around with international shipping, customs etc- and try and return it within 10 days of arrival if it looks not so good.

If the idealscope image is there, along with the saring that Diamonbob also says, then it is certainly a service that is worth the premium.

mm

 

[LesleyH]

mm

Not sure if dimondbob is up at this time of night, but we provide idealscopes to all our customers who request them.

LesleyH
www.whiteflash.com

 

[valeria101]

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On 4/21/2004 12:18:16 AM dimonbob wrote:


If vendor A and vendor B are both selling the same exact diamond for the same exact price, where is the value difference?

Access to wholesale market and transaction safety ?!

If vendor A locates the diamond but has it shipped directly to you without inspecting it first, what value has been added by vendor A?

Access to the diamond wholesaler, an otherwise inaccessible source...




If vendor B locates the diamond, brings it into their shop for inspection, matches it to the certificate and e-mails you a copy of the Sarin before they ship the diamond to you, is that an added value?

Access to the source, as above, plus transaction safety as valuable as his reputation. It is up to each buyer to evaluate this service up to his trust in the respective seller.




If vendor A is selling the same diamond for $20 to $40 less and ships the diamond directly to you without inspecting it first, does that make the diamond a better value?

This is a ridiculous discount! One already trusts the diamond buyer with hundreds of times that amount - it is not logical to let the last 1% of the price make or break the deal. If the risk of the transaction (the difference in value added between seller A and B, really) is so small, there is virtually no difference between them...


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More importandly, seller B can let you choose the merchandise you want after more quality benchmarks than seller A (here: adding all those angles and stats on top of GIA's notes - for now)...

This still sounds complicated... it is much easier to detect 'value added' in terms of service and, even better, tangible 'stuff' - such as settings, colorful quality benchmarks

, appraisal papers and what not.

There were two particularly funny examples of this on PS lately: a 5 page appraisal for a diamond and a 5 word appraisal of a gem. Both great and informative, but the customer having received the 5-word appraisal (really, a line-up of GIA grades) was posting his complaint while the first his admiration !

Strange world this forum is