Brick and mortar mark-up?

[navymichael]

Generally speaking, can I expect to take off AT LEAST 20-30%?

Should I ever pay the displayed price?

 

[diamondgirlNY]

Navy Michael.
?
Thirty Below tag price? where?

 

[navymichael]

I was just guessing and looking for input.

 

[diamondgirlNY]

I didn''t mean to come off like that... Just wondering off of what tag price from which company? .. Your originating topic, if I am correct was whether or not you should consider purchasing from Tiffany''s no?... Depends on where you live. If you are in New York, and where you shop...Are you from a big coastal city or in heart of US?

 

[navymichael]

I am actually staying with my dad right now. I was at his jeweler which is in a smallish town in kansas. pop. 50,000

 

[diamondgirlNY]

ok...well, there goes the whole shopping around idea, Not to belittle the mid west at all, cause I actually drove from NY to Dallas, lived in Dallas for two years and drove back through again back in 2002.... Although the cities are not nearly comparable to Manhattan (not there really is any other place like it in the world never mind the states), I found that there were many up scale jewelers in most places....uhm although tot pop being 50k is like one apartment building here....serious...My suggestion is to eye shop a lot, Marquise cut diamonds fall into the "fancy cut" diamond category, and fancy cuts are not nearly as in demand as round brilliants, (20% of all diamond inquiries are fancy cut) of these fancy cuts, they are broken up into several categories, emerald cuts, asscher cuts, royal asschers, radiants, princess, ovals, heart shapes, marquise, pears, old miners, cushions, ....etc etc. Most decent jewellers will have at least one of each shape, so you can take a look at what he has, other than that, visit as many jewellers as you can and see what kind of selection they can offer you....if you are any where near oklahoma city, I could refer you someplace there....I am from the old school, visual is more important than the paper work, and trusting your jeweller, and "connecting" with your jeweller is important....afterall, this is a HUGE investment, and it is an extremely important and emotional one....

 

[navymichael]

I visited a jeweler yesterday and asked him to FEDEX a couple diamonds for me to look at today. I am just curious as to what's a reasonable amount off the sticker price to negotiate. Like a ballpark range really. Maybe my question doesn't even make sense. I was just thinking that "usually" one can talk a jeweler down 20% or so off the price on the tag. I have always read that one shouldn't pay sticker price. Since I will be heading over to look at the diamond in a couple of hours, I was just curious if there was a ballpark amount I could safely shoot for percentage wise.

 

[diamondgirlNY]

ok, here is a little advice...I have been on both sides of the table....meaning, I am a sales person, dealer, as well as customer. I want you to feel good about yourself, and not be shy about saying no, and regardless of the "inconvienience" you think you are causing your jeweller, if what he shows you doesn''t toot your tottle say so. With 6k dollars to spend, you should be considering the bulk of your budget will go toward the center stone; mounting will run you in the 1000 dollar range +or- depending on how elaborate you want it, and the kind of metal (plat / gold etc)... really peanuts in comparison to the center no?... ok, five thousand... for five thousand dollars:
0.90-0.99ct MQ F VS1 ...5700/ct
1.00-1.49ct MQ G VS2...6200/ct
1.50-1.99ct MQ I SI2....4600/ct
what I have listed for you are the "RAP list price"... this is a wholesale pricing guide, based on the Market. this means, that if he shows you a stone : 1.20ct H SI2 GIA... you shouldn''t be paying more than 6200x1.20... use this as a standard so to speak. I think your jeweler is entilted to make money, but should be "robbing you" blind either... make sure it is GIA graded, and don''t feel under pressure to buy anything if you aren''t comfortable.

 

[navymichael]

That helps a bit. Thank you.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

All I can tell you is that the prices I was quoted in regular jewlery stores were about 20-30% higher than online and that was WITH their "discount". I am assuming the online vendors can lower their prices because they sell in greater quantity. I''d suggest you tell them you are shopping for the best deal, so they need to quote you their lowest price. I am doubtful they are willing to match the prices online, but it can''t hurt to ask.

Bottom line, don''t think about how much "off" their price you''ll get. Know what comparable stones are worth and decide how much above that price are you willing to pay for the convenience of buying from a regular jeweler.