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Confused

T

Topsailer

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 19, 2019
Messages
8
Hello all,

Long time lurker, first time poster here, in need of clarity (cringe-inducing pun intended).

I am in the market for a pair of upgradeable diamond stud earrings, and I thought I had educated myself on here well enough to make an informed purchase. Perhaps not though as I’m now so confused!

I approached a PS-recommended vendor who many have said on here that you get the most bang for your buck with. They quoted $995 + $50 shipping for H-I / .30 ctw / SI1. I said that for around $200 more I could get .60 ctw ACAs (K color, granted) from Whiteflash. This was her response, I just copy and pasted, unedited:

“White Flash does not have our Price Scope diamond quality studs , not even close :)
We offer Tiffany quality diamonds for much less money :)
Customers seduced by the lowest market price end up buying much low quality diamond studs at the end.
Our none-"price scope quality" diamond studs look much better :)
We offer appraisal service for diamonds at our store. We see every day lots of customers who are not happy with diamonds they purchased elsewhere :)
Last week customer came from Macy's - full certificate for jewelry: F/G color, VVS1 clarity. Impressive glossy certificate. However, all diamond looked SI clarity, lots of inclusions & much lower color.
Everyone has a budget, but diamond quality is our priority.
Good luck !”

Is this for real??! I’m bemused, confused and slightly offended even!
 
It must have been the bot ,(
 
Would love to know who said this
 
Rose-gold-or-bust said:
Would love to know who said this
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Is it bad to say? Really not trying to bash anyone’s business here, I’m just genuinely confused that they outright said “Whiteflash does not have pricescope quality diamonds”. Anyone who spends more than 30 seconds on pricescope will surely know this to be a lie?
 
I would also like to know who this is.
 
Topsailer said:
Is it bad to say? Really not trying to bash anyone’s business here, I’m just genuinely confused that they outright said “Whiteflash does not have pricescope quality diamonds”. Anyone who spends more than 30 seconds on pricescope will surely know this to be a lie?
Click to expand...

If they are willing to bash another vendor to get business, they should be named as well. With that said, if you say who it is and a lot of people think it is out of character, it is possible the vendor has been hacked
 
It is Lana from IDJ. I wouldn’t shop with them after this. Which is a shame as a lot of PSers have lovely pieces from them that I’ve admired over the years.

Does the price they gave me even seem right for those specs? If so it’s a no-brainer to go with Whiteflash anyway, right?!
 
I had a meh experience with IDJ as well (they were not listening to my concerns about how my diamond studs would likely be too small for the jackets they quoted me. I checked here and saw that IDJ had quoted similar size jackets for someone else and they were way too big. Also told them that another vendor told me that the size they quoted is too big but then IDJ ignored me after so.)

You can get studs from Whiteflash (0.25 ctw H/I SI1) for only $450 (although I don’t know about the upgrade policy for their studs).
 
CheeSauce said:
I had a meh experience with IDJ as well (they were not listening to my concerns about how my diamond studs would likely be too small for the jackets they quoted me. I checked here and saw that IDJ had quoted similar size jackets for someone else and they were way too big. Also told them that another vendor told me that the size they quoted is too big but then IDJ ignored me after so.)

You can get studs from Whiteflash (0.25 ctw H/I SI1) for only $450 (although I don’t know about the upgrade policy for their studs).
Click to expand...

Thank you, this is helpful! I definitely want them to be upgradeable and that’s possible with 2 x .30
ACAs for around $1200, which seems like a great price to me!

Her other emails were somewhat pushy before this.
 
Disturbing that IDJ would even say such a thing. I don’t care for that type of business practice so that would be a no go for me. You sound as though you have been a reader here for quite awhile and we are glad that you decided to be a participant - welcome!! I am sure you have also read enough here to be able to make an educated choice. No room for any confusion in this instance. Please let us know what you decide to purchase and be sure to share pics with us!
 
Topsailer said:
It is Lana from IDJ. I wouldn’t shop with them after this. Which is a shame as a lot of PSers have lovely pieces from them that I’ve admired over the years.

Does the price they gave me even seem right for those specs? If so it’s a no-brainer to go with Whiteflash anyway, right?!
Click to expand...
Lana is pretty terrible, IMHO. I've talked to her before and she doesn't listen, doesn't know much about stones, and is generally irritating. More than once I've had to ask for yeukiteil because Lana couldn't understand what I was asking for and kept saying foolish things. I strongly dislike her and think she makes idj look bad. Yeukiteil wouldn't ever say anything like that. He knows that WF, CBI, etc, are super high quality stones. He might not agree that it's worth paying the branded super ideal price, but he would NEVER say that they sell inferior diamonds.

I made a thread about working with idj and then getting a surprise opportunity to get a custom cut CBI. Despite the fact that I basically wasted yeukiteil's time (by accident, but still), he was nothing but gracious and freely said that CBIs are great.

It makes me sad that Lana is making idj look bad :( but of course in this case go with WF because you can upgrade. Total no brainier.
 
lovedogs said:
Lana is pretty terrible, IMHO. I've talked to her before and she doesn't listen, doesn't know much about stones, and is generally irritating. More than once I've had to ask for yeukiteil because Lana couldn't understand what I was asking for and kept saying foolish things. I strongly dislike her and think she makes idj look bad. Yeukiteil wouldn't ever say anything like that. He knows that WF, CBI, etc, are super high quality stones. He might not agree that it's worth paying the branded super ideal price, but he would NEVER say that they sell inferior diamonds.

I made a thread about working with idj and then getting a surprise opportunity to get a custom cut CBI. Despite the fact that I basically wasted yeukiteil's time (by accident, but still), he was nothing but gracious and freely said that CBIs are great.

It makes me sad that Lana is making idj look bad :( but of course in this case go with WF because you can upgrade. Total no brainier.
Click to expand...

Thank you for this, it makes me reconsider trying them for something else; another thing I was certain I’d go to them for is a 7 stone eternity ring in the future. Would definitely want to deal with a different salesperson though!

Gosh now I feel really terrible to have named them.
 
Topsailer said:
Thank you for this, it makes me reconsider trying them for something else; another thing I was certain I’d go to them for is a 7 stone eternity ring in the future. Would definitely want to deal with a different salesperson though!

Gosh now I feel really terrible to have named them.
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dont feel bad! I think it's important that people know that sometimes salespeople can make a whole company look bad, even when the company itself is great. Hopefully Yeukiteil sees this and can speak with Lana. I didn't ever say anything bcuase I thought I was just being unclear and/or misunderstood her. But I think it's a systematic issue with her, which is important for people to know.
 
Topsailer said:
Thank you for this, it makes me reconsider trying them for something else; another thing I was certain I’d go to them for is a 7 stone eternity ring in the future. Would definitely want to deal with a different salesperson though!

Gosh now I feel really terrible to have named them.
Click to expand...

Don't feel bad. Good vendors take their lumps with grace so hopefully we'll see a positive response to your concerns.

I have a couple of small items from idj but my purchases were made in person and didn't experience what others have described here.

My K color studs from WF are stunning and make me feel like a princess every time I put them on. I specifically wanted to go with a vendor that provided lots of information up front and had a well-established upgrade policy. I have already already upgraded once and intend to do so again. Can't recommend them enough.
 
Wow. Just wow.

OP, go with WF. In my mind this is a no brainer after what Lana said, and with what you will get for $200 more at WF.
 
Wewechew said:
Wow. Just wow.

OP, go with WF. In my mind this is a no brainer after what Lana said, and with what you will get for $200 more at WF.
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Thank you, I will do.

Still somewhat confused though, can the price Lana quoted me be correct? I know there’s a color grade difference, but for TWICE the size and certified, WF super ideals are only $200 more? It makes me think she got muddled up and quoted for .30 per stud instead of ctw. Or am I way off the mark?
 
I think she was probably quoting per stud. No way would it be ctw. Surely not.
 
Topsailer said:
Thank you, I will do.

Still somewhat confused though, can the price Lana quoted me be correct? I know there’s a color grade difference, but for TWICE the size and certified, WF super ideals are only $200 more? It makes me think she got muddled up and quoted for .30 per stud instead of ctw. Or am I way off the mark?
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No idea. Either way, even if its the incorrect price, that doesn't leave me with warm and fuzzies that she has any idea what she's doing.
 
Topsailer My apologizes on behalf of my staff. I was not aware of this I certainty agree that is not the proper way to response to any inquiry and never should one company degrade other it's not ethical not polite and it reflects poorly on ones character. I will personally look into this and have a staff meeting and address this and make sure something like this doesn't happen in the future. Its hard to find honest good help these days and ppl could make mistakes. and we do our best to always learn and improve so we can become better and stronger. Again I sincerely apologize for leaving you with a bad taste and will make it up to you in the future if the opportunity arises.
Yekutiel
 
Gussie said:
I think she was probably quoting per stud. No way would it be ctw. Surely not.
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I guess she’s seen this thread now, I just got an apology email saying the price is actually $395 + $50 shipping.
But not before defensively claiming to have 35 years experience evaluating diamonds! And having Whiteflash customers coming back to her after shopping there! Lol.
 
Topsailer said:
I guess she’s seen this thread now, I just got an apology email saying the price is actually $395 + $50 shipping.
But not before defensively claiming to have 35 years experience evaluating diamonds! And having Whiteflash customers coming back to her after shopping there! Lol.
Click to expand...
Better price, but I would still be done.
 
Yekutiel said:
Topsailer My apologizes on behalf of my staff. I was not aware of this I certainty agree that is not the proper way to response to any inquiry and never should one company degrade other it's not ethical not polite and it reflects poorly on ones character. I will personally look into this and have a staff meeting and address this and make sure something like this doesn't happen in the future. Its hard to find honest good help these days and ppl could make mistakes. and we do our best to always learn and improve so we can become better and stronger. Again I sincerely apologize for leaving you with a bad taste and will make it up to you in the future if the opportunity arises.
Yekutiel
Click to expand...
Thank you, I really do appreciate that. I will certainly purchase with you in the future, but probably not for these studs.
I have to say: my parents are business owners and if their staff were representing the business that way I’d absolutely want them to know about it and deal with it, so hopefully it’s a positive for you that this came to your attention.
 
Topsailer said:
Thank you, I really do appreciate that. I will certainly purchase with you in the future, but probably not for these studs.
I have to say: my parents are business owners and if their staff were representing the business that way I’d absolutely want them to know about it and deal with it, so hopefully it’s a positive for you that this came to your attention.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more.
Thank you.
 
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