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Dan Stair doesn't want PSers?!

MillieLou

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voce

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This is surprising to me. I guess he can tell because when someone tries to return a stone he can search these forums to see if we have posted a thread on it?

I've had nothing but good and cordial interactions with him. Didn't mention I was a member here or ask for more hand shots. I don't think my PS membership entitles me to anything, just wanted to be treated same as any other customer. And I understand that, even the hand shots vendors post online look different from my hand shots and how the gems look to me IRL.
 

Bron357

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Wow.
I don’t know how he could identify PS members as we all have user names not our full names!
I don’t think his approach is sensible. It’s one thing to limit additional photos etc because of the time involved and he could be cutting gemstones but to “name and shame” a group of potential clients I would suggest is a poor business decision.
Further his name/ business has been promoted (for free) here on this forum by PSers who have bought from him.
PSers are one group who can and will buy loose gemstones, other than say jeweller makers/ artisans.
Not cool.
 

junebug17

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Whoa! Never seen anything quite like this! He seems pretty fed up with PSers. He's basically not interested in having them as customers anymore. Weird that he would turn down business this way but I guess he doesn't care.

@Bron357, good point on the free advertising...I wouldn't know who he was if it wasn't for PS.
 

arkieb1

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There is a whole discussion on FB about the new rules on his website, that he posted where a lot of people in the trade bag out PSers and PS in general..... I see both sides of the argument, yes there are a few hard to please Psers and some that think it's O.K to get and return several stones at once and some that are just generally obnoxious and annoying to deal with. However, the majority of PSers I think are decent people so it saddens me when we all get labelled as being terrible from vendors.
 

mrs-b

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@arkieb1 - can you pls post a link to the discussion you refer to above?

The way it reads on his website, he'll take a return from someone else - just not someone from PriceScope??
 

whitewave

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PRICESCOPE MEMBERS - Due to my desire to concentrate on cutting more stones, I will no longer respond to your requests for additional photos and videos on the hand and in different lighting. Additionally, because of your high return rate (probably 25x normal) I will no longer sell spinels to members of Pricescope.com and any other sales to Pricescope members are final - no returns, no exceptions.

SiteBanr.jpg


Maybe he should just ban the repeat offenders.
 

Rfisher

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:|
There’s got to be more to the story.
This has been eluded to more than a few times here.
There’s got to be a middle ground.
Vendors can’t work for free.
but some vendors want customers to unequivocally like something just because they are told they should like it - because the vendor thinks it’s ‘really nice’
 
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MillieLou

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Thanks everyone. I really like his cutting but this has put me off, seems quite unprofessional. Why not just say he is unable to supply additional photos / videos, without naming a group?
 

whitewave

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David at Diamonds by Lauren, Finewatergems.com and Enhoerning jewelry at Etsy (Inken is her name) can all source you a sapphire.
 
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pokerface

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Aside from other concerns, I don't understand why he would refuse to sell spinels to PS members if he is also declaring all PS sales to be final. If he's stopped accepting returns, it wouldn't matter if spinels previously had been returned at a higher rate. Am I missing something here? :think:
 

dk168

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Spinels can look very different under different lighting conditions. I had experienced this myself.

I have yet to purchase from him, so not guilty!

I can appreciate where he is coming from. We as in PSers nearly always encourage potential buyers to request for more photos and to look for good return policy etc...

If I were a seller, I too would get fed up with demanding customers requesting extra photos and videos, for the sales not to go through for whatever reasons.

He has stated he T&Cs upfront, therefore it is up to us the consumers whether we agree to them or not.

DK :))
 

mtsapphirelovingannie

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There is a whole discussion on FB about the new rules on his website, that he posted where a lot of people in the trade bag out PSers and PS in general..... I see both sides of the argument, yes there are a few hard to please Psers and some that think it's O.K to get and return several stones at once and some that are just generally obnoxious and annoying to deal with. However, the majority of PSers I think are decent people so it saddens me when we all get labelled as being terrible from vendors.

Can you tell me were on FB. I'd like to read it. Is it Dan Stairs page?
 

voce

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While it's dismaying to see him single PS out by name, I understand that he is not operating as a typical retailer. He wants to be a gem cutter first and foremost without having to deal with the pictures, return services retail vendors provide. Retail vendors provide those services by having a markup built into their businesses. Dan Stair charges wholesale prices, and he has very low margins. Maybe this is a buyer, beware situation if you are expecting to get the retail customer service. Don't buy from him expecting you might want to return.
 

whitewave

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While it's dismaying to see him single PS out by name, I understand that he is not operating as a typical retailer. He wants to be a gem cutter first and foremost without having to deal with the pictures, return services retail vendors provide. Retail vendors provide those services by having a markup built into their businesses. Dan Stair charges wholesale prices, and he has very low margins. Maybe this is a buyer, beware situation if you are expecting to get the retail customer service. Don't buy from him expecting you might want to return.

That makes sense.
 

MillieLou

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David at Diamonds by Lauren, Finewatergems.com and Enhoerning jewelry at Etsy (Inken is her name) can all source you a sapphire.

Thanks, I've had a look at Finewater Gems and will check out the other two.
 

junebug17

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To be honest, I kind of see both sides too...for him to take this step shows that some PSers have been really difficult and he doesn't want to deal with it anymore. That said, not all PSers behave in these ways and it's kind of unfair to paint all of us with the same brush.
 

mellowyellowgirl

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Haha he sounds like he's had it up to his ears.

I can see his side and take no offense. He's peacing out as he's entitled to do. There's no right or wrong. If he's not going to cross the bridge he can torch it to his liking.

I try very hard not to even ask about things which I don't intend to buy and certainly will not buy half a dozen stones to stare at and then return. I cringe when people do that. I'm a firm believer that unless they've lied about the color or inclusions (my only return ever was due to a blatant lie) you should have an idea of what you want. Some people return based on "not feeling it". Would drive me crazy too!

I've never bothered selling my rings second hand simply because I don't want to deal with drama if the piece was not up to someone's expectations. Easier to give it away!
 

dk168

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I seldom sell anything myself, as I too dislike the frigging drama and all the questions.

DK :))
 

whitewave

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I seldom sell anything myself, as I too dislike the frigging drama and all the questions.

DK :))

I find if you sell with a good deal price, it makes for a quick and relatively painless transaction.
 

sarahb

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His position is rather discriminating & for that alone, I wouldn't purchase from him. What an awful thing to put on his website. And even if I weren't a PSer, I'd be totally put off by his comment. Just my 2 cents.
 

dk168

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I find if you sell with a good deal price, it makes for a quick and relatively painless transaction.

I usually sell on eBay using Buy It Now with the option to make me an offer.

I got some sob stories why they could not offer me more and all that. If it is close to the minimum that I would accept, then I would say yes and get it over and done with.

DK :))
 

whitewave

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His position is rather discriminating & for that alone, I wouldn't purchase from him. What an awful thing to put on his website. And even if I weren't a PSer, I'd be totally put off by his comment. Just my 2 cents.

Well, we can feel about it however we like, but we can’t buy from Dan stair!! :mrgreen:
 

remetau

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Sorry if I am out of place since I haven't purchased from Dan or posted here much, but I'm sorry purchasing online is hard enough, and if ýou can't offer additional photos, videos, and offer a decent return policy, then I can find other vendors in the preferred list who can.
 

dk168

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He might have been too nice and accommodating in the past, and has wised up. Good on him I'd say.

DK :))
 

dk168

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Well, we can feel about it however we like, but we can’t buy from Dan stair!! :mrgreen:

That's not how I read it. Just no Spinels to PSers, and other sales to PSers are final with no return or exchange etc...

His stones are listed in one eBay seller's shop that I follow.

DK :))
 

lovedogs

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I've been waiting for that FB discussion to come up here. It's a tricky issue and I see both sides. But I am sad that he won't offer returns or sell spinel to any members.
 

amoline

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Fair enough, I suppose. Obviously he has made a business decision and found that his bottom line will be better off without PS than with it.

As a business owner, it would take a beyond serious event for me to accept the risk to all business by posting "No more returns for those from such and such group" - and clearly Dan has considered this, so one can only wish him all the best.
 
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