Diamond salespeople

[Allisonfaye]

So I went to a well known department store today to look at diamond stud earrings. Not having tipped my hand yet with my vast knowledge of diamonds, the SA told me that I1-I2 (which her studs were) was 'mid-range' in terms of clarity. On what scale, I wonder, was she using?
I viewed one of the studs through a loupe (because my eyesight isn't what it once was) and of course the inclusions were huge.

 

[Adrienne2006]

Yea that's strange. we've been looking at studs a bit too and a gemologist told us that 99 percent of people don't buy graded studs, their graded in house and are a range of what it could be, so basically you have no clue what you're paying for. I felt like a snob but I still wanted graded ones, which they didn't have!!!

 

[lovebug1031]

So I went to a well known department store today to look at diamond stud earrings. Not having tipped my hand yet with my vast knowledge of diamonds, the SA told me that I1-I2 (which her studs were) was 'mid-range' in terms of clarity. On what scale, I wonder, was she using?
I viewed one of the studs through a loupe (because my eyesight isn't what it once was) and of course the inclusions were huge.

geez I1-I2 are mid range?! hmm...wonder what comes after that!

 

[Allisonfaye]

Exactly! I get so offended when SA try to just blatantly lie to me. I would never buy them there. Their included I stone was way more than a comparable pair elsewhere.

My husband is so much better at handling these people than I am. I call them out on it. I tell that, no, that is not middle of the scale. He just smiles and acts like he believes their BS. I did ask for her card and information. I was starving and had low blood sugar but I let her write out all the info when I knew for sure I wouldn't buy them.

 

[Adrienne2006]

Actually I remember now. One place had good,better, best. The best were s1...she could have been lying to you or that's what they had

 

[Christina...]

I can't tell you how many BM stores that I've walked out of. DH gets so embarrassed! After awhile you can sort of determine if you are being lied to, or if the SA truly believes what they are telling you. Sadly, I think it's often the former. Unfortunately I believe that the extent of the training that most large retailers offer their associates is in how to close a sale, not about quality and performance.

 

[Allisonfaye]

It's just amazing to me how many malls I have walked into to look at diamonds and they just assume you know nothing, which must be true for the most part. Few mall stores can beat an online retailer like Blue Nile or GOG. I guess the mall stores support a certain clientele.

 

[diamondloveaffair]

it's the training that sales staff receive. If most of them can spend 2 hours of reading information online, they will make far better sales people than they do now. Most of the sales people i come across basically have no idea of even the simplest things like what the different types of inclusions are.

 

[Dancing Fire]

So I went to a well known department store today to look at diamond stud earrings. Not having tipped my hand yet with my vast knowledge of diamonds, the SA told me that I1-I2 (which her studs were) was 'mid-range' in terms of clarity. On what scale, I wonder, was she using?
I viewed one of the studs through a loupe (because my eyesight isn't what it once was) and of course the inclusions were huge.

geez I1-I2 are mid range?! hmm...wonder what comes after that!

Salt & pepper .. .

 

[denverappraiser]

Stores vary a LOT in this regard. As mentioned above, it's a matter of staff training and, no, it's not rocket science. That said, the job of sales people is mostly about selling what the store has, not in teaching customers about the subtleties of diamond grading. In fairness to staff, there's also a lot more than diamonds that they get asked about and really understanding everything in the store DOES take a fair amount of homework. The one that amazes me is store owners who don't know. They work full time for decades, they invest their life savings to set up a store that they can be proud of, they hire and 'train' dozens of sales people, and still they don't go through the trouble to learn what casual shoppers pick up in a weekend of web surfing.

 

[TracyBear]

My man was really hesitant about wiring his money, insisting on buying our diamond on site. I entertained him by going to 8 different stores in 4 different cities. The brand name stores were reluctant to show us their high end goods because we look too young to afford these luxuries. When we ask to see GIA round diamonds 1.5ct+, H&A, F-G, VS+, They take one look at us and say, "I'm sorry, we don't have anything like that." People undermine your knowledge when you look like kids who haven't yet hit puberty. One local BM jeweler pushed her uncertified diamonds onto us claiming that they're graded by GIA standards hence, they're priced as such. I asked her specifically to show me a GIA diamond, she lied and said that she didn't carry them. Her shop is so busy and her diamonds sell so fast that she don't have the opportunity to send them to GIA. After these experiences, my man gave in, we bought our diamond online, and saved so much money!

Funny story, yesterday my man got drinks with his colleagues after work and this 18y.o college girl came onto him. She wouldn't stop hitting on him even after he showed her his ring and stated that he's taken. He then told her his age to which she screamed, "EwwWWwwww GROSS!" and never came back. What a lovely way to be reminded that we're old as dirt.

 

[new4diamond]

Stores vary a LOT in this regard. As mentioned above, it's a matter of staff training and, no, it's not rocket science. That said, the job of sales people is mostly about selling what the store has, not in teaching customers about the subtleties of diamond grading. In fairness to staff, there's also a lot more than diamonds that they get asked about and really understanding everything in the store DOES take a fair amount of homework. The one that amazes me is store owners who don't know. They work full time for decades, they invest their life savings to set up a store that they can be proud of, they hire and 'train' dozens of sales people, and still they don't go through the trouble to learn what casual shoppers pick up in a weekend of web surfing.

I couldn't agree more....the weath of information from PS is fantastic, these stores owners could get a 'free' education.