Do you know a guy? Of course I do!

[jocjo]

So I have a more general question for the pros on this board...

It seems that everyone I talk to (friend or acquaintance) has ''a guy'' that gets a great deal on a diamond. They seem to fall into one of two or both categories...

1. My family does a whole bunch of business with Mr. X, so just tell them that Y sent you to them.

2. My guy, Mr. X, gets all his diamonds direct from Y place and so has incredibly low prices.

Is either of the above going to make a big difference in price? Is it all just talk?
Will I really save a bundle of money by going through someone like the above? What have others experienced?

Based on my personal experience so far it appears that when it comes to diamonds, I''m getting more reasonable prices from the vendors through this site than from the above contacts. But maybe I just haven''t reached out to the right one. Thoughts?

 

[stone-cold11]

Nope, almost everytime it does not work out well.

 

[Ellen]

From all the stories I''ve read over the years about these "guys", I say, don''t do it. Sc is right, it rarely goes well.

 

[neatfreak]

Everyone THINKS they have a guy who gives them a good deal. But they rarely do. And if they do it''s usually a PS vendor.

I know when I tell people I have a great guy who can help them out it''s Mark at Engagement Rings Direct, Jon at Good Old Gold, Wink, Brian Gavin, etc. You get my drift!

 

[Lorelei]

I would say be cautious, it can be tricky if things don''t go as planned, personally I think it is best to deal with neutral sellers.

 

[jocjo]

Just to clarify, most of ''these guys'' are established jewelers, but I just don''t know about the deals they supposedly provide.
One gets his diamonds direct from Antwerp. Another has sold several generations their jewelry.
But whenever anyone talks about these ''guys'' its never on specifics. I guess its just awkward for someone to say I paid $X for Y diamond/ring/etc and I really don''t know if its appropriate to ask...

 

[denverappraiser]

To be sure it’s an awkward conversation and no, you shouldn’t ask what someone paid for their diamond. People make different tradeoffs in terms of both the attributes of the stone and the services offered by the dealer and what someone else counts as the best may not be the best for you. If you’ve got a friend who has had a happy experience with a dealer, by all means consider them but there is NO dealer who has the best prices, the best products and the best service on every single deal. Careful shopping really does help along with a bit of research and introspection into what you value the most. There's lots of pricing resources here and you can always consult with an appraiser about a particular stone if you have questions or concerns.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[Lula]

In my experience, you will almost always pay more for a diamond and setting from a "guy" than you will online, especially if the "guy" has a traditional bricks and motar storefront.

The costs of keeping a retail store open and profitable are astronomical. Who pays for the nice carpeting, the piped-in music, the showcases and lights, and other overhead -- you do.

I just went through this with a friend of mine; she recommended her jeweler to me, she''s done business with "this guy" for years and is very happy with him.

But I am spoiled. I have learned about the wonderful online vendors through Pricescope. So I no longer view diamond/jewelry shopping the same way my friend does. So while she thinks his prices are reasonable, I think they''re expensive compared to what I''ve seen online.

 

[bright&shiny]

Having just been through this very situation (talking with endless ''recomendations'') my experience showed that it was not possible to beat the prices, selection, education, or trust-worthiness of the online vendors.

The B&Ms couldn''t match the quality, availability, or knowledge that I found with the PS vendors - even though some of the referrals were to really big players with some very big clients.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

So, I take it, you''ve talked to "a guy?" Has that guy seen the lower prices you can get from PS vendors? If you tell your guy about the better prices, chances are he''ll react with critisism re: internet purchases rather than price match. A guy like that isn''t worth doing business with because he really is in business for making money, not making friends.

As said by Sarap333, by buying through a B&M, you''re paying for all the pretty dazzle that goes inside a jewelry store.

Personally, I would recommend WF. They''ve got great diamonds for excellent prices. There is no way I''d go with local (friend recommended) jeweler based upon all that I''ve learned and experienced through PS.