Exclusivity with vendors

[NKOTB]

So, I'm curious...I assume y'all have favourite vendors. I don't want to know who they are, but I'd like to know...Are you loyal to them, so to speak? Do you buy listed stones from whomever, but if you want something specific cut, only ask "your" person? Or do you only buy stones from one/two/four (?) person/people? If you are more exclusive, did this happen from the beginning, or evolve by gradual elimination?

 

[pregcurious]

I've only bought about a dozen stones so far, so I haven't formed much of a pattern yet except for <$300 stones. I get most all of these from one vendor who is a PS favorite who I trust. I don't spend the money to certify or appraise these stones, so I need to know I am not buying glass.

For other stones, I will go to any reputable vendor because finding a specific color/cut/quality makes it impossible for me to stay with 1 vendor. If the purchase is >$2000, I will have it appraised within 10 days by someone who has expertise in colored stones and equipment to verify that it is what it claims to be. I have not had to buy sapphires (or stones which I am concerned about treatment), and if I get to that point, I will sent them to AGL.

 

[kenny]

I've bought white diamonds from several different vendors since I've usually been going for a certain cut that only one vendor will have.

In colored diamonds I have bought them all from one vendor since I have felt no comfort level with any other vendor website or talking to them on the phone or what they have posted here at PS.
My vendor seems to have the largest selection of natural fancy colored diamonds, publishes prices, and after 20 purchases I find their photography to be very honest.
Being a photographer myself I appreciate this is not as easy as it would appear.

After a couple purchases I was very impressed with their service and policies and just stayed with them.

I will never give my business to a vendor with secret pricing that is only revealed in private after they size you up.

 

[FrekeChild]

I buy a TON from Barry. But I'm not a one cutter type of girl, Barry's cutting is just my favorite!

 

[gongli]

I will never give my business to a vendor with secret pricing that is only revealed in private after they size you up.

I don't understand that and I also find that pretty much a dealbreaker, atleast for an end consumer on the Internet like me. Anyone know why they do this, do they actually make more money that way? Seems like it's a tip-off that they're trying to see if they can overcharge you. Then again, those of you who in the trade who actually travel or do alot of business in Asia and Africa, I suppose it's just cultural given or something? But I do see, sometimes, even on our PS vendor sites, high end stones that have prices "reserved" or "contact us". Why is that?

Thanks
-Neal

 

[D&T]

I love love barry's faceting and I Love Richard Homer's concave (just his price is way way too much most times unfortunately otherwise I'd buy more)

speaking of fancy color diamonds, I've had the opportunities to buy a few from Leibish and their pricing... well aren't as firm as their webiste makes you think either. Yes, you can go to any vendor and see if they would sell XYZ for XXX pricing... the worst they can say is no.

 

[Arkteia]

I usually buy for color so whatever color catches my eye. I bought many stones from Lisa Elser, but in general I browse all websites and buy from everyone. I do not always post the stones I buy on the PS. I am a little bit apprehensive re. buying stones from new ebay vendors, though.

 

[lelser]

I will never give my business to a vendor with secret pricing that is only revealed in private after they size you up.

I don't understand that and I also find that pretty much a dealbreaker, atleast for an end consumer on the Internet like me. Anyone know why they do this, do they actually make more money that way? Seems like it's a tip-off that they're trying to see if they can overcharge you. Then again, those of you who in the trade who actually travel or do alot of business in Asia and Africa, I suppose it's just cultural given or something? But I do see, sometimes, even on our PS vendor sites, high end stones that have prices "reserved" or "contact us". Why is that?

Thanks
-Neal

I can only speak for myself, but the vast majority of my sales are to jewellers. Putting prices up on my website would hurt my business with them. It's not an attempt to deceive, and I only put out one catalogue with pricing, not different ones depending on how much I like you

Cheers,

Lisa
www.lisaelser.com

 

[JewelFreak]

Thanks for the input, Lisa. I'm still puzzled, though -- how can it hurt your business w/jewelers to put prices up? Are they mostly internet jewelers or B&M? If internet, I see the point, but if mostly B&M, they'd have a different customer base who would not likely be looking online.

On the OP's question, I buy for color & cut & have gone to several vendors -- there are many more I'd be happy to buy from (& probably will eventually ). I don't buy on eBay, not worth the hassle to me.

 

[T L]

There are certain vendors I do go to because I actually have a chance of getting something decent. I would go to some lapidaries more, but I have absolutely no chance of getting their best material because people have the apps that update them when their page is refreshed with new material, and I can never get any of it.

I gave up with those vendors a long time ago as a result.

 

[PrecisionGem]

Thanks for the input, Lisa. I'm still puzzled, though -- how can it hurt your business w/jewelers to put prices up? Are they mostly internet jewelers or B&M? If internet, I see the point, but if mostly B&M, they'd have a different customer base who would not likely be looking online.

On the OP's question, I buy for color & cut & have gone to several vendors -- there are many more I'd be happy to buy from (& probably will eventually ). I don't buy on eBay, not worth the hassle to me.

Typically if you post a stone for sale on a website, along with a price, it's very doubtful a jeweler will buy it, since they are intending on reselling the stone at a profit. It makes it difficult to do so if the potential customer says "Hey, I saw that stone on Lisa's site for $300 and now you want me to pay you $900 for it!"

Some customers also don't want the price of the stone they are buying on public display. While some vendors will have a different price for members of the trade, than they do for the general public, I don't think any of the normal trusted vendors here don't post prices so that they can feel out potential customer out and gouge them.

 

[chrono]

I do have a few favourite vendors but only because they are trustworthy and have good stones at prices that I think are reasonable. In a way, I am loyal to them but also understand that not everything they sell is great and that they aren't infallible. I sometimes buy listed stones and also sometimes email a request or two. When I am looking for something specific, I do not limit myself to the small circle of favourite vendors because I don't wish to limit my options. This "exclusivity" continues to evolve as I learn more about gemstones, observe changes in pricing and the selection of the vendor's inventory, customer service and business policies.

 

[kenny]

Thanks for the input, Lisa. I'm still puzzled, though -- how can it hurt your business w/jewelers to put prices up? Are they mostly internet jewelers or B&M? If internet, I see the point, but if mostly B&M, they'd have a different customer base who would not likely be looking online.

On the OP's question, I buy for color & cut & have gone to several vendors -- there are many more I'd be happy to buy from (& probably will eventually ). I don't buy on eBay, not worth the hassle to me.

Typically if you post a stone for sale on a website, along with a price, it's very doubtful a jeweler will buy it, since they are intending on reselling the stone at a profit. It makes it difficult to do so if the potential customer says "Hey, I saw that stone on Lisa's site for $300 and now you want me to pay you $900 for it!"

Some customers also don't want the price of the stone they are buying on public display. While some vendors will have a different price for members of the trade, than they do for the general public, I don't think any of the normal trusted vendors here don't post prices so that they can feel out potential customer out and gouge them.

Do what Leibish does.
Published prices are for the public but when selling to an authorized jeweler/reseller they sell at some lower not-published wholesale price.

 

[lelser]

Kenny - diamonds are a much more regularized market than coloured stones. My jewellers want to set their own pricing, not to have me set it for them. Some people are OK with no prices on my website and getting a catalogue with prices. Others aren't but sadly I can't undermine the nice people who keep my lights on.

Cheers,

Lisa
www.lisaelser.com

 

[kenny]

Kenny - diamonds are a much more regularized market than coloured stones. My jewellers want to set their own pricing, not to have me set it for them. Some people are OK with no prices on my website and getting a catalogue with prices. Others aren't but sadly I can't undermine the nice people who keep my lights on.

Cheers,

Lisa
www.lisaelser.com

Thanks Lisa.
I'm sure you know more about all this than I, but when you say, " diamonds are a much more regularized market than coloured stones" I suspect colorless diamonds are a much more regularized market than natural fancy colored diamonds.
Some FCD vendors do not list prices too.
You have to contact them to learn the price.

I'm not trying to change anything, and certainly understand you must operate within the customs of your market.
I'm just explaining one factor in my exclusivity with my FCD vendor . . . they publish prices.
I can quickly shop and compare among hundreds of FCDs and understand what I can afford, without the hassle of asking for the price of one or two.
I'm certain I'd own zero FCDs if all pricing was secret.

A while back before I bought my red and blue diamonds I had the funds and I seriously considered a real AGL-graded Kashmir Sapphire.
The moment I learned about the prevailing secret pricing for such stones I gave up and went back to colored diamonds.

I'm very sensitive to overpaying, and I know I'm not alone.

 

[Rockdiamond]

This is an interesting subject- before we had our website, we sold exclusively to jewelers.
We opened the website back in 1999- but even then I realized straight away that trying to service both retail and wholesale accounts is incredibly difficult to do- so we chose the site.
We have subsequently sold to jewelers- but a problem I see is that many of the remaining B&M stores view the internet as competition, as opposed to an opportunity.
This is a problem for he B&M's and it speeds up the growth of internet diamond sales as I see it.
We even had one company that we buy from ask us to remove their name from our site- because they'd received complaints from retail sellers about people walking in and mentioning our site.
My response was a letter to the president of that company asking why they didn't suggest to their B&M clients that such a circumstance was a perfect opportunity to make a sale

I've bought white diamonds from several different vendors since I've usually been going for a certain cut that only one vendor will have.

In colored diamonds I have bought them all from one vendor since I have felt no comfort level with any other vendor website or talking to them on the phone or what they have posted here at PS.
My vendor seems to have the largest selection of natural fancy colored diamonds, publishes prices, and after 20 purchases I find their photography to be very honest.
Being a photographer myself I appreciate this is not as easy as it would appear.

After a couple purchases I was very impressed with their service and policies and just stayed with them.

I will never give my business to a vendor with secret pricing that is only revealed in private after they size you up.

Interesting Kenny- what if some of the prices are, and other are not published?

 

[kenny]

On Lebish's site the few that are, "Call for price" are way way way out of my league so they don't bother me.

Any FCD I'd consider has a published price.
In the FCD market my price range is chicken feed.
In fact, many FCD on Lebish's site that are way beyond my budget have published prices too.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Wow, that is interesting Kenny- so, it bothers you if prices are not published by a vendor- but only if it affects your pocketbook.

 

[kenny]

Wow, that is interesting Kenny- so, it bothers you if prices are not published by a vendor- but only if it affects your pocketbook.

Wow!

Would you follow me around and insult me if I was one of your customers instead of a loyal customer of your competitor?

Your unprofessional posting behavior, which I have witnessed over many many years, is precisely why I am not your customer.

I have bent over backwards to silence myself about what you post so I don't get banned yet again (perhaps that's your intention) especially since now PS allows you to be a paying advertiser, and I'd appreciate if you'd return the favor and back off.

All I did was answer the question about why I'm exclusive with Leibish.
I never said a word about your business.

PS doesn't need this.

 

[PrecisionGem]

I have no idea who Lebish's has their price structure, but I would imagine if they are also selling to the trade, then the prices shown on their website would be "retail" price, the same price that a jeweler who would buy the stone would then sell it for. So really, you should be able to go to your local jeweler, have him order the stone in for you to see, and pay the same price.

Now most of the colored stone people here on pricescope are not buying stones from jewelers at retail prices. They are buying somewhere between a true wholesale, and a retail price. Retail pricing on colored stones is a bit tricky too, and can be effected by the jeweler if they are also able to make some money on a setting, or just selling the stone. The whole issue becomes pretty tricky, and I really don't know the answer. Not showing prices on the website can chase away non trade customers, showing prices will burn your business with jewelers.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Great point Gene- let's remember that a big problem with "old time" B&M jewelers was lack of straightforward pricing.
You know the deal- a customer walks in to ask how much a ring is and the song and dance starts.
"Well the tag says $25,000, but today we're running a 50% off sale- and since you're wearing plaid, the price is further reduced by 25%"
As the client turns to leave the salesperson is shouting- "Will you pay $2500?"

OR
"How much do you want to spend?"
When prices are not published, one would need to be crazy to answer that question....


So it seems that sellers must really decide which direction they want to take....

 

[Rockdiamond]

For what it's worth, I apologize Kenny.
I'd much prefer we could somehow agree to disagree about whatever it is we disagree about in an amicable way.
We share a lot of common passions.
Your collection is amazing. As is your photography

Obviously you've had great experience with the vendor you use- not surprising given their excellent reputation both in the industry and with consumers.
I totally understand the need to keep certain ultra important stones prices as an on request basis.

 

[gongli]

i'm trying to get some kind of an affordable collection from a number of cutters that i admire, so i'm not exclusive amongst great cutters...

regarding unpublished pricing, i don't understand why it's interesting that someone (ie me) would be bothered by unpublished prices, but only if it affects my pocketbook... who else's pocketbook would i be concerned about? if some vendor isn't publishing their prices but doing ethical business that's out of my price range, why should i be bothered? if they're in my price range, then i'd be bothered if i thought they had something to offer me but are playing games, but not too bothered... i'd pretty quickly just move on to a more straightforward vendor.

 

[susiegrneyes]

I have a small collection of FCDs. I purchase primarily from Leibish, but I have also purchased from Reddiam and Denir diamonds. Reddiam has free shipping, but it takes 2 weeks to get your purchase because they send it via EMS. Denir's photos are spot on and they have great customer service, but their website is not as user friendly. I would purchase from any of the 3 again if I found the right stone.

 

[AN0NYM0US]

I just wanted to add reddiam uses EMS, FEDEX or malca amit depending on the price of the stone. They have used all three shipping companies with me without a problem.

 

[NKOTB]

Thank you all for your input. I have had very pleasant experiences with several vendors. I enjoy different cutting styles as well as different personalities. While there are still some I have yet to buy from, I have kind of narrowed it down to a few that I favour, for one reason or another. I know of another collector (as I think I can call myself that now) who tends to stick to one vendor primarily, with occasional purchases from maybe one or two others, so I was just curious to know the general "M.O." of others.

 

[erinl]

I am pretty new to gem collecting too (this year). I have one vendor I purchase from regularly--about 5-6 stones and I have liked all of them and had no returns. I have bought about 3-4 from another with 1 return, another vendor I purchased one stone and liked it.

I have tried a couple other vendors and the stones I have ordered ended up going back. I haven't made any repeat purchases from those vendors-- not because they don't have lovely stones, just that I am gun shy-- i don't want to be someone constantly returning stones to them because the stones I have contemplated seemed like somewhat iffy for one reason or another. I have ordered a handful of ebay stones, I must not be great at reading pictures, most have had windows. I have returned all of the more expensive ones, and kept the little ones since they weren't worth returning. Postage overseas kills me so as great as the stones are on ebay, I am cutting myself off on that (pretty much )

I actually just got back from the post office. Overseas registered mail is expensive and time consuming!

 

[Imdanny]

Wow, that is interesting Kenny- so, it bothers you if prices are not published by a vendor- but only if it affects your pocketbook.

I don't understand.

IF this is true why shouldn't we care about our pocketbook? Like vendors don't care about theirs?

 

[ooo~Shiney!]

I enjoy my little collection of unset stones (really, I love my set stones, too).
The other day I arranged them according to vendor and noted that
there are 3 vendors that I have the most stones from...
So I guess either I lurk their sites the most, or I just love their stones best !!!

 

[Aoife]

I tend to do a lot of repeat business with certain vendors, either because I like the style of cutting, or the type of gemstones they offer, or the way they do business, but I don't limit myself when I am looking for something specific.

On the other hand, there are some vendors who have pretty much eliminated themselves from my go-to-first list by the way they handled my questions, or the actual transaction. When I ask a question about a gemstone I'm considering, I expect it to be answered, I don't want to be given vague generalities in response. For example, if I ask about saturation, or tone, or clarity, I don't expect to be referred back to the photo on the website, because, thank you very much, I already looked at that. As much as anything, I'm evaluating how forthcoming the vendor is, and whether what they say can be trusted. I'm also evaluating how much the photo on their website looks like what I end up receiving.

While I am not a fan of unpublished pricing, I have also very much enjoyed doing business with a few vendors who don't publish their prices online. But if I'm looking for something, I consider the offerings of the vendors who do give pricing online first.