Very long story, you don’t have to read it……….
My experience at Jared (Yes the Infamous Jeweler that most members here on PS despise).
It has been an interesting and fun experience when I shopped there. I did however spend months doing research on diamonds/settings, cost, and how B&M stores really work. I had also previously purchased the center (princess cut) diamond from a retailer here on PS (Diamond Scaasi), as I didn’t have a large enough budget to overpay for the most expensive part of a ring.
As previously stated on my other thread, my Now Fiancée had the urge to take a look (experience) what it would be like to try on a couple of rings at a jeweler. She of course was looking at a very large Jared store as she said that. I then thought she might get a thrill out of it, so we stopped in.
As many of you know, the layout at Jared (not the mall version) is quite immaculate. The store is very large, bright and vibrant with dazzling jewelry sparkling all which way, not to mention the “high-class” feel you get as soon as you open the door. A place like that can be quite intimidating if you have not familiarized yourself with all the aspects on jewelry and B&M stores (another words, have not visited Pricescope).
As soon as we walked in the door we were greeted and helped right away by a gentleman, who he said to be, the most knowledgeable person there. He then proceeded to start showing my Fiancée some of the more popular settings and worked with her very patiently. He did seem to be a bit sarcastic to me when I attempted to inform him that I actually knew something about diamonds, but I let it go because he was treating my Fiancée very well. After about 15min or so, I noticed my Fiancée was starting to get very nervous and overwhelmed at the fact that this is actually happening to her, and she will actually be getting engaged.
THEN IT HAPPENED! She found the perfect setting that she just could not keep her eyes off of. I knew that setting would be the setting that I would have to work with no matter what diamond I had to get for it. I then asked him if they were able to set a princess cut diamond in the setting, which was specifically designed for a round cut. He then stated, “we might be able to, but why don’t you take a look at the setting with an improved princess cut diamond on it first. It is a princess cut diamond with the corners cut off”. I was thinking to myself, “I didn’t know that Jared carried X-factor diamonds?” Then, when he pulled the diamond out and dropped it on the setting, I blurted out, “It’s a Radiant cut!” He stated that it is the same thing as a princess cut, but better, because looks bigger when placed on a setting. I didn’t even bother starting with him, as I was in a good mood and just phased out his sales antics, not to mention I was not even able to afford his $5300 1.1ct average cut Radiant diamond anyhow.
I then came back to the same store the next day with my princess cut diamond. As I walked in, I noticed something very peculiar, I was not helped nor greeted by anyone when I walked into the store alone. I figured that that they assumed, since I did not have a lady with me, that I would not buy anything anyhow. So I did what any immature guy would do, I decided to have a little fun and started playing around with their scopes and lights that were around their counter. I was then of course greeted right away “May I help you!”
I then told her that I wanted to buy the setting that I had looked at the previous day and gave her the stock number.
As I was waiting for her to find the setting I observed some of the other couples that were looking at rings. Of course the women seemed very ecstatic, but the guys seemed to have a total blank on their faces when the employees were trying to tell them about the infamous “4 Cs” and reinsuring them that they were getting a great diamond and a great deal by coming to Jared. Of course the guys just seemed to take their word for it and out came the Credit Card. All I was thinking to myself was, “they totally deserve to overpay, as all they needed to do was to spend a little bit of time doing some research online, like I did.”
Well anyhow, she found the setting and asked if there was anything else she can do for me before she rings it up, “sure, why not!” I just HAD to compare my diamond with their prized Peerless diamonds, as I couldn’t resist. She then took out one of the Peerless princes cut diamonds and set it up next to mine under their diffuse lighting box. The fire and sparkle scintillation seemed to be almost equivalent. I of course got exited and stated that my diamond looks just as good. Without even looking at them she said, “no, our peerless diamonds are rated AGS0, it’s a much better diamond.” I didn’t even attempt to argue with her, as I just assumed her knowledge of diamonds are just based off of only what she has been told while working at Jared, where no other diamond in the world can compare to a Peerless diamond. No big deal.
As she rang it up, somehow the (3rd party) appraisal that they told me about and the additional engraving that I asked for came up as free of charge. I figured that was fair, seeing as I probably paid a bit more then I should have anyhow for the setting.
When I came back a few weeks later to pick it up, everyone at the counter were amazed at how great the princess cut looked on the setting and how much the ring sparkled. I was VERY HAPPY…The End.
