eastjavaman
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2013
- Messages
- 263
PS-ers
I would like to solicit your opinions regarding GIA Fee Schedule and share my experience.
Perhaps being a noob I have misunderstood the schedule or not.
The story began a year ago when I brought a stone to GIA HK, after dropping off the stone, I left. I was informed by e-mail that the stone grading was done and awarded with S color, not wanting to give up, I was told that if I disagree with the result, I could always have the stone rechecked for a fee.
I was given the schedule(attached) which says Color, Cut, Clarity--50% applicable report fee and was told if there are changes in any of the grade, the fee would be waived; Thus, I replied to the e-mail,"Kindly recheck Color, Cut, Clarity". The result came out without any changes; thus, a month from the e-mail I came by to pick up the stone while thinking paying 50% extra for the rechecking.
Upon arriving at GIA to collect my stone I was given a surprise: the bill stated 150% extra. That is right I was charged 150% extra and the staff briefly explained that my e-mail instruction requested Color, Cut, Clarity recheck which is chargeable 50% extra for each of the services(50% for Cut, 50% for Clarity, 50% for Color).
I argued with the staff for a good 1/2 an hour before they managed to call to the local director to come out and explain. He politely said,"This has always been the GIA way". I further argued that resubmitting the stone altogether as new would have been cheaper than this. He further added "each service is chargeable even though not listed in the schedule, that has been everyone's understanding from beginning of time"
Of course in the end I had no choice, but to pay and take back my stone and blame myself for being a noob, and they are after all GIA , how can they be wrong when it seems that I am the only one who has this problem.
What do you think? Do you think the schedule is confusing? and whether they should have it revised to be clearer?
Love to hear from you and thanks for reading my long winded story.
////////////////////////////
SECONDARY, FOLLOW-UP AND REPORT SERVICES
Re-Examination (re-cut) or Update of a GIA Report
eReport-- 80% of eReport fee
Dossier-- 80% of Dossier fee
Diamond Grading and Colored Diamond Reports
--50% of report fee if performed within one year
of original service, thereafter 75% of report fee
-------------------------------------------
Recheck or Final Observation of a Grading Result
Color, Clarity, Cut---50% of applicable report fee
Polish, Symmetry, Measurements, Fluorescence---25% of applicable report fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Service must be requested within 60 days of original grading.
Final observation services not available for Dossiers or eReports.
Report Conversion --75% of new report fee
Report Verification (loose or mounted) --50% of applicable report fee
The original report (excluding Diamond eReport) must accompany requests for recheck, final observation, and verification services. On Dossier secondary, follow-up and report services, the diamond must contain the original GIA report number inscription
////////////////////////////

I would like to solicit your opinions regarding GIA Fee Schedule and share my experience.
Perhaps being a noob I have misunderstood the schedule or not.
The story began a year ago when I brought a stone to GIA HK, after dropping off the stone, I left. I was informed by e-mail that the stone grading was done and awarded with S color, not wanting to give up, I was told that if I disagree with the result, I could always have the stone rechecked for a fee.
I was given the schedule(attached) which says Color, Cut, Clarity--50% applicable report fee and was told if there are changes in any of the grade, the fee would be waived; Thus, I replied to the e-mail,"Kindly recheck Color, Cut, Clarity". The result came out without any changes; thus, a month from the e-mail I came by to pick up the stone while thinking paying 50% extra for the rechecking.
Upon arriving at GIA to collect my stone I was given a surprise: the bill stated 150% extra. That is right I was charged 150% extra and the staff briefly explained that my e-mail instruction requested Color, Cut, Clarity recheck which is chargeable 50% extra for each of the services(50% for Cut, 50% for Clarity, 50% for Color).

Of course in the end I had no choice, but to pay and take back my stone and blame myself for being a noob, and they are after all GIA , how can they be wrong when it seems that I am the only one who has this problem.
What do you think? Do you think the schedule is confusing? and whether they should have it revised to be clearer?
Love to hear from you and thanks for reading my long winded story.
////////////////////////////
SECONDARY, FOLLOW-UP AND REPORT SERVICES
Re-Examination (re-cut) or Update of a GIA Report
eReport-- 80% of eReport fee
Dossier-- 80% of Dossier fee
Diamond Grading and Colored Diamond Reports
--50% of report fee if performed within one year
of original service, thereafter 75% of report fee
-------------------------------------------
Recheck or Final Observation of a Grading Result
Color, Clarity, Cut---50% of applicable report fee
Polish, Symmetry, Measurements, Fluorescence---25% of applicable report fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Service must be requested within 60 days of original grading.
Final observation services not available for Dossiers or eReports.
Report Conversion --75% of new report fee
Report Verification (loose or mounted) --50% of applicable report fee
The original report (excluding Diamond eReport) must accompany requests for recheck, final observation, and verification services. On Dossier secondary, follow-up and report services, the diamond must contain the original GIA report number inscription
////////////////////////////
