HELP! Bad prongs? can it be fixed?

[Circe]

I'm sort of at a loss as to what to say here. First I know this is a consumer forum but I find it very tacky when people post work orders or invoices for services rendered and then complain about them- regardless if it is the vendor's fault or not. Just my .02 cents. I also would have spoken to the vendor before you created a thread about it on PS to try to work out a the issue. I'm all for honest reviews but I try to have them be fair at least. I have had great, not so great and downright horrible experiences with vendors but I refrain from writting about it till the very end which gives the vendors time to react to my issues.

The rep and the bench person are two different people in this case so a mistake could have happend in communication. If you felt comfortable giving them a second go then by all means please do. If not then take your refund and go somplace local or another store where you think they will do the job correctly. be specific that you want peg/ bead prongs.

As for the Asha, I would be suprised if that was thrown out. But then again I always make sure the vendor knows that I want my orginal setting and stone back. You are totally allowed to be upset about this. If you haven't already addressed it with the vendor then I would ask them if it is not found what will they do to compensate you. Let them try to appease you with their customer service before you blow this up in your own mind. Staying calm will help you work it out with them.

Sarah, I'm not entirely sure where you're coming from on this in your first paragraph - do you think the work order "outs" the vendor? 'cause it seems pretty anonymous to me, given that it looks very close to the type I've seen from at least three vendors - but I think I disagree. I just had a thing go on where I tried very hard to protect the vendor, and it wound up taking an enormous amount of time and energy. In retrospect, I rather wish I'd been upfront and let the chips fall where they may! The only thing keeping the high ground gave me was an excellent vantage point from which to view my lowering spirits and expectations. Completely agree with your last two paragraphs, though.

 

[SB621]

I'm sort of at a loss as to what to say here. First I know this is a consumer forum but I find it very tacky when people post work orders or invoices for services rendered and then complain about them- regardless if it is the vendor's fault or not. Just my .02 cents. I also would have spoken to the vendor before you created a thread about it on PS to try to work out a the issue. I'm all for honest reviews but I try to have them be fair at least. I have had great, not so great and downright horrible experiences with vendors but I refrain from writting about it till the very end which gives the vendors time to react to my issues.

The rep and the bench person are two different people in this case so a mistake could have happend in communication. If you felt comfortable giving them a second go then by all means please do. If not then take your refund and go somplace local or another store where you think they will do the job correctly. be specific that you want peg/ bead prongs.

As for the Asha, I would be suprised if that was thrown out. But then again I always make sure the vendor knows that I want my orginal setting and stone back. You are totally allowed to be upset about this. If you haven't already addressed it with the vendor then I would ask them if it is not found what will they do to compensate you. Let them try to appease you with their customer service before you blow this up in your own mind. Staying calm will help you work it out with them.

Sarah, I'm not entirely sure where you're coming from on this in your first paragraph - do you think the work order "outs" the vendor? 'cause it seems pretty anonymous to me, given that it looks very close to the type I've seen from at least three vendors - but I think I disagree. I just had a thing go on where I tried very hard to protect the vendor, and it wound up taking an enormous amount of time and energy. In retrospect, I rather wish I'd been upfront and let the chips fall where they may! The only thing keeping the high ground gave me was an excellent vantage point from which to view my lowering spirits and expectations. Completely agree with your last two paragraphs, though.

Hey Circe! I'll try to formulate into words better! No my issue is not "outing" the vendor at all. More that I have a pet peeve for these types of threads that state everything that went wrong with a vendor, but then the OP doesn't contact the vendor to actually work through the problems! We all know on PS we are passionate about certain vendors and when you post issues that are on-going/ not resolved- ESPECIALLY when you start posting work orders/ invoicing/ PRIVATE EMAILS, I feel that you are pretty much asking for the burnings to begin. I think there should be a trust between the vendor and consumer that if any problems occur they will try to work it out privately before it goes public. Honestly to me it is a totaly breech of faith to start posting private emails on line. If you can't work it out with them then by all means post a review, out the vendor and ask PS what is a good way moving forward or what options you have.

It has been awhile since I have seen your thread and I dont' remember all the details Circe so forgive me if I'm beating a dead horse here. I'm so sory you had a bad experience and your ring was "destroyed" in the process- and that you emotionally had to deal with it. I know what that is like with my own custom project that I tried to make better and it just came out horrific!

As far as the work order it is actually very telling who it is if you have done business with them. I like them, not trying to be a cheerleader though. I honestly feel that any vendor should be given the chance to correct any PR/ customer issues they have before you start broadcasting it to the world your views on them and how they do/ don't feel about your Asha or how you are a "lower customer" to them because your budget is lower. I understand your upset but I don't see the benefits of posting this personally OP.....

Anyhow I did read DS's response and that actually made a lot of sense to me. If the OP never said anything about getting it back then I guess the bench wouldn't have known. It was a mistake but I'm not sure you can hold anyone accountable for it (OP or the vendor). This is another learning lesson that you need to write down everything in the WO and really communicate your expectations.

Does that shed better light Circe?
EDIT- I can't seem to get my thoughts straight tonight! Sorry for the rambling.

 

[VRBeauty]

Sarah - I really think your scolding was unduly harsh on the OP. People vary in all sorts of ways, including their ability to stand up for themselves and of course their knowledge of all things jewelry. SB28 apparently knew she wasn't pleased with the ring but came here looking for validation that her concerns were not unreasonable. She had lots of documentation (meaning the pictures) because she was anticipating serious push-back from the vendor. She was still concerned about it after getting PS input so she asked for another opinion at Nordstrom's. Not everyone is a natural-born consumer warrior, and I think it's reasonable for the non-warriors among us to come here both for second opinions and for moral support. Besides, she did talk to the vendor at least about the missing Asha so it's not as if she dithered for weeks before taking action. As for posting the receipt - without the firm name, it means nothing to me and probably to even most PS readers. Realistically, it's only going to "identify" the vendor for people who have already done business with that person... and their opinions are going to be shaped by their personal experiences and not by this thread.

In any event, the OP last posted in this thread a few weeks ago. Hopefully her issue has been resolved by now.

SR28 - in the event that you're still around - I just wanted to say that I your new diamond. I hope your ring is now fixed (or on its way to being fixed) so you can wear and enjoy it!

 

[chrono]

No my issue is not "outing" the vendor at all. More that I have a pet peeve for these types of threads that state everything that went wrong with a vendor, but then the OP doesn't contact the vendor to actually work through the problems! We all know on PS we are passionate about certain vendors and when you post issues that are on-going/ not resolved- ESPECIALLY when you start posting work orders/ invoicing/ PRIVATE EMAILS, I feel that you are pretty much asking for the burnings to begin. I think there should be a trust between the vendor and consumer that if any problems occur they will try to work it out privately before it goes public. Honestly to me it is a totally breech of faith to start posting private emails on line. If you can't work it out with them then by all means post a review, out the vendor and ask PS what is a good way moving forward or what options you have.

I'm with SB that I am not comfortable with people posting private emails online, even if the names have been crossed off. The OP also seems very reluctant to discuss / work with the vendor through the issues that are clearly upsetting to her.

 

[Circe]

Okay, fair enough - I tend to feel that way about threads where the poster immediately names the vendor without having had any contact at all with them, and about threads where people selectively edit e-mails before cutting and pasting them. I think what the OP did in this thread is above-board, but it looks like it's a sliding scale for everyone ... and because of that, I feel like you're damned if you do and damned if you don't no matter what. F'rex, I know some people are displeased that I haven't named my faulty vendor yet, so as to keep others from dealing with the same crap, but as it's still not resolved ... it is what it is.

It would be nice if there were clear etiquette in place, but between the differences between consumer attitudes (as VRBeauty much more eloquently said), and the difference in vendor attitudes (JA is on here in a heartbeat, other vendors fight, yet other vendors fight dirty, on and on and on ...) I think the important bit is to tailor the strategy to the individual situation. Susan, if you do read this ... any progress? Given that at this point I think I know who your vendor is, and their general rep for excellent customer service, I'm hoping it's been resolved to your satisfaction.

 

[susanrachel28]

Hello everyone! I'm back. I took a break from the discussion because I did not want to come from an emotional standpoint. Anyhow, for those of you interested in the latest developments, I have some progress!

I feel like I need to defend my standpoint a bit. Have you heard the saying, "don't go into battle unprepared?" My reasons for posting in this forum was because I didn't know what I was entitled to expect. If I had a lot of responses saying, "yeah that's totally normal in repaired prongs" or "that looks great, what are you complaining about?!" then I would have just left well enough alone. I was inquiring about my expectations and if I could expect better, and if so then with whom. Coming from a military computer science background, I don't feel posting emails online is a violation of trust because as we all know (especially now with the government scandal) that nothing online is sacred. For me, this was a business transaction and my personal property. The minute you press "send", that message is no longer "yours". But I digress. I did speak in length about my issue once I gathered all the appropriate information and the vendor was amazingly sweet.

I did not realize that this vendor did not know their bench as well as I thought. I thought that since it was a small company that the bench was like a close friend. I did not realize that vendors and bench's do not have a close working relationship. That is news to me and I have been schooled. I won't make this mistake again.

However, getting to the progress, after speaking to the company and I still adore them as much as before and they have bent over backwards to provide good customer service so far. I decided to send the ring back to them for the prong repair (I think it was sent in May or June? I can't remember). I am told the ring was sent to a different bench to be worked on and also that my asha was located and will be returned to me when I receive the ring back along with the diamond certification. I received an email yesterday saying that the ring should be completed some time next week. I am hoping for a positive outcome and have very high hopes. I will let everyone know how it turns out. If the quality of workmanship reflects the quality of customer service, I will be more than pleased! Pictures soon in the next two weeks, hopefully. Thanks for all the support I've received here, along with some other viewpoints. I appreciate everyone sharing their knowledge with me as I continue on this journey.

 

[junebug17]

Thank you for coming back with an update! Looking forward to seeing your ring!

 

[susanrachel28]

No ring yet, but I heard from the company that the ring repair is completed and is being sent to the stone setter (I had no idea that these were two different people! I have so much to learn). The lady will be on vacation until the 19th and said she wants to see the completed ring prior to shipping it out to me so hopefully I will have it by the end of next week. I appreciate that she wants to look at it before sending it back to me even though it will take more time. To me it shows that she really cares how the company is being presented and I it makes me feel valued. It also makes me trust this company more than I did after the first time I received it. I am very much looking forward to seeing my ring and sharing it with you all!

 

[junebug17]

Glad to hear your should have your ring soon! It's good that your ring is going to be checked out before it's sent to you...it's been a long haul though, I'm sure you can't wait to get it back on your finger. Can't wait to see it!

 

[susanrachel28]

So I am without words. This has been a horrible experience and I completely understand why people just walk into BM stores and pay retail. :'( I feel like this whole experience has left a gaping hole in my heart. So after weeks of them telling me "oh, next week" and "it's not ready yet" and "should be here soon" I finally get an answer in late September that they finally have it. From the pictures, it looks beautiful and I'm ecstatic!!! And she tells me she's going to have her local bench (the one that screwed up the prongs and set a loose stone?) look at it just to be sure.... I say fine, if you think that's best. And then a couple days later she ships it out to me....overnight 1 day delivery from the post office.... And all I receive is an empty box. I am completely heartbroken :'(

 

[Dee*Jay]

OMG - NO!!!

Did you receive it at home or did you pick it up at the post office? Did you file a claim? Not that being paid will alleviate any sentimental loss.

You poor thing. I really really feel for you. Big hugs outgoing!

 

[susanrachel28]

Thanks DeeJay :'( I filed a claim but it was only insured for $100. The company says they have an umbrella insurance protection with jeweler mutual and I've been trying to work through a replacement... But it seems they only want me to choose from their inventory. I have never filed an insurance claim before and I don't even know what my rights are. Part of me says screw it and he other part of me wants a complete replacement. I appreciate the support. I feel so sad

 

[susanrachel28]

Oh and I received it at home. I was tracking it on my cell phone and even got off work early so I could be there at 230 when the mail was delivered.

 

[Niel]

Oh my gosh I have no words this is devastating I could only imagine! I am so sorry. I wish there was something to do for you. ah. Gosh. This is the worst. My internet typing will not adequately express my heart break for you.

 

[susanrachel28]

Thanks Neil. I guess I should start a new thread to discover advice for how to proceed? I've asked everyone I know and no one has any advice for me. The only question continuously raised is "why is a $10,000 ring sent through regular mail?"
And I didn't know there was a difference. Is overnight with signature delivery confirmation the correct way to send $10,000 rings? The federal investigator was appalled it was sent this way and told me that it should have been sent registered. Does anyone have any information on this?

 

[NonieMarie]

When the mail carrier handed the package to you, was it obvious that it had been opened? Did you say something before they left?

 

[susanrachel28]

NonieMarie-yes absolutely! The mail carrier called her supervisor on the spot (not my normal carrier, my carrier was sick that day). Gave me the number to start filing a claim. I couldn't file it though- the claim had to be filed by the sender. I opened a federal investigation case on my end. Did you know the post office has jurisdiction over the local police in this case? Since USPS is federal, the local police won't do anything. I am at the mercy of the federal investigators internal to the USPS. And they told me this is common in unregistered and uninsured packages

 

[susanrachel28]

I started a new thread to get input on this if you're interested.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/10-000-ring-stolen-enroute-via-usps.194608/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/10-000-ring-stolen-enroute-via-usps.194608/[/URL]