HUGE price difference online and in store WHY?????

[MattyB5576]

Okay so I went to see a cushion cut yesterday at a jewelry store in Ft Myers. They had the stone brought in and it was beautiful. They quoted me a price of $6800 and said that is the lowest they could go. I copied down the GIA report number and came home to look for loose diamonds online. Many of you have recommended Mark at engagementringsdirect. SO I looked on their website and the same exact diamond with the same specs and GIA cert number was selling for substantially less. ALmost $1500 less. My only problem is that this is my first ime and I am very caustious about purchasing things online especially of this magnitude. SO my questions are Why such a big price difference? IS there any potential to talk the jeweler down to Marks price? Wo would service the ring if i ordered it online? IS it safe to do business online.
Thanks for all the input,
Matt

 

[belle]

start here
http://journal.pricescope.com/Articles/12/1/Why-are-there-several-dealers-offering-the-exact-same-stone.aspx

Date: 2/23/2008 9:48:32 AM
Author:MattyB5576
Okay so I went to see a cushion cut yesterday at a jewelry store in Ft Myers. They had the stone brought in and it was beautiful. They quoted me a price of $6800 and said that is the lowest they could go. I copied down the GIA report number and came home to look for loose diamonds online.

good thinking!

SO I looked on their website and the same exact diamond with the same specs and GIA cert number was selling for substantially less. ALmost $1500 less.

you actually may be able to find it for even LESS than that. everyone sets their own priced based on service. basically, you are going to pay more for added services/conveniences. there will be a good range of prices for any virtual diamond such as this. you just have to decide what level of service/convenience/overhead/reliability you want to pay for.

My only problem is that this is my first ime and I am very caustious about purchasing things online especially of this magnitude.

you only have that problem the first time!

seriously.....we have all been there. do what is comfortable for you. there are definitely reputable vendors here that you can trust with any size purchase.

SO my questions are Why such a big price difference?

see my answer above about service/overhead costs. you can also add to that location and inventory (which kinda counts as overhead...but i wanted to make sure you understand the differences between a traditional storefront that typically carries a large amount of inventory and staff etc etc etc and someone that just specializes in brokering diamonds).

IS there any potential to talk the jeweler down to Marks price?

you can surely try. just keep in mind the associated cost/service differences that must be covered. if you can even get them within a few hundred, consider yourself as doing good.

Wo would service the ring if i ordered it online?

someone you trust.

anyone can clean and check/fix a ring. buying online doesn''t mean you can''t get the items serviced locally. does anyone ever buy and service their jewelry at the same place over their entire lifetime? no. there are always jewelry pieces bought from some other source. buying online isn''t any different.

IS it safe to do business online.

as long as you work with a reputable company, yes. absolutely.


best of luck to you!

 

[dmus]

Date: 2/23/2008 10:27:10 AM
Author: belle
start here
http://journal.pricescope.com/Articles/12/1/Why-are-there-several-dealers-offering-the-exact-same-stone.aspx

Date: 2/23/2008 9:48:32 AM
Author:MattyB5576
Okay so I went to see a cushion cut yesterday at a jewelry store in Ft Myers. They had the stone brought in and it was beautiful. They quoted me a price of $6800 and said that is the lowest they could go. I copied down the GIA report number and came home to look for loose diamonds online.

good thinking!

SO I looked on their website and the same exact diamond with the same specs and GIA cert number was selling for substantially less. ALmost $1500 less.

you actually may be able to find it for even LESS than that. everyone sets their own priced based on service. basically, you are going to pay more for added services/conveniences. there will be a good range of prices for any virtual diamond such as this. you just have to decide what level of service/convenience/overhead/reliability you want to pay for.

My only problem is that this is my first ime and I am very caustious about purchasing things online especially of this magnitude.

you only have that problem the first time!

seriously.....we have all been there. do what is comfortable for you. there are definitely reputable vendors here that you can trust with any size purchase.

SO my questions are Why such a big price difference?

see my answer above about service/overhead costs. you can also add to that location and inventory (which kinda counts as overhead...but i wanted to make sure you understand the differences between a traditional storefront that typically carries a large amount of inventory and staff etc etc etc and someone that just specializes in brokering diamonds).

IS there any potential to talk the jeweler down to Marks price?

you can surely try. just keep in mind the associated cost/service differences that must be covered. if you can even get them within a few hundred, consider yourself as doing good.

Wo would service the ring if i ordered it online?

someone you trust.

anyone can clean and check/fix a ring. buying online doesn''t mean you can''t get the items serviced locally. does anyone ever buy and service their jewelry at the same place over their entire lifetime? no. there are always jewelry pieces bought from some other source. buying online isn''t any different.

IS it safe to do business online.

as long as you work with a reputable company, yes. absolutely.


best of luck to you!

Great advice. Don''t hesitate buying online from the sites recommended here. It was hard my first time too but now I won''t buy at a B&M if I can find what I want here. Just ensure you''re comfortable with their return policy.

Important!! Don''t forget to consult the folks here before you buy to avoid any mistakes or less than ideal results.

 

[gastro]

Hey, I just posted a similar message saying almost the exact opposite. Granted I''ve never copied down the GIA cert number and try to match that online, but if you look at my post I commented that I don''t see TOO big a difference in buy a similar cut diamond online vs local vendor. I''ll have to see what everyone else thinks...

 

[LegacyGirl]

I highly recommend Mark at EDR. He got my stone for me and he was great to work with.