I'm So Frustrated...

[MyDiamondSparkles]

I stopped by a local high end jewerly store, been in business over 100 years kind of store, met with the owner, told him I am looking for a 2.5-4 carat old mine cut or european cut vintage diamond ring. I tend to like rings from the 1920's-60's and I tend to like warmer color in vintage rings so I'd look at anything from a G, love ther I's all the way down to an M, prefer VVS's but will look at eye clean SI's too. I told them my budget, which is more than adequate to find what I want. They had an entire estate/ vinatge catalog to look at so I showed him several rings I'd be happy with. They said they would phone the vendor and get them in for me to look at. I followed up with a phone call 2 weeks ago just to make sure they hadn't forgotten about me. It's now a month and a half later and no phone call, no email, no nothing. So, I pretty much gave up on them.

Then I found a local jewerly store that sells only vintage rings...perfect. Tell them what I am looking for, and this was the day before Thanksgiving. They had a vintage mounting I was interested in and would order in a few diamonds for me to look at. I followed up with a stop by the store last Tuesday....nothing in yet..okay, I understand that there was Thanksgiving in between that week etc, I will wait for a phone call or email. It's now an entire week later and no phone call no nothing.

Btw, neither of these jewelry stores are all that busy. I was the only customer in the store when I went...so it's not like they are so busy they just haven't gotten to my request yet.

Anyway, I'd really like to buy a diamond locally so I can at least see it, but after things didn't work out with the first jeweler, I started looking at a few options online--which is a bit scary for me. One well known vintage jewerly web site has a ring I'd buy today, but I can't get them to email me back. I've been emailing them for 2 weeks. I noticed they reduced the price of the ring by $5,000 (I really liked it even at full price...) so I emailed them again a few days ago, still no response. Yes, yes....I've checked my spam email....

I found another online jeweler, and emailed him for more info on his ring. I wanted to know if he had a GIA appraisal, or additional info on the diamond all the only info he gives is carat weight, mm x mm x mm dimmensions, clarity (with no details on where the inclusions are) and color. What about table, depth, etc? Could he take a few additional photos (or a video) of the ring so I can see it in outdoor light (the web site photos seemed very touched up to me, but of course I didn't say that to him). He emailed me back and gave me the link to the information he provided on the web site (duh! I've laready seen thast!) about the diamond and said the photos were a true representation of what the diamond would look like. Now he's reduced the price of the ring by a few thousand dollars. I kind of can't believe he would rather reduce the price of the ring that take the thing outside and take a few photos of it for me as I was interested in it even at full price.

I dress nice, I don't slur my words, I don't spit when I talk...I might have a few typos here and there...but seriously, what gives? I can't believe things are so good in the land of diamond sales that four stores/ web sites are willing to let an eager customer, with a nice sized diamond budget, walk away...but that is exactly what is happening.

As you can tell by now, I am frustrated....at this point it's starting to look like there will be no diamond ring under the Christmas Tree this year. I think I'm beyond frustrated and bordering angry...

Thanks for listening to me vent...

MDSparkles

 

[vanilla87]

I think there must be something wrong with your email address. I had the same problem and it took me ages to work it out. Maybe try getting a new/temporary email address and sending something to yourself to see if it works. Goood Luck

 

[Amys Bling]

if they are blowing you off- then they don't deserve your business!

maybe call them- as opposed to e-mail, make it clear that you are "amxious" to find a stone and mount it withing a few weeks. Maybe- for whatever reason, they dont think you are actually going to follow through and buy??? I don't get it!!!!

Honestly- I kinda feel like- scr*w them and move onto people who deserve your business....

I know you want to buy in person, but JBEG has a great reputation among PSers.... I dont think they would disappoint- or IGNORE YOU!

 

[ErinnM34]

if they are blowing you off- then they don't deserve your business!

maybe call them- as opposed to e-mail, make it clear that you are "amxious" to find a stone and mount it withing a few weeks. Maybe- for whatever reason, they dont think you are actually going to follow through and buy??? I don't get it!!!!

Honestly- I kinda feel like- scr*w them and move onto people who deserve your business....

I know you want to buy in person, but JBEG has a great reputation among PSers.... I dont think they would disappoint- or IGNORE YOU!

Totally agree- you are looking to spend a pretty penny and develop a relationship with the merchant- I wouldn't go with anyone who doesn't earn your business. JBEG and GOG both have gorgeous cuts like you are looking for and a great reputation.

 

[bebe]

Maybe they don't know where to start to secure what you want.

I had something very similar happen to me years ago. I visited
a very high end, well respected jeweler to look at Michael Beaudry
rings/settings. I then took the next step and asked the jeweler
to bring in stones. He called and when I got there, the stones
were nothing like I had discussed with him. He then said they
were his inventory! Well, duh, then why did it take him 2 weeks!!
And all wrong at that.
Another time I contacted a jeweler who carried a branded cushion I was dying to see.
He brought in radiants and 3 of the 5 stones were treated - the whole lot
was awful.
Give it another try. And I've done business with the PS vendors, nothing to fear.

 

[Amys Bling]

Maybe they don't know where to start to secure what you want.

I had something very similar happen to me years ago. I visited
a very high end, well respected jeweler to look at Michael Beaudry
rings/settings. I then took the next step and asked the jeweler
to bring in stones. He called and when I got there, the stones
were nothing like I had discussed with him. He then said they
were his inventory! Well, duh, then why did it take him 2 weeks!!
And all wrong at that.
Another time I contacted a jeweler who carried a branded cushion I was dying to see.
He brought in radiants and 3 of the 5 stones were treated - the whole lot
was awful.
Give it another try. And I've done business with the PS vendors, nothing to fear.

true bebe... maybe even though the store is high end...they really are not educated too well on diamonds and don't know the first thing about getting a stone like OP wants into their inventory?? ditto re: PS vendors.

 

[MyDiamondSparkles]

I think there must be something wrong with your email address. I had the same problem and it took me ages to work it out. Maybe try getting a new/temporary email address and sending something to yourself to see if it works. Goood Luck

Thanks for your thoughts everyone. I really appreciate it.

I have an online business that gets between 5 and 9 million hits a month...my entire business is run from email so I know nothing is wrong with my email address. I've also given them my phone #, so between the two, they have ways to contact me.

I have made purchases from both of these stores in the past, but both of those purchases were items they had in stock. If the problem is that they would rather sell me a round brilliant diamond they have in stock than to do a bit of hunting for an OMC or OEC diamond, they should have told me that and not wasted my time. Both stores said that they would be more than happy to find me what I wanted. I won't bother to call them and let them know how disappointed I am in their lack of customer service, but I may stop by to browse thier merchandise, and of course have my ring (purchased from another vendor) cleaned and shined.

I plan to phone JBERG today as I did see something on her web site that I liked...but truthfully I am so worn out from this entire experience, my heart just isn't in it anymore--and to me buying a diamond is such a "your heart has to be in it" kind of thing. Maybe if I find the right diamond it will "sparkle" my interest in ring searching again. We'll see.

MDSparkles

 

[Circe]

MDS, what a pain in the neck! Customer service seems to vary WILDLY by company, and even by salesperson. If e-mail is a variable (perhaps these are not terribly tech-savvy people? I know a lot of the B&M jewelry industry tends to be a little older, and thus, a little less invested in the online world, even if they have gotten a kindly niece or nephew to throw their site together), maybe it might be worth it to call again, and make it clear that, yes, you're really interested, but growing less so as you're forced to chase them? Perhaps they might have the sense to shoot you up the ladder - losing a two and a half carat budget in this economy is just stupid!

Of course, it does depend on your mood as much as anything else: I know how frustrating it can be to have a project drag on and oooooonnnnn; it can almost eat away at the joy you have in the finished piece. I adore my jeweler, but custom projects can take a while. The results are always awesome, so I keep doing it ... but I'll admit, it was kind of a gas to buy stock settings on my last purchase and have the results inside of a day!

 

[risingsun]

I would initiate the contact with a phone call. I have found I get better service this way. I will also recommend Singlestone for the type of diamond/ring you that you have described. I hope one of these vendors will be receptive and get back to you quickly. Nothing like missing a sale due to poor communication!