Internet diamond purchases vs. in-person sales

[toofamiliar17]

Hello all. This is my first time posting on Pricescope. I have been browsing the site for years, at first just from curiosity. When I first started checking out PC, I worked for a local Zales store. Needless to say, I figured out very quickly that the quality of the merchandise I was working with was about as low as it gets in a retail setting. Not long after I left Zales, I got into sales with Mayors, a jeweler that operates here in the southeast. With a better vendor, I immediately began learning more of the finer points of what constitutes quality stones. Still though, I was struck by the incredible price differences between diamonds sold at our store and comparable stores (for those not in the southeast, Mayors's jewelry quality is much closer to the Tiffany's side of the scale than the Zales side of the spectrum). Don't get me wrong - Mayors and other such high-end jewelry retailers make beautiful pieces. But when you factor price into the equation, they're blown out of the water by online PC vendors.

Fast forward to today. I no longer work in the jewelry industry. I'm now looking for an engagement ring for actual use. I already know I won't be going to Zales or any place like that, simply because the quality of the pieces isn't up to par for me. And I won't be going to well-known high-end full scale retailers because of the incredible inflation present in that setting.

My questions are several. First, what would you all say are the benefits of buying from local vendors as opposed to internet dealers like Solomon Brothers? I trust certified stones (particularly GIA of course), but the whole internet purchase concept still has me uneasy. For obvious reasons, it just seems important to see THE STONE in person. So for one, I'm very uncertain about actually buying online despite the ample browsing I've done here and elsewhere online. So, I live in Florida. Can anyone name some diamond dealers in the Orlando area that have a reputation of providing value while simultaneously offering reliable quality? I have looked at IDC (International Diamond Center) and a couple other vendors in the area. Any suggestions? Last question (I promise!!): if I'm determined to buy in person, would I be best off just making the relatively short trip up to ATL (which I'm willing to do if I should) to check out Solomon Brothers for myself? From your experiences, does SB do genuinely top of the line work?

This is probably too long-winded to even generate any responses. But if you do respond, thank you so much!

 

[JulieN]

Well I guess Fort Lauderdale is half the distance: http://www.infinitydiamonds.be/web/locations-usa/

The interesting thing is, having worked in a local brick and mortar store, I think you would be in the best position to answer your own questions about the advantages of local vs online.

 

[smilligan]

Well I guess Fort Lauderdale is half the distance: http://www.infinitydiamonds.be/web/locations-usa/

The interesting thing is, having worked in a local brick and mortar store, I think you would be in the best position to answer your own questions about the advantages of local vs online.

My dad lives in Ft. Lauderdale. I agree with JulieN. I also think that Infinity Diamonds are great to look at.

 

[toofamiliar17]

I mean, I worked for a Zales Outlet, which sells product that is a far cry in quality from what I'm looking for. And I've never bought online, so I know nothing about that. Perhaps there is someone out there who can reply who has some helpful insight here?

 

[liaerfbv]

You're going to find a better price, more information on a diamond, and likely higher quality stones online. I understand wanting to see the stone in person, but a good vendor will provide pictures, video, idealscope images, etc.

I lived in Orlando for 10 years and never found a jeweler I was comfortable buying stones from, for what it's worth. If you are determined to purchase in person, I would schedule a trip to NYC and hit the diamond district. Several PS vendors are located there and can call in stones for you ahead of time based on your specs.

 

[Mayk]

If you head north there are two places to "view" diamonds. Underwood Jewelers and Beards. At Beards they have all the EGL diamonds in the display case. If you ask for GIA they have them usually in the back. I would still highly recommend an on line purchase with a PS vendor. WF, BG, GOG, VC are all very safe choices with return and upgrade policies

 

[denverappraiser]

For starters, Solomon Brothers *IS* a local store. They just happen to be in someone else’s neighborhood instead of your own. That’s actually fairly typical of the Internet sphere. A fair fraction of them are just stores somewhere that are using the Internet to try and expand into markets beyond easy driving distance. Many of the popular merchants here are no more or less than some jewelry store that does good marketing. Rather few are ‘pure’ internet players.

That said, here are a few advantages for local stores, in no particular order:

1) In person shopping has a better ‘feel’ for who is legit. It’s frighteningly easy to set up a website that looks petty darned good and people fear that it’s all splash. Although it’s possible to do this with a storefront too, it’s a lot more difficult and people have more experience at recognizing when it’s not quite right.

2) It’s nice to be able to look at a few or a dozen stones side by side quickly. You can pop into a store, ask a few questions, look at a stone or two and be on your way in a few minutes.

3) You can easily ‘try on’ settings both to look if a stone will fit and see how it looks on your finger.

4) It’s nice to support your neighbor's business when you can. Their success is tied to yours far more directly than most people know.

5) If you have a problem, you’ve got someone to go back to and complain. For many people this transaction is far more comfortable, less work, and often much faster when they can do it in person.

6) Much of the diamond shopping process is a matter of education and a lot of folks like to get this in a one-on-one sort of way. Asking questions, pointing out things, and the like have a more personal feel to them in person and that enhances the shopping experience.

7) Shopping at the same store where you’re grandpa bought his ring has a certain traditional and pleasant feel too it when you can arrange it. Chances are good that was a storefront.

Specifics of gemstone color and jewelry style are difficult to communicate online. Diamonds have a pretty good language for describing them but there are other stones and other elements of the jewelry business that don't show so well in pictures or text.


9) Free coffee. It’s entertaining. It’s easier to shop together with your beloved, your mother or your friends. That is to say that the shopping experience is different and a lot of people find it more pleasant.


10) Local laws are generally a lot easier to navigate if there’s a problem.

 

[AprilBaby]

You do know you CAN actually "see" your diamond with several of the online vendors, right? James Allen, Whiteflash, Brian Gavin...

 

[distracts]

1) In person shopping has a better ‘feel’ for who is legit. It’s frighteningly easy to set up a website that looks petty darned good and people fear that it’s all splash. Although it’s possible to do this with a storefront too, it’s a lot more difficult and people have more experience at recognizing when it’s not quite right.

While this is true, online stores often have FAR more reviews that you can find. When I search online, local stores, even bigger ones, usually have between 2-5 reviews, whereas a lot of the online stores have dozens upon dozens with pictures, follow up experiences, etc. I don't know if it's that people likely to shop online are also more likely to review, or that the act of shopping online makes them more likely to review, but whatever it is, I feel much more comfortable the more I can know of other peoples' experiences with a vendor.

 

[toofamiliar17]

The more I look around, the more I feel comfortable with online vendors. But I don't know that I can feel great about buying a diamond I can't physically see, which makes me lean more towards the James Allen's of the world than the Pricescopes when it comes to actually buying my diamond. But then, the price hike between the two is pretty substantial. Despite my feelings about wanting to see the stone, it's tough for me to walk away from a PC stone that fits the parameters I've set and costs $10,000 when compared to a James Allen stone that has great images/video available and access to a "diamond expert" who can chat with you and point out seemingly minute details of stones you're looking at to set them apart. I love the added value of those JA aspects, but I'm not sure I can go as far as to say it's worth an extra 20% on the diamond cost. Especially when PC offers stones from well-reputed dealers like Solomon Brothers. So basically, I'm torn.

I do think I'm going to buy online, though. Now it's just a matter of figuring out if I feel the NEED to see the stones I'm buying or if I can stand to buy a similarly rated GIA stone that I can't see.

 

[toofamiliar17]

And btw, thank you all for your responses. Very helpful.

 

[denverappraiser]

1) In person shopping has a better ‘feel’ for who is legit. It’s frighteningly easy to set up a website that looks petty darned good and people fear that it’s all splash. Although it’s possible to do this with a storefront too, it’s a lot more difficult and people have more experience at recognizing when it’s not quite right.

While this is true, online stores often have FAR more reviews that you can find. When I search online, local stores, even bigger ones, usually have between 2-5 reviews, whereas a lot of the online stores have dozens upon dozens with pictures, follow up experiences, etc. I don't know if it's that people likely to shop online are also more likely to review, or that the act of shopping online makes them more likely to review, but whatever it is, I feel much more comfortable the more I can know of other peoples' experiences with a vendor.

I do think online shoppers are more likely to post online reviews and reviews can be something of a mixed bag as far as reliability goes but I think most storefront shoppers get their feel of credibility from different sources. What the store looks like, how long it's been there, what their friends and relatives have to say, even things as subtle as how clean the carpet is or what neighborhood they choose for their location. I'm not sure these are actually all that much better but people are familiar with them. It's roughly the same way you shop for a florist, an appliance store or an accountant.

 

[denverappraiser]

You do know you CAN actually "see" your diamond with several of the online vendors, right? James Allen, Whiteflash, Brian Gavin...

And I would never consider shopping with a store that doesn't have a reasonable return policy. The deal isn't done until you've seen the item, shown it to your friends, neighbors or appraiser, and still decide you like it. Until then you are committing only to the shipping and insurance, if that.

 

[robotizing]

I live in Fort Lauderdale recently purchased an e-ring from JamesAllen. I noticed my local jewelers were pushy, not 100% honest at times, and looking for a sale all the time! Also, their stock was horrible... they didn't have squat in their stores to show.

I found the deals I would locate online were much better and no sales tax!! I think I must have saved a few thousand dollars purchasing online, it was a a breeze and I did not feel PUSHED to buy.

I purchased a first e-ring which I did not like on hand with James Allen. I returned it and they gave me a 100% refund no questions asked, I then did a bit more research found something I liked WAY more and purchased another diamond with a band from them!

I speak from my own experience with JamesAllen, I had incredible customer service. I am sure their margins are quite good selling diamonds and not having to pay for a storefront as well as being able to provide a great deal to the consumer... so they can afford to hire and train very good workers because they really were very cordial and accommodating.

Once you locate 3 diamonds you like ask for an idealscope, then once you narrow it down ask them for the PriceScope pricing... They usually give a discount.

Good luck.

 

[primah]

no question for price you have to buy online. i spend a ton of time searching and finally got a great deal buying online. i def recommend it. you that extra money you save on the setting. good luck as he whole process can be overwhelming.