internet sales, ebay, brick-mortar

[4themrs]

Thanks to all who are have helped me get a ring for a Surprise 40th Birthday for my Wife.

As an average Joe, I am appreciative of the concise and insightful feedback on my posts.
Ok, sorry for babbling here is my question.
Internet Sales; looking for the challenges, advantages, what to look for when shopping and specific things to keep in mind when shopping an online store vs Ebay, vs. Brick/Mortar
Thanks!

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

It is like investing - how risk averse are you?
How brand concious?
What sort of after sales and other service do you want?

There are people in all 3 venuse that are charlatans (more in some than others maybe).
How savvy are you?
Will your wife care?
What if she wants to exchange it?

 

[solange]

You would not go wrong if you went with one of the highly regarded companies with many satisfied Pricescope customers. You might want to look for one that has a full trade-up policy such as GOG, Whiteflash and I am sure there are several others if you look on the posts here.

Also, many will send your stone to a qualified appraiser where you can see it before you pay.
If you do not like the stone, the appraiser will send it back and you will pay for the appraisal and cost of shipping it back.

You also should make certain that you are dealing with a vendor who will send for the stone, examine it, make sure it meets all specifications and then discuss it with you before sending it out.

Some vendors drop ship without ever seeing the stone but I found it was most helpful to be able to discuss my stone with an expert and make certain that it met my requirements. I bought the first stone I saw at an appraisers and it more than met my expectations.

 

[diamondhunter10]

It seems that everyone has covered all the angles.

Knowledge, as with anything in life is the best weapon.

Take the pros and cons create a little matrix and really decide what is important to you.
There is a wealth of knowledge on PS, I suggest looking at the reviews and tools.

 

[4themrs]

Gary, thanks for the questions.
1. I am not that adverse to risk? not sure I am sure what you mean by that?
2. Brand conscious, I do not know have a lot of knowledge so words like tiffany''s etc are a part of my vocabulary.
3. I am a novice at best,
4. Will my wife care? I dont think that she will be really critical since the ring/gift is a component of the big "surprise"
5. I would not be opposed to her exchanging it I guess that is food for thought when I make a decision, are there certain things that I should keep in mind as it relates to this?

Thanks again to you and everyones thoughts

 

[DBM]

Also, many will send your stone to a qualified appraiser where you can see it before you pay.
If you do not like the stone, the appraiser will send it back and you will pay for the appraisal and cost of shipping it back.

could you elaborate on that? they send out their stone to anywhere in the country?? who''s the appraiser?

what i guess my trouble is: who would send a diamond that hasn''t been paid for yet to an appraiser (even a qualified one) who isn''t affiliated with them?? I''ve gone with customers to the GIA or EGLUSA lab and had an appraisal but how would it work everywhere else?

 

[avlis]

Date: 12/2/2006 10:40:33 PM
Author: DBM

Also, many will send your stone to a qualified appraiser where you can see it before you pay.

If you do not like the stone, the appraiser will send it back and you will pay for the appraisal and cost of shipping it back.

could you elaborate on that? they send out their stone to anywhere in the country?? who''s the appraiser?


what i guess my trouble is: who would send a diamond that hasn''t been paid for yet to an appraiser (even a qualified one) who isn''t affiliated with them?? I''ve gone with customers to the GIA or EGLUSA lab and had an appraisal but how would it work everywhere else?

well, i would think there is a known differnce in the industry between "trusted" verus "affiliated"

affiliated sounds like a partnership between appraiser and vendor, and that would be bad.

trusted would indicate that the appraiser has a reputation in the diamond industry that isnt worth risking over a single stone.

i wouldnt expect a vendor to send a stone to joe blow diamond appraisal at risk, that no one outside of hazard county has ever heard of, but i also wouldnt expect mr big time appraiser to be favorable to any one vendor or thier stones.

but i an just a newbie, hoping that the world is a good one, seriously.

 

[Regular Guy]

Hi, Daniel,

Yes, many vendors do that...with some variation.

Lifting text from Abazias website, for example:

"If you would like to view the diamond prior to purchase you may choose from one of our two options. We can send the diamond to an accredited appraiser in your area for appraisal. With this method you are responsible for the examination fees of that appraiser. Should you decide to purchase the diamond we will release it to you for pick up from the appraiser''s office. Should you decide not to purchase the diamond you are responsible for the $40 shipping fee...."

And then, at their web site, they reference some particular appraisers...who are not affiliated, but are widely suggested ones, also cross listed for many with the appraisers list on this Pricescope site, top right, under Resources. Also, many of the recommended appraisers post here. Not sure what qualifies or licensing is required to be regarded as an "independent appraiser," but I believe many vendors here have an established group, but are open to giving the OK to one not already used, but who would check them out in advance, and then give them the OK.

 

[DBM]

Date: 12/2/2006 11:28:26 PM
Author: avlis


well, i would think there is a known differnce in the industry between ''trusted'' verus ''affiliated''

affiliated sounds like a partnership between appraiser and vendor, and that would be bad.

trusted would indicate that the appraiser has a reputation in the diamond industry that isnt worth risking over a single stone.

i wouldnt expect a vendor to send a stone to joe blow diamond appraisal at risk, that no one outside of hazard county has ever heard of, but i also wouldnt expect mr big time appraiser to be favorable to any one vendor or thier stones.

but i an just a newbie, hoping that the world is a good one, seriously.

thx for the post. i figured not to thread-jack the thread so i opened up my own on the forum. so for every customer in the 50 states and countless cities the online vendors have a network of trusted appraisers that they send their diamonds to?? i find that hard to handle.. i may do it if i have to but it sounds like a big headache

 

[DBM]

Date: 12/2/2006 11:37:04 PM
Author: Regular Guy
Hi, Daniel,

Yes, many vendors do that...with some variation.

Lifting text from Abazias website, for example:

''If you would like to view the diamond prior to purchase you may choose from one of our two options. We can send the diamond to an accredited appraiser in your area for appraisal. With this method you are responsible for the examination fees of that appraiser. Should you decide to purchase the diamond we will release it to you for pick up from the appraiser''s office. Should you decide not to purchase the diamond you are responsible for the $40 shipping fee....''

And then, at their web site, they reference some particular appraisers...who are not affiliated, but are widely suggested ones, also cross listed for many with the appraisers list on this Pricescope site, top right, under Resources. Also, many of the recommended appraisers post here. Not sure what qualifies or licensing is required to be regarded as an ''independent appraiser,'' but I believe many vendors here have an established group, but are open to giving the OK to one not already used, but who would check them out in advance, and then give them the OK.

I''m sorry to have interrupted the thread of hte original post. I made a separate post on the forum. could you copy your post there? btw thx for that list from abazias.. that''s gold!!

 

[4themrs]

Daniel/Ira, not a problem definately some insightful questions and answers, that is what it is all about and I really have been learning alot and I am going to be using this knowledge to buy my wife a surpise Ring for her 40th birthday, coming up in the New Year.
looking for suggestions on places to ask the ladies on this forum say "buy her a sparklie?"

 

[Kay]

What kind of ring do you have in mind? Diamond solitaire, diamond center with diamond or colored sidestones, colored center with diamond sides, eternity band, etc?

 

[findarock]

4themrs, did you ever make decision about the different places that brick/mortar, online, Ebay. Not sure where you are based at but I would like to get your thoughts on different Online stores and Ebay stores, since I am looking at getting an Ering for my GF in the New Year