is buying from whiteflash/DCD/GOG a no-brainer?

[Go Blue 99]

Before I discovered this message board, I was intent on buying an e-ring from Blue Nile, and I was excited about it.I thought their site was very user-friendly and offered good education tools.Best of all, I read their prices were ~30% lower than B&M stores.I felt like I had found the best value in diamonds, and felt bad for my friends who bought e-rings at B&M stores.

Then I came here and spent hours reading reviews and feedback about the popular Pricescope vendors: whiteflash, james allen, GOG, etc.They have excellent customer service (at WF, you can have Brian help you out! At JA, you can have their CEO help you out!).They have prices that are sometimes lower than BN.They have trade-up policies.And they have a lot of great stones with detailed information (assuming you buy an in-house stone).

Ok, considering all these factors…isn’t it a no-brainer to buy from one of these vendors?The only restricting factor I can think of is that they might not have any in-house diamonds that meet your requirements and budget.But other than that, am I missing anything?Would you always recommend these vendors over BN or a mall store?

 

[mrssalvo]

well for those of us who have purchased from those company''s and had a positive experience, sure it''s a no brainer. but I can totally see how someone might be nervous and apprehensive to spend thousands of dollars on a item they may not know much about from a company they don''t know much about. That''s why this forum can be so helpful to folks who research online because they can gain valuable customer feedback that can help give them some peace of mind.

 

[davidgelb]

I still look locally to get ideas, but I have found that I got a much better deal, at a much better price, with no pressure (like in the B&Ms) at WF. I love WF, I will always go to WF as my #1 seller and will always talk with Jaime or Leslie, but may still look locally at B&Ms for ideas.

Just my 2 cents.

-David

 

[kcoursolle]

For me it was a no brainer to purchase from james allen/DCD for the diamond, except for one thing. I found it hard to pick out a setting online. I really wanted to see it on my finger first and try out different looks. However, for my next setting I would probably be more comfortable with it.

 

[devientdrow]

I was SUPER nervous about buying online. I had been working with a local B & M that was very very reputable. I liked them, and I knew they were doing their best to help me out. Honestly, just for peace of mind and ease I probably would of bought from them if it wasn''t for the fact that I was on a strict budget. I got my stone from James Allen and I love it. I feel like I got the biggest stone at the best quality for my budget.I got a stone I never thought I would of been able to afford. Honestly I felt silly about being so nervous after I got my stone and expierienced their great customer service. I would go them for anything!

 

[Mara]

it''s a no brainer for me. the online PS vendors far outweigh any local vendor in terms of stone quality and pricing for me. i have been really happy with the online purchases i have made and would probably only ever shop locally again for jewelry if it was a unique piece i could not get elsewhere, and/or it was something like a branded stone like an eightstar where i have a vendor who is local to me who sell them, and i wouldn''t necessarily be able to get a better price online and the cut quality is consistent from stone to stone.

 

[Kaleigh]

It was a no brainer for me as well. I have bought from several PS vendors and have been very pleased. The B&M''s around me just charge way too much and I have saved a lot of moolah by buying online. Good luck!!!

 

[Regular Guy]

Add in the Search by Cut db, and AGS classification, and I''d agree, but throw back in Blue Nile (but then, again, with AGS in, I''d say the same for any source, including the local five and dime, so that doesn''t give this idea much teeth).

Drop out AGS criteria, and leave in WF & GOG only (given your 4 options, anyway), however, given potential savings, use JA to consider as well.

If not available on search by cut, no AGS, and round, BN has much of the data you''d need to consider, and attractive pricing, still, but the work''s not been done for you in the search by cut db, so you have to do it yourself.

Then again, Leonid''s threatened to bring in AGS & GIA cut classifications to the big db. This could increase options. It might take awhile.

Just some biased and opinionated thoughts.

 

[dreamer]

Hi,
I was just curious about the other vendors, since I always (twice now !!) bought from GOG although I did have a trusted local jeweller, who promised to get me a certain type of stone. I didn''t have nearly as much info on the stone as I would have from GOG. Now, I went to JA website and searched for diamonds. I recently bought 1.01 J SI2 from GOG and found something similar on JA for about $700 lesser !! But, JA doesn''t have any info on the stone accept the standard ones. So, how do they compare with each other ? (GOG/JA) How would you decide on a stone, without any data from the vendor?

dreamer

 

[devientdrow]

Date: 8/23/2006 4:58:47 PM
Author: dreamer

Hi,
I was just curious about the other vendors, since I always (twice now !!) bought from GOG although I did have a trusted local jeweller, who promised to get me a certain type of stone. I didn''t have nearly as much info on the stone as I would have from GOG. Now, I went to JA website and searched for diamonds. I recently bought 1.01 J SI2 from GOG and found something similar on JA for about $700 lesser !! But, JA doesn''t have any info on the stone accept the standard ones. So, how do they compare with each other ? (GOG/JA) How would you decide on a stone, without any data from the vendor?

dreamer

If there are certain specifics your looking for on a James Allen stone that you don''t see on the website, I think you can just contact them and they can email them to you.

 

[Go Blue 99]

Date: 8/23/2006 4:58:47 PM
Author: dreamer

Hi,
I was just curious about the other vendors, since I always (twice now !!) bought from GOG although I did have a trusted local jeweller, who promised to get me a certain type of stone. I didn''t have nearly as much info on the stone as I would have from GOG. Now, I went to JA website and searched for diamonds. I recently bought 1.01 J SI2 from GOG and found something similar on JA for about $700 lesser !! But, JA doesn''t have any info on the stone accept the standard ones. So, how do they compare with each other ? (GOG/JA) How would you decide on a stone, without any data from the vendor?

dreamer

Did you use the pricescope in-house search tool to find that JA diamond? If so, their CEO Jim Schultz says this: "All in-house diamonds will be examined, photographed, idealscoped and sarined free of charge."

I''ve only done some basic searches, but it does look to me that JA might have the best prices. Maybe someone will correct me, but I''m not sure JA has anyone in-house that has the analyzing skills of Brian the cutter at WF. So JA may have better prices but WF may do a better job of helping you choose the best stone. Again, I don''t know that for sure.

 

[aljdewey]

Date: 8/23/2006 4:58:47 PM
Author: dreamer

I recently bought 1.01 J SI2 from GOG and found something similar on JA for about $700 lesser !! But, JA doesn''t have any info on the stone accept the standard ones. So, how do they compare with each other ? (GOG/JA) How would you decide on a stone, without any data from the vendor?

Speaking just for myself, I won''t consider a stone that doesn''t give what I consider at least basic data.

That means grading report for AGS diamonds, and grading report plus Sarin or IS for GIA stones. I like to see a photo or two, idealscope, and confirm with the vendor that the stone is eyeclean.

If the stone looks good by the numbers to this point, then I''ll have it sent so I can see it, or I''ll purchase it knowing that I can return if it I don''t care for it.

 

[Giangi]

There is a very wide price range for SI2s. Some are very clean, some are not. A $700 difference makes me think one stone might be more eye-clean that the other one. Cut also makes a big difference. I am not sure about the standards warranted by James Allen, but you should make sure you''re comparing apples to apples, if you know what I mean.

On a personal note, I have dealt with GOG, DiamondsByLauren, SuperbCert and had a great shopping experience. I also got a small cute ACA from WF and they were delightful. In my book, PS vendors are a no-brainer.