Is having a no refund policy a show stopper if I think I found the perfect stone?

[mollerd]

Hi - I had a jewler order me a stone and I love it. The best princess I have seen so far. I want to buy it but am concerned about the no refund policy. It is exchange only within 14 days. I saw the exact same stone offered through the search engine here in procescope. Apparently a bunch of stores sahre the inventory. But this vendor has the stone in hand and is holding it for me. If he sends it back it could not be available by the time I try to order it from someone else. Not sure what to do.

Thanks alot

 

[Demelza]

Hmmm, that''s a tough one. I purchased my stone from a wonderful jeweler who doesn''t carry any inventory and can''t really afford to take returns on large ticket items. I think that is par for the course when dealing with small operations. I don''t know if that''s the case with your jeweler. I guess it just depends on how sure you are of this diamond. Will he/she allow you to take it to an independent appraiser before purchase to evaluate the stone? If so, that might be a good idea. If not...welll, I don''t know. Some people would probably see that as a deal breaker. Sorry I can''t be more helpful. A good return policy is definitely a plus, but there can be advantages to dealing with an individual in person. Good luck.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 8/18/2005 10:21:26 PM
Author:mollerd
Hi - I had a jewler order me a stone and I love it. The best princess I have seen so far. I want to buy it but am concerned about the no refund policy. It is exchange only within 14 days. I saw the exact same stone offered through the search engine here in procescope. Apparently a bunch of stores sahre the inventory. But this vendor has the stone in hand and is holding it for me. If he sends it back it could not be available by the time I try to order it from someone else. Not sure what to do.

Thanks alot

ask your vendor if he can match the price.

 

[Jennifer5973]

No returns but what about "trade ups"? If you change your mind down the road, you can "trade up"?

A bird in the hand.....

 

[mollerd]

Hi - yes he has a full trade up policy. There is no problem there. I may ask hi to match the price. He is only off by $160 from tje lowest price on priscpoe though. He wants $7280 and a pricescope vendor has it for $7121. But he probaly doesn''t sell as many diamonds as the internet vendor so he not be able to mark it down so low.

The $160 is not the show stopper more the return policy, but you are right about a bird in the hand. I went through so much to find this and don;t want to start at square one. The appraisal idea is a good one but he says he has to send the stone back by Monday, so I am not sure if he can do that as he doesn''t own it.

 

[aljdewey]

For me personally, I won''t buy from someplace that doesn''t have a return policy.

I made that mistake once. I had been shopping for MONTHS for a wedding ring, and nothing seemed right. Finally, in a fit of desperation with only five weeks left before my wedding, I went ring shopping with two of my friends. I let them talk me into this ring that looked "wellllllllllll, ok" in the store.....a thin band with really small diamonds in it.. Paid and left.

Two hours later, out of the jewelry store lights, I realized it didn''t go with my engagement ring AT ALL....it looked horrific. Then I looked at the receipt - exchanges only. Screwed. I didn''t need or want anything else, so the $650 credit for something else in the store was pointless.

I went back to the store and was roaming around trying to find SOMETHING I could use the money for without pissing it away. Maybe I could eek out a few gifts for the MOH, etc. Nothing, nothing, nothing. On my third lap around, the owner asked if he could help me. I explained that I had to return the ring, it just didn''t look right. I was upfront and told him "it''s totally my mistake and my problem....your policy is clear, and I shouldn''t have bought under those terms. I know better, and it''s my own fault. I''m just trying to find something I could use the credit toward that would satisfy other wedding related things I need." He asked if I had jewelry for the wedding - yep - borrowing mom''s pearls and an antique blue ring, new earrings just bought last week, blah, blah.

I was extremely fortunate.....he allowed me to return for a refund. He explained that their policy is in place to keep people from buying jewelry with the intention of wearing it to some event and then returning it afterward. He knew, though, that it was very improbable I had just worn a wedding ring as an accessory for one night, so he allowed the return.

I learned a valuable lesson for *me*......I have to be able to return. It is inevitable that I will find the PERFECT thing just immediately AFTER I''ve bought something else. It happens all the time with household stuff, so jewelry isn''t really much different.

Now to your situation specifically. You seem to really love the stone. If you''ve been looking for a while and exhausted a lot of other possibilities and you really think this is it, then see if you can get an appraisal pre-purchase. The vendor should be willing to allow that; if he does, and the stone checks out with your appraiser, you should be fine buying with him.

 

[aljdewey]

Date: 8/18/2005 11:00:56 PM
Author: mollerd

The appraisal idea is a good one but he says he has to send the stone back by Monday, so I am not sure if he can do that as he doesn''t own it.

I could be way off here, but that sounds like a sales tactic. Yes, I know that vendors can''t keep a stone tied up indefinitely, but it seems he should be able to wiggle a little.

Let me ask you this: are you completely certain about this stone on everything except the appraisal? Have you already negotiated everything else that the sale could depend on? Price, service, a setting, etc, etc? Is that the VERY LAST hurdle? If so, then you should say "I want to have it appraised pre-purchase; if the appraisal comes back satisfactory, I am prepared to make the purchase immediately.....that day."

Make it clear that you WANT that stone, and you are not asking for an appraisal as a way to delay and shop other stones, but rather to STOP shopping and buy this one if it checks out.

I''d bet he can accommodate you. No one wants to piss away a sale needlessly.

 

[sapphic]

Sounds sketchy, I think I would buy from a bigger established store with a good trade up policy(there''s another thread about that). If this vendor has a no refund policy, it sounds like too small an operation to have a reliable trade up policy since who knows if the vendor will be in business in 2, 5, 10 years.

 

[mollerd]

hi, thanks! I am not sure how that works. Do I find the appraiser and he sends the diamond there insured or something? Do jewelers typically do this? He does not own the diamond. There are 8 web sites on the internet refererencing this exact stone. I checked the GIA report. So if I send it back I can order from one of them but this guy has been really nice. The only problem is his return policy.

 

[mollerd]

He does have a full trade up policy but you are right. It is a 3 persona family operation in a booth at the West Belt Mall. I didn''t think about that. If I were to send this back I will be ack at square 1 though. And trust me most princess cuts in my price range I really don''t like.

 

[mollerd]

He got the stone yesterday. How long can vendors typically hold onto a stone and how long does it usually take to get an appraisal.

thanks again!

 

[MissAva]

When I read your initial post I thought well that is really up to you. However the fact that he doesn’t seem to want to send the stone out to an appraiser first would make me uncomfortable. Those two things seem like strong pressure tactics. Call the PS vendor who has it for the lowest price and a return policy ask if they can get it for you. Have it sent to an appraiser and see what they say. With something as major as a diamond purchase I would not want to be stuck with a stone I was not 110% in love with. You never know there might be an issue with the corners or the girdle that you cannot see.
I am sorry but I would not go with your local store.

 

[mollerd]

Hi, thanks. I did not ask if I can bring to an appraiser first. I don;t know what he will say. I am wondering how is this handled. Do I have to buy first. Do I put a deposit. How can he just give me the stone. He said the only way I can return it is if it is the not the stone referenced in the gia report.

ps i do love the stone.

 

[denverappraiser]

I consider a return period to be VERY important, even if it’s only a couple of days. You should be able to show it to your appraiser, your mother or your astrologer and return it for a full refund if you are unhappy with the results. You should have the opportunity to view it in different lighting conditions, you should be permitted to consult with anyone you choose and you should have the opportunity to decide if there is something about the stone that’s important to you that isn’t included on the GIA report. This is high pressure sales and you shouldn’t stand for it.

No returns = No sale.

It’s entirely reasonable that they should want a deposit to hold while you have the stone. This protects them from the possibility of you simply stealing the stone. It’s entirely reasonable that they should limit the length of time that you have to do this and naturally you need to return it undamaged if you decide to do so but in the end you should be able to get a 100% refund for ANY reason. If they won’t agree to this, buy it from someone else who will.
Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ISA NAJA
Independent Appraisals in Denver