James Allen not honoring price on site.

[K H]

Hi everyone. Just wanted to know if this is a common thing or not on the James Allen site and to let everyone know how this business treats its customers. I placed an order yesterday for a ring. The lab diamond listed on the site was 1230.00. I also paired it with a setting and the total was under 2200.00. After I placed the order I received an email and the price of diamond listed 1230.00 and the setting was 840.00 but the total of the ring showed 3654.13. I contacted the company and the said upper management would have to review the order and decide what to do. I was contacted today and told they would not honor the price of the diamond. I am very disappointed in this company. I believe if you list an item wrong you should be willing to take the loss since you are responsible and would want to keep your name in good standing and keep the customer happy.

 

[flyingpig]

I believe if you list an item wrong you should be willing to take the loss since you are responsible and would want to keep your name in good standing and keep the customer happy

Absolutely disagree.
Listing errors happen. It is completely unreasonable that you expect JA or any company to take a $1450 loss.

 

[yssie]

If you really expect a company to eat a 40% loss because of a listing error then I promise, that company doesn’t want you as a customer, now or in future.

This post doesn’t harm JA’s reputation in any way.

 

[Diamond Girl 21]

Mistakes happen, but I'm very sorry you are going through this. I hope you find a beautiful diamond in your budget.

 

[missy]

@K H I am sorry you’re disappointed and I can imagine it was an unpleasant surprise finding the price was higher. But if you think about it you will realize that it was an honest error and they cannot simply eat the error. They employ people whose livelihood depends on them making a profit.

I hope you get the ring of your dreams.

 

[MollyMalone]

Hi, @K H I certainly understand that you're disappointed, but your expectation that JA will "eat" the price difference so that you can secure a bargain is unrealistic.

The JA Terms of Use page

Terms of Use | JamesAllen.com

James Allen terms of use, including privacy policy, ownership and copyright, trademarks, use of site, disclaimers, dispute resolution, and other terms.

www.jamesallen.com

includes the following notice under the Product Descriptions header:

While James Allen makes every effort to ensure that our products are described and priced accurately, in the event that an item is deemed to be priced incorrectly, James Allen reserves the right to refuse sale that item. If the pricing error is discovered after payment has been finalized, James Allen reserves the right to cancel the sale and refund the transaction in full.​

​

fyi: this kind of advisory/disclaimer is not at all unusual. Think it (or something very similar) is on 'most every retailer's website.

​

Additional fyi: Rocky Talky is reserved for discussion of mined diamonds. But if you go to the Lab-Grown/Man-Made Diamonds forum, you'll find helpful folks there who will be happy to be of assistance to you on your quest:

Lab-Grown Diamonds/Man-Made Diamonds (MMD)

Learn about and discuss everything on lab-grown diamonds here! No simulants (CZ, Moissanite, YAG, etc), please.

www.pricescope.com

 

[Polabowla]

I would be upset too about a mismarked price. Some stores honor the posted price some don't.

 

[scouty]

I’d be pretty mad, especially if you only found out after you purchased it. If it changed while you were contemplating purchasing it then I can see why they wouldn’t honor it. But in this case you made a purchase decision based on what the had posted. They should honor advertised price IMO.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I remember years ago when i used to handle the weekly newspaper add for my work the newspaper made a mistake after we had approved it, we were literly going to be giving away stock for free
On seeing thw newspaper my manager did not panic but just got me to ring the consumer institute for advice - they said an aplogy note would be fine -
The newspaper credited our account for a couple of weeks advertising

 

[Beautiful-disaster]

While I wouldn’t expect the vendor to honour the price - I would expect a compromise offered. Mainly because of the time spent comparing and getting quotes before you chose the stone which never would have been considered if priced correctly.
It would make me not trust the other listed prices and think perhaps something a little suss might be going on. (Listing lower prices to get attention but then not honouring their prices).
I also wouldn’t deal with someone who had a previso in their terms and conditions saying they can cancel the sale after they have sold it to you on their own digression.

So while he is completely in his rights to do what he did - it doesn’t make for good customer service that’s for sure.
I wouldn’t be comparing his stones with others if I can’t trust the pricing.
Otherwise I would be just wasting my time.

 

[MollyMalone]

* * * I also wouldn’t deal with someone who had a previso in their terms and conditions saying they can cancel the sale after they have sold it to you on their own digression.

So while he is completely in his rights to do what he did - it doesn’t make for good customer service that’s for sure.
I wouldn’t be comparing his stones with others if I can’t trust the pricing.
Otherwise I would be just wasting my time.

Of course, you are free to shop online for loose diamonds-diamond jewelry wherever you wish. But if you limit yourself to those vendors who do not have such a qualifier/proviso in their website's Terms and Conditions, please know that you will be -- to use my grandmother's phrase -- "cutting off your nose to spite your face." Because you will have to eliminate, e.g., Blue Nile, Whiteflash, Brian Gavin Diamonds, ID Jewelry,Victor Canera, Brilliantly Engaged, Joe Escobar Diamonds, Ritani, De Beers... and countless others.

P.S. Be assured that neither James Allen nor any of the others named in the preceding sentence have garnered a bad reputation for engaging in the kind of bait-and-switch tactics of notorious used car dealerships that you may be fearing.

 

[stonehunter20]

totally understand your frustration. even though shit happens sometimes, I think JA could have handled it better by offering some discount to try to meet in the middle to make up for it instead of just rejecting. after all, you spent time on doing research and making the decision to go with them and a customer's time and energy spent on the process was worth something.

 

[monipod]

I've only had good experiences with JA, and, while disappointing, I don't think they are obliged to sell you the stone at a huge loss to them. I would however think that giving you a 25% on their setting (they do that a few times a year anyway) or a discount code would be good customer service.

 

[Buttercookies]

I’m sorry you are going through this but many online sellers have incorrect pricing policy. They are not in the wrong. Hope you find your perfect ring.

 

[Big Fat Facets]

Im very sorry.

How awfully unpleasant to have spent that time, effort and energy to shop, comparing specifications. I completely understand how frustrated you must feel.

this situation is most unfortunate for both parties involved...

James Allen is a business. A business must generate profit. Otherwise. there's no business. If it is an honest mistake, JA rightly must correct it. Appearances will not be favorable because it appears and seems as a "lure you in" or a "bait and switch" tactic.

As a consumer you have know way of knowing, for sure. Members here that have had past transactions can vouch for James Allen being a reputable vendor.

I think expecting a business to take a loss because of a pricing error is rather one sided. Surely, you are just very upset and feel slighted by James Allen. Once you've taken the time to "cool down" you will realize that the experience you gained shopping for THE diamond is invaluable even if you did not get to secure it due to a pricing error.

Your diamond is out there waiting for you. Perhaps consider dusting yourself off and embark on a new shopping adventure armed with the experience you garnered from your recent but unfruitful shopping experience.

 

[new-beginning]

The lab diamond listed on the site was 1230.00 So was this a 1 ct stone? or something larger?

 

[barbie86]

If it were me, I would have been sceptical in the first place if the price was that good, and would have assumed it was a typo and that my order would be cancelled.

If it then wasn't cancelled, awesome! If it was? Well I would just start my search again.

Mistakes do happen and most retailers have a caveat to cover that in their T&C's. As PPs have said JA is highly reputable, and would not bait and switch.

If you post your budget and what you are looking for the members here will be able to help, I am sure.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Like some others here - I have never in 20 years heard of James Allen being accused of bait and switching.
I know James personally, and a few of the management folk.
They would be aghast if people thought that of them.

But i think you could take the nice approach and ask if they could help you out with a 'deal' in the circumstances

 

[MamaBear]

I can understand your frustration. Ring shopping can be stressful even when it goes smoothly. You can opt to get a refund and buy through another vendor if you don’t like the way youre being treated. Good luck in your search!