Mall Store Deals?

[chaininsomniac]

First post here, need some help. I''m planning on buying an engagement ring (~$2500), and have a friend that works at one of the local mall stores. She tells me that after Xmas she can give me $100 off every $300 I spend. So I could get a $3000 ring/setting for $2000. Is this a really good deal, or would I be better served to go to an independant, or etailer? What are the major drawbacks to the Mall Stores anyway? Thanks for any advice.

 

[Mrs W]

Mall stores, Lets see......You don't get good quality for what you pay for. When you do try to buy something nice,lets just pick on the kays leo diamond....its an arm and a leg and you could get better quality somewhere else like WF, GOG, Jamesallen.

So, in reality, your better coming here to pricescope and using their vendors. Sure, you could get a crap 1 ct rock but I bet it will be like I2-I3 clairity, Not a good cut so it does not sparkle OR you could get the best cut diamond in your price range and it will be the most beautiful diamond you ever laid your eyes on....which would you pick?

Also, What mall store is this you are talking about?

You have a pretty nice budget.......You could get something really nice from a pricescope vendor.

 

[chaininsomniac]

Don''t want to give away lots of specifics but it is actually Kay. I know the markup is very high there, however if I get 33% off, I have to figure price is at least on par w/ etailers. No? Basically looking at round .55 carat, ideal, VS range, F for around $2-2500, in the setting. And I was told if they don''t have what I like they''d order it (several to look at). Do you still think I should look elsewhere?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/19/2008 4:03:49 AM
Author: Mrs W
Mall stores, Lets see......You don''t get good quality for what you pay for. When you do try to buy something nice,lets just pick on the kays leo diamond....its an arm and a leg and you could get better quality somewhere else like WF, GOG, Jamesallen.

So, in reality, your better coming here to pricescope and using their vendors. Sure, you could get a crap 1 ct rock but I bet it will be like I2-I3 clairity, Not a good cut so it does not sparkle OR you could get the best cut diamond in your price range and it will be the most beautiful diamond you ever laid your eyes on....which would you pick?

Also, What mall store is this you are talking about?

You have a pretty nice budget.......You could get something really nice from a pricescope vendor.

Ditto. And welcome to Pricescope

 

[Mrs W]

Yes, i think you should look else where.....I would personally get something like these:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1194969.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1148610.htm

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1197117.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1197260.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

The setting they would sell at Kays is a simple WG setting so I would get something along those lines....or something a little nicer if thats what your girl would like...

EDT: Also, I thought I'd add that Kay uses IGI or EGL to grade their stones.....they are usually off on color and clairity so in reality you are paying for something that is really not what you paid for. I would stick with GIA or AGS certs because they are most accurate.


And yes, Welcome to Pricescope

 

[swingirl]

Lots of nice choices in your price range. The stone is the most important part so you should focus on that.

There have been a number of threads on PS from people who bought at mall stores and regretted it soon as they read up a little on PS. They paid a huge premium for the Leo diamond. They also realized that the grading is done by companies that are much softer--meaning Kay''s might sell an IGI stone graded as an F when GIA or AGS would grade it as an H. Same with clarity. And often times those stores have a hard time getting in high clarity or high-colored stones. The say they can "order" something but if it doesn''t exist in their inventory they can''t get it.

Even with your friend''s discount you still can get more for your money with a recommended PS vendor. However, if you are shopping for metal jewelry (bands, chains, etc) you might get lucky at the mall.

Here''s another option to compare. http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4645/

 

[chaininsomniac]

Thanks for all the advice. I think I''ll focus much harder on online stores. Anybody know off hand if any etailers have no sales tax to NY? I kinda doubt it, NY is bad that way.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Try calling WhiteFash and asking. They carry top quality cut stones and are located in TX.

 

[jayIT]

I must say that I bought my fiance''s ering from Kays just recently, and people have not stopped complimenting her on it. And not just the typical polite "nice ring" kinda comments.

Are the diamonds top of the line? no. But they don''t look bad. In fact, they sparkle amazingly

Could I have found something a little better for my money online? Probably, but I wanted to see it with my own eyes. Also, I didn''t see a better setting anywhere else online or in any other store. Kay had the best setting I could find within my budget. My budget was just a little bit more than yours too.

Bottom line, if you find a ring+stone that you think would look perfect on her finger, who cares where it came from. The people at Kay were very nice and professional too, contrary to popular belief. Although, you might argue that my experience was the exception to the rule.

Here''s another thread with my engagement story and my Kays ring pics.

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/an-engagement-surprise.102351/

Funny, because most people that commented said it was a gorgeous ring and wanted to know the designer.

 

[hoofbeats95]

What kind of setting are you looking for? That''s a nice price range for a .5 carat stone I think. My stone was 2500 and the setting was just over $300. I have a .728 princess cut stone in a cathedral setting. We decided to spend the most money on the stone. So I''d like to know what kind of setting you want and the price left over for the stone? I got my stone set at a mall store. So what you could do is buy a great diamond online and go to Kay''s for the setting. You could get a deal on the setting and have them set the stone. Don''t know what you think of that. My I will say my initial ering came from Kay''s and we took it back and bought a diamond from WF. There is really no comparision!

 

[chaininsomniac]

Setting wise I''m thinking white gold or platinum, very simple like a tiffany, but not really sure. The breakdown would be 2000 for the stone, 500 for the setting, plus tax etc. Sound pretty doable. I think I like the idea of buying the diamond online and getting the setting done at Kays, has anyone done this, do stores mind that they don''t get the big commission for the stone? Will Kays settings be comprable to better quality stores/etailers.

I know thats lots of questions but thanks for all the advice.

 

[hoofbeats95]

Date: 12/19/2008 3:18:47 PM
Author: chaininsomniac
Setting wise I''m thinking white gold or platinum, very simple like a tiffany, but not really sure. The breakdown would be 2000 for the stone, 500 for the setting, plus tax etc. Sound pretty doable. I think I like the idea of buying the diamond online and getting the setting done at Kays, has anyone done this, do stores mind that they don''t get the big commission for the stone? Will Kays settings be comprable to better quality stores/etailers.

I know thats lots of questions but thanks for all the advice.

Well as you know I did it. My store didn''t mind at all. They were totally fine with setting the stone. I was surprised because I had the same thoughts you did. As far as quality . . . well I probably can''t answer that. I have a simple white gold cathedral setting. There''s not much to compare I don''t think. It''s not like there is stone work. I will say though that WF is offering 10% off the setting right now if you buy an ACA stone. I really think for 2500 you could get something great there. I didn''t have to pay tax but I guess there is something different about NY huh? So that saved us some. Overnight shipping was free. So you might want to crunch the numbers and see what would work for you. Your setting would probably be over the $300 mark in which case your friend would save you $100 at Kay''s. But I don''t think it''d be much over that in terms of reaching $600 and saving $200. So I''d crunch the numbers honestly. But an ACA from WF is going to put those Kay diamonds to shame I think. You''ll get better quality for a better price for sure.