I have thought long and hard about contributing to this thread in a constructive way.
My feelings are still very similar to comments I earlier made to
@Gussie
Knowing a few particulars before getting involved with a vendor is invaluable. You can prepare for what you are willing to deal with, and what you can’t, before hand. I feel that can prevent some bad feelings that gets attached to jewelry and may go unworn.
I wanted to see her work in person, to compare with what pieces I already had. All the talk here about her detail and finish, the prong work.
For comparison, when I’ve been concerned about finish and prongs with DK, and I’ve offered to pay for a higher level bench - the answer I’ve routinely gotten is that my pieces are already being /been done by his best bench. Take that for whatever it’s worth.
On to CVB experience
Text was requested as preferred communication.
I think this sets up most of the initial miscommunication. Things discussed didn’t get into the initial rendering because of this.
It’s frustrating when 1.8mm melee ive determined to be too small, a design change is discussed, and rendering has mostly 1.5mm melee without the design change because it was lost in communication. And more of a tweaked current design instead of a whole new one.
A phone call at that point still left me feeling like a nit picky complainer, wondering if I made up a convo even that I knew I could go back and reread it all right there.
So take the feeling of not being listened to, and add to that already a hard sell when you’ve very early on voiced doubt about the centerstone being ‘the one’ when you very first bought it and seen IRL. That it will look much better when set, that if you return it you may regret it.
Salesman tactic. Don’t like it but I can handle it.
So final product comes out much different than anticipated for multiple reasons. I express doubt. I’m told I don’t have to buy it. I’m told I’ll love it in person, pictures don’t do justice. But once received, it can’t be refunded. I understand.
Enter hard sell again - it then can be sold for much more than what I’m paying for and definitely can’t be reproduced at current price if I change my mind.
Sales tactic - don’t like it but I can handle it.
If you’ve read my creation thread you know how that was resolved. I’m happy. Someone owns it and I assume they are happy. But I’m positive they paid less than I would have, as it was listed lower. I was refunded in whole, in two installments about a week apart.
Why did I go back for a second try?
Because I still wanted to see her work.
Local jeweler told me they wouldn’t actually use the OEC’s I provided, theyd take them in, but just use whatever was handy. NOPE.
DK ( which has obviously ruffed some PS feathers and I’m sorry and confused) CADs wasn’t going down the look I wanted either.
About this time CVB was running some promotions that surprised me and I was worried (because also of refund schedule). I know nothing to tell me if my worries were founded or totally unfounded.
This is the same time period as the CA fires/outages.
I actually felt I talked her into accepting this second try. A rule I try not to break.
Had doubts - but still followed through.
I’m glad I did.
There were no issues with communication, design or production.
Her finish/detail does seem nicer under a loupe.
I was expecting lint free prongs, but they catch the same amount (heavy sigh) that my DK ones do. And that’s a lot.
This takes away nothing from others valid feelings/emotions/complaints. I don’t think anyone is guaranteed a good or bad experience from any vendor, from prior PS’ers experiences. But hearing those helps others decide what they can and can’t deal with. And sometimes it seems from reading here, being a friend of a friend doesn’t hurt. But “it’s who you know “ isn’t a new saying.
As far as drama/talking goes - and I’m saying this not just exclusive to CVB
I think it goes very closely hand in hand with the past (15 yr.?) trend of bloggers/forum/social media users who do have a talent ( or cash, time, and connections) to start up their own business. Or job+hobby. Jobby.
I think old school vendors are relatively more effective at containing their venting / snark behind closed doors.
ETA
first go around, production time frame question was not answered first few times I asked. Just skipped over or no reply. Asking to see hand fabbers work was also not answered until brought up again much later.
she is very patient 
