My jeweler is taking too long, and I am on a schedule

[garek007]

Hi,

Me again. I''m started to freak out a little, because a jeweler has my diamond and I''ve told him that I need it by March 15th.

He told me that I''d get a CAD on Wednesday of last week. When I called him Thursday he said that he did not like the first CAD his designer did and that he had started over. I again stressed that I needed it by the 15th and he said it would be tight, but not a problem.

I don''t want to keep bugging him, because I want him to produce good work. But it is now one week from when I need it, and I still have not seen a CAD image. What the hell.

So what should I do? Start pressuring him? Tell him I want it back? (I''ve put a 750$ deposit down BTW)

I cannot get this late as I''m leaving the country and want to propose on our vacation. I gave him the diamond with a full two weeks and two days. Am I being unreasonable? or is he slow? what do I do?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/8/2010 5:23:34 PM
Author:garek007
Hi,

Me again. I''m started to freak out a little, because a jeweler has my diamond and I''ve told him that I need it by March 15th.

He told me that I''d get a CAD on Wednesday of last week. When I called him Thursday he said that he did not like the first CAD his designer did and that he had started over. I again stressed that I needed it by the 15th and he said it would be tight, but not a problem.

I don''t want to keep bugging him, because I want him to produce good work. But it is now one week from when I need it, and I still have not seen a CAD image. What the hell.

So what should I do? Start pressuring him? Tell him I want it back? (I''ve put a 750$ deposit down BTW)

I cannot get this late as I''m leaving the country and want to propose on our vacation. I gave him the diamond with a full two weeks and two days. Am I being unreasonable? or is he slow? what do I do?

Yes, I am sorry to say you are

Two weeks is just not long enough for a custom job and shame on your jeweler for leading you to think it would be. If it were ME, I would not want my ring rushed in one week when it should take longer. That is how poor craftsmanship and mistakes happen. If you are set on the proposal date, I would personally ask for my diamond to be set into a temporary inexpensive setting OR I would switch the plan to a stock setting. Or change the proposal date.

 

[yssie]

Two weeks and two days? Unless he's superman or yours is the only job he's got, that's not reasonable at all, especially for a custom job. A reasonable estimate would be a month, or more.


I'm shocked he took the job given your time constraint.


ETA: Dreamer suggests three great alternatives.

 

[Regular Guy]

Garek,

I don't know much about these things, but I just wanted to say dreamer's thoughts make sense to me, too, and now, so does your anxiousness, so my only additional comment here is to suggest thinking creatively about what your next communication with your jeweler.

Presuming you'd not prefer to move your proposal date (unless you would?), consider taking two tracks.

Tell him you've gotten some intel on this process, and think you might have researched the process generally more first, and also think he may have been optimistic.

Tell him you'd still like him to make his target date (and, say to yourself...self...would you even like to sweeten the pot...promising a $100 bonus to actually making the deadline?).

But, tell him you have a no option drop dead date. And, therefore, if the unexpected happens, and he's not done (tell him not to rush at all, because you need it perfect), ask him to switch to the temp inexpensive setting that must then instead be ready by your drop dead date, with the final setting to be used later instead.

Not sure why this thread got me going, but it seems you could do well for yourself by being proactive, and clear that you need one option or the other.

 

[garek007]

I''m wondering if I should at least give him until tomorrow?

If it takes more than two weeks I''m kinda pissed at him for telling me it could be done. He must really need the business. I would have had UD set it. Now I''m basically f*cked.

I don''t want to rush him, because I don''t want poor craftsmanship.

I''ve had my heart set on this date so I don''t want to move it.

Maybe I should call tomorrow and tell him if it''s not enough time to set it in a temporary setting? any suggestion on how to tell him this without sounding like a jerk?

Being able to save this doesn''t change the fact that he should have told me two weeks wasn''t enough time. If I hadn''t put down so much, I''d take my stone back.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/8/2010 6:01:45 PM
Author: garek007
I''m wondering if I should at least give him until tomorrow?

If it takes more than two weeks I''m kinda pissed at him for telling me it could be done. He must really need the business. I would have had UD set it. Now I''m basically f*cked.

I don''t want to rush him, because I don''t want poor craftsmanship.

I''ve had my heart set on this date so I don''t want to move it.

Maybe I should call tomorrow and tell him if it''s not enough time to set it in a temporary setting? any suggestion on how to tell him this without sounding like a jerk?

Being able to save this doesn''t change the fact that he should have told me two weeks wasn''t enough time. If I hadn''t put down so much, I''d take my stone back.

Be a jerk, who cares? Ask for a refund of the deposit. Tell him that you do not want poor craftsmanship and you are unwilling to risk it since he is alreayd behind schedule.

 

[garek007]

really? what if he tells me no to giving my deposit back? In actuality he hasn''t done any work yet, other than sit with me.

I really don''t want to have to do that if possible, just because I''d rather get the ring on time and I''ve got nothing else lined up at this point. plus I hate being a jerk.

 

[garek007]

so should I give him one more day? I''ve already bugged him so many times. They close at 5:30 and I''m debating on whether I should call him now or give him til tomorrow afternoon.

If I''m going to pull the plug I might as well do it sooner than later. But if he has already started work for all I know he''s made some progress and may have CAD for me tomorrow.

Just because it''s a tight constraint doesn''t mean it CAN''T be done right?

 

[Bosie]

From your original post, sounds like he did some work (designed the CAD which he claims he did not like), so getting your complete deposit may be a tall order. Is there a stock setting you saw that might fit the bill?

 

[garek007]

weird, I think a lot of jewelers must be on pricescope. because I just got a call from him. and the CAD image.

 

[CasaBlanca]

Yippee~ PS rules!

Well, whatta ya think? After seeing the CAD do you feel better? Has he said you will have it on time? Don''t keep us in suspense....spill the beans!

 

[garek007]

I think it''s gonna be fine. But I told him straight up, I said, if for any reason you can''t make it in time, PLEEEAAASSE let me know. and told him about the solitaire idea and that I was sorry if I rushed him. He appreciated my understanding and said he gets rushed all the time. He also said they could do it faster than most jewelers because of the equipment he has, etc.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Well I hope it al works out for you!

 

[CharmyPoo]

I have never made jewelry but I would guess that if you were his priority .. it doesn''t take more than 5 days to make a ring. I am curious though how long it takes to make a solitaire pave ring.

 

[IceExplorer]

I''m really hoping everything works out well for you.

You might want to consider sitting down with him and asking him to provide you with some hurdle times:
2 days to cast
2 days to polish
1 day to set

And ask him if he can email you to confirm he is on time with each hurdle. As he mentioned, he is used to getting rushed. I''m sure he wouldn''t mind helping to ease your stress.

***Take a deep breath and have a drink