National Jeweler: more on Internet Diamonds

[pricescope]

National Jeweler published more on diamonds and the internet: A numbers game The U.S. fine jewelry retail

You might be familiar with some of the interviewed people/companies: Bill Pearlman, Whiteflash, Brad Roshto.

Previous discussion: Interview to National Jeweler

 

[belle]

the jewelers that find their niche and put their efforts forward in positive manner by building their own product will succeed.
it was clear in that article....some get it, others do not.

 

[strmrdr]

lots of good advice there.
It will be interesting to see how many take it.
That is one of the things I like about hanging out here is being on the cutting edge of the diamond market and watching how it moves and grows.

 

[denverappraiser]

As much as I hate to admit it, I pretty much agree with Brad’s position on this. For retailers, having their inventory listed on Pricescope or one of the similar databases is a disaster. The most obvious way to prevent this, or at least to postpone the inevitable, is to avoid vendors who offer identical stones to the online dealers through the virtual listing services. This cures the symptom but not the problem. To really fix the problem, the retailers need to add value to the deal as it passes through their hands and they need to convince the customers that what they are offering is worth the extra expense. There is plenty that a local dealer can do to make a deal more attractive than the same stone being offered online and the vast majority of customers continue end up at local stores for exactly these reasons. The best stores are masters of this and the worst ones are left wondering what’s happening to their customers. It’s interesting to note that the best online dealers are learning to master this as well. The most successful e-tailers are not the cheapest.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ISA NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[ame]

Oh great read!!! I love Curt Parker. He has GREAT stuff in his store. I wish his hours didn''t suck but what can you do. I have been there a few times though on nights I get off work early. I just love g oing in there.

 

[thelittleguy]

HA HA HA HA HA HA!

"The retailer has to prove to the customer that it's much better to be [in a store with a jeweler] than to buy a diamond from a machine," says Terry Chandler, president and CEO of the Diamond Council of America.

"to buy a diamond from a machine"

Ohhhhh the travesty of purchasing from a machine!


So far "machines" have given me better customer service than I have ever received from a human being in a jewlery store...food for thought