shminbabe
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2007
- Messages
- 364
trulyI got the name of an independent appraiser from Richard Sherwood of Sarasota. He didn''t know the appraiser personally but the appraiser is well-credential and is located in my city.
Today I wrote to him and outlined my need for help; that I am working with an online vendor(s) and a) that I will want my stone appraised and b) asked about his wilingness to be a "middleman" in case I want to see a few stones in person before making my decision. Whiteflash said they do this sometimes for customers but they don''t just send them off to whoever, they would want a "relationship" with the appraiser first. What I gathered was not that they would try to scam me by making me work with one of their own "independent" appraisers, rather, that they needed to have an understanding with the appraiser that he/she would be willing to hold the stones securely and that both Whiteflash and the appraiser would consent to doing this (and that Whiteflash would be willing to send such stones off to a third party) which of course I would pay for.
He replied rather derisively about my intention to purchase online. He indicated that there might be an element of "scam" going on if an online vendor would only send stones to an appraiser with whom they have a "relationship" and that I should insist on a 2-week return policy in writing, etc. That I basically was trying to have my cake and eat it too - - by wanting to save $$ in buying online but then wanting to seek the services of an independant appraiser to look at stones in person, and cautioned me that if I insisted on bypassing the brick and mortar store that I should ensure my appraisal is done by someone who is truly independant.
I think he misunderstood my query a bit. I would never accept an appraisal that would be conducted by someone that an online vendor insist I work with. He stated, "I''m all too familiar with this protocol," with regards to my question about an online vendor''s wanting a "relationship" with an appraiser before they''d just release some unpurchased diamonds to a potential customer. Which I can understand. I didn''t mean the vendor said, "you must only work with such-and-such appraiser...". As if I would go along with that.
So what am I missing here? I wrote back, to clarify and to ask him to explain a little more. That I''m new to this thing, but that I''m aware that there is a large market of people who have purchased diamonds online with great satisfaction. I definitely want to know if there are scams going on, though.
And, I most defintely want to have my stone independantly appraised. Don''t you all do that with your diamond purchases? How do find your independant appraisers for the stones you buy online? I can''t walk into the local brick and mortar and ask...nor would I want to. I want what HIS services are: a truly independant appraisal.
But he was so dismissive in the e-mail reply...why so negative do you think?
How many of you have actually purchased diamonds that you successfully returned? He urged me to accept NO LESS than a TWO WEEK return policy, get it in writing, not e-mail (of course) and then get a truly independant appraisal (that''s what I want but I''m not sure he''ll take me on as a customer if I''m buying online, actually). He indicated any savings I think I''m getting from an online buy will be absorbed in the cost of an appraisal, etc. (Gee, I didn''t think they cost that much.)
What gives? Was my query about his being involved as an independant receiving stones for me to look at from an online vendor totally inappropriate? I''m innocent, naive, really. Just trying to learn and make it all come together.
Haven''t many, many, many of you had happy buying experiences from online vendors? Why do you think he views it as just another scam? I''m interested in his reply to mine but I think he''ll completely dismiss me.
I felt like I could trust the online marketplace and have a greater measure of control, frankly, over stones I''ll be shown.
However, I would like to see a few Asschers or ECs together, so I can make my selection. How do you y''all do this? Has anyone ever previewed stones in a third party location and what might I expect to pay for that service?
Frustrated.
Jeannie
Today I wrote to him and outlined my need for help; that I am working with an online vendor(s) and a) that I will want my stone appraised and b) asked about his wilingness to be a "middleman" in case I want to see a few stones in person before making my decision. Whiteflash said they do this sometimes for customers but they don''t just send them off to whoever, they would want a "relationship" with the appraiser first. What I gathered was not that they would try to scam me by making me work with one of their own "independent" appraisers, rather, that they needed to have an understanding with the appraiser that he/she would be willing to hold the stones securely and that both Whiteflash and the appraiser would consent to doing this (and that Whiteflash would be willing to send such stones off to a third party) which of course I would pay for.
He replied rather derisively about my intention to purchase online. He indicated that there might be an element of "scam" going on if an online vendor would only send stones to an appraiser with whom they have a "relationship" and that I should insist on a 2-week return policy in writing, etc. That I basically was trying to have my cake and eat it too - - by wanting to save $$ in buying online but then wanting to seek the services of an independant appraiser to look at stones in person, and cautioned me that if I insisted on bypassing the brick and mortar store that I should ensure my appraisal is done by someone who is truly independant.
I think he misunderstood my query a bit. I would never accept an appraisal that would be conducted by someone that an online vendor insist I work with. He stated, "I''m all too familiar with this protocol," with regards to my question about an online vendor''s wanting a "relationship" with an appraiser before they''d just release some unpurchased diamonds to a potential customer. Which I can understand. I didn''t mean the vendor said, "you must only work with such-and-such appraiser...". As if I would go along with that.
So what am I missing here? I wrote back, to clarify and to ask him to explain a little more. That I''m new to this thing, but that I''m aware that there is a large market of people who have purchased diamonds online with great satisfaction. I definitely want to know if there are scams going on, though.
And, I most defintely want to have my stone independantly appraised. Don''t you all do that with your diamond purchases? How do find your independant appraisers for the stones you buy online? I can''t walk into the local brick and mortar and ask...nor would I want to. I want what HIS services are: a truly independant appraisal.
But he was so dismissive in the e-mail reply...why so negative do you think?
How many of you have actually purchased diamonds that you successfully returned? He urged me to accept NO LESS than a TWO WEEK return policy, get it in writing, not e-mail (of course) and then get a truly independant appraisal (that''s what I want but I''m not sure he''ll take me on as a customer if I''m buying online, actually). He indicated any savings I think I''m getting from an online buy will be absorbed in the cost of an appraisal, etc. (Gee, I didn''t think they cost that much.)
What gives? Was my query about his being involved as an independant receiving stones for me to look at from an online vendor totally inappropriate? I''m innocent, naive, really. Just trying to learn and make it all come together.
Haven''t many, many, many of you had happy buying experiences from online vendors? Why do you think he views it as just another scam? I''m interested in his reply to mine but I think he''ll completely dismiss me.
I felt like I could trust the online marketplace and have a greater measure of control, frankly, over stones I''ll be shown.
However, I would like to see a few Asschers or ECs together, so I can make my selection. How do you y''all do this? Has anyone ever previewed stones in a third party location and what might I expect to pay for that service?
Frustrated.
Jeannie
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