online returns: personal experiences?

[climbman]

Anyone have any stores or anecdotal evidence to provide regarding return policies. That is, how easy is it to get a return number. How costly is the shipping? Is customer service responsive to returns, as they advertise they are? I am particularly interested in BlueNile and JamesAllen. Side question on JamesAllen: Does anyone know if one can physically return to JA in NY? Thanks all for sharing any experiences and stories you may have!

 

[wapila1]

I ordered a diamond wedding ring from BN, decided I didn''t like the way it fit with my ER, and sent it back with no problems whatsoever. I just called them up, gave them my order number, and they gave me a return number right away. There was a return label in the original box, I believe, and I used that on the return box. I don''t remember precisely how much the shipping and insurance was, but if it had been too bad I would have remembered! I ended up getting the matching plain platinum band instead and the exchange was processed very quickly. No compliants at all here.

 

[Todd Gray]

Clients talk, so I''ve heard from a few who have purchased diamonds from BN and returned them that the process was smooth and painless... And as I recall, JA does meet with clients in-person by appointment. I think you''ll find that most of the well known vendors here on PS make a conscious effort to make both buying and returning as easy as possible for rather obvious reasons - we''re all living in a glass fish bowl

 

[Moh 10]

I have returned stones to a couple of the main PS vendors and it went perfectly.

I'd think a return has the highest potential to blow up so they address them promptly and correctly.

That said, read their return policies closely.
If you return it a day late, don't come crying here.

 

[Lula]

I returned a ring to JA in May of this year. It was a painless process. My sales rep was very helpful, but in the end it was just not the stone or setting that I wanted. So there was no problem with quality or service, it was just personal preference. The Return Authorization and shipping back to them went smoothly. Make sure you save all your packing materials and documentation until you''re sure you want to keep the stone/ring. Follow their very specific (but not difficult) return packing and shipping directions, and you should have no trouble. They were very professional. They really stood behind their 30-day return policy. Return shipping was fairly inexpensive, maybe $20 or $30, insured, overnight.

 

[Black Jade]

One of the reasons that I like Blue Nile so much is their very painless return policy.

You don''t even have to give them a reason you''re returning it, jsut so long as you''re within the return window which is generous (30 days).

Last time I returned something (actually it was an exchange) in June, it cost me $7.00 at the USPS to send it back.
Also, the stone I was exchanging it for was slightly more expensive (actually about 7.00 more) and the salesperson said they wouldn''t charge me the $7.00 diffference, so I essentially returned the stone for free.

 

[risingsun]

I returned a pair of diamond earrings to BN without any difficulty.

 

[geckodani]

I have returned to one of the main PS vendors with no difficulty. I emailed, asked for an RMA and they emailed me a label to print out and use. Just check on what the actual shipping cost is beforehand if the return policy states that you will be out the original shipping cost, so you''re fully informed beforehand.