online vendor/virtual inventory

[f0rbidden]

I found a diamond I was interested in online.
I requested from the vendor a copy of the GIA cert and photos of the stone

I received a reply indicating that they would forward the cert, but the stone was in a wholesalers office and photos are not available.
Along with that, in the reply, I also received information telling me that I should look at the stats for the diamond and then look at the l/w ratio as that was really all the information I need.

I KNOW this isn''t true. I KNOW that seeing a photo of the diamond is an important piece of buying online..so I''m wondering, why would an online vendor say I don''t need pictures as all they would show is the general shape of the diamond, which I can pretty much figure out on my own (it''s an EC, so the shape doesn''t require too much imagination if you know the dimensions)??

 

[jaz464]

There are some online vendors that will bend over backward to give you all the information you want on a particular diamond. Others will supply no pics, no sarin, nothing. I have talked with some of these vendors. There answer was always "we have an excellent return policy" which they did. So you have to choose who to do business with. I recommend Good Old Gold or Whiteflash. I would never buy an EC without seeing it first. Both of these vendors will send a diamond you like to an appraiser in your area so you can view it in person and then make a decision about the purchase.

 

[f0rbidden]

Wow! I didn''t know that.
GOG is actually not far from me, since I''m in CT, not sure where whiteflash is, but I''ll find out!

Thanks for the input - I don''t want to do business with someone who feels I don''t need all the information I requested, honestly - and I have no intention of purchasing anything from the person who told me that all a picture will show is the general shape - but it confused me that an online retailer would even SAY that. Why burn bridges, right?

 

[jaz464]

Oh, you''re so lucky to be so close to GOG! I''m sure they can help you find an absolutley gorgous diamond! They have so many happy customers around here.
WF is in Houston BTW.

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 2/22/2006 10:50:06 AM
Author: f0rbidden
it confused me that an online retailer would even SAY that. Why burn bridges, right?

Online retailers are just as varied as brick & mortar ones ... some have all the bells & whistles & bend over backwards to make the customer happy & others are just trying to sell off what they have in house, regardless of whether it fits the customers needs. Even in NYC''s DIAMOND DISTRICT I had salespeople telling me cushions were asschers and the reverse.

It''s GREAT that Good Old Gold is so near you ... they''ve been known to give whole diamond selecting/buying lessons to grateful P-scopers in their Long Island location & if "seeing is believing" for you -- they have plenty of tech toys for diamonds.

Keep us posted!