Parks IG gold items inquiry

[Mreader]

I didn’t know which part of the forum to post this in because this is about gold so I figured I would just use hangout. Anyway I assume that many of you follow Parks on IG I have noticed that now he has multiple accounts featuring different things. One of them, run by a woman named Heather, sells many gold pieces such as chains and bracelets. I love love love yellow gold. But every single post shows beautiful things without the gram weight! It will say “ paper clip chain 16 inches comment below if you want it”. Many times in the comments people will ask the gram weight and it’s always unanswered. I decided to message her and I said that many times I’m interested in an item but because I don’t know the weight I don’t want to comment and say that I want it. But if I wait to DM the item is gone by the time a DM can be answered. She responded that she could not advertise the gram weight on the page but that I could always send a DM or I could comment to say I want it and then back out if after I found out the weight and I didn’t want the item anymore.

Does anybody have any earthly idea why somebody would not be allowed to post the gram weight???? That seems so strange to me and on other pages that feature gold items they normally include that information. I’m just wondering if I’m missing something here.

 

[marymm]

I am guessing it is an internal business policy ... weird choice for a vendor to make ... but IMHO Instagram vendors like Parks Fine Group are focused on fast sales, not up-front transparency in details ... i.e., hooking you in by making you inquire and feel like you have to choose to buy now!!! otherwise the next person will get something you're interested in.

To be clear, I like PFG and have bought from him before, but personally I've been backing away from Insta vendors for this reason.

 

[Mreader]

I am guessing it is an internal business policy ... weird choice for a vendor to make ... but IMHO Instagram vendors like Parks Fine Group are focused on fast sales, not up-front transparency in details ... i.e., hooking you in by making you inquire and feel like you have to choose to buy now!!! otherwise the next person will get something you're interested in.

To be clear, I like PFG and have bought from him before, but personally I've been backing away from Insta vendors for this reason.

Yes there is definitely that sense of urgency where you feel like you need to nab something before it's gone. I have not bought from Parks but I would if it's something I really wanted; agreed it's a weird choice for a vendor to make.

 

[Rfisher]

Does including numbers (as in price or here, the weight) do something ”negative” to their account?
I don’t know IG that well, but think I saw that addressed, or eluded to, somewhere?

just addressing the ‘could not’’ as it might not mean ‘I don’t want to spend time doing that upfront’

 

[marymm]

@chelseagirl.nyc consistently posts gram weight in her Insta posts, videos, reels ... but yeah, good point @Rfisher, there may well be a metrics reason or algorithm factor directly relevant to post traffic/visibility that Insta vendors take into account

 

[kenny]

I have a guess as to why many sellers of jewelry do not publish the weight of the precious metal in the piece ...
Publishing the weight of the gold in the jewelry reveals the mark up above the price of the gold.

While everyone knows the daily price of gold, few know about the other costs.
Some of those costs are skilled labor to make the jewelry and (above that) what profit the seller wants to get.

Knowledge is power, so the seller may want you to have less information.
As they say, follow the money.

 

[lala646]

Absolutely agreeing with @kenny here. Every single one of these Insta vendors would rather you act now, and ask questions never. Sellers are able and allowed to publish all the detail in the world. They choose not to. Customers continue to buy at a frenzied pace, so the sellers are rewarded for their lack of effort. I choose not to patronize those vendors.

 

[Lookinagain]

Does including numbers (as in price or here, the weight) do something ”negative” to their account?
I don’t know IG that well, but think I saw that addressed, or eluded to, somewhere?

just addressing the ‘could not’’ as it might not mean ‘I don’t want to spend time doing that upfront’

Yes, I think you are right. I seem to remember one of the IG vendors posting something about how to beat the algorithm which she felt was hurting her business in some way.

 

[Mreader]

Yes, I think you are right. I seem to remember one of the IG vendors posting something about how to beat the algorithm which she felt was hurting her business in some way.

I don’t know - every other vendor I follow posts weight when it’s a gold item. Gilded Lane, SinCity, Trillions - these are just the ones I can remember on the top of my head. I think it’s more likely what Kenny is saying.

 

[Rfisher]

I don’t disagree it’s heavily weighted to a lot selling quickly with less (seemingly unneeded) time and labor to list.
there’s less info there for then items to be ‘not as described’ either.

 

[LilAlex]

Does anybody have any earthly idea why somebody would not be allowed to post the gram weight????

Because it works? (I mean not the "not allowed" part.)

This is quite the IG phenomenon now -- providing less information to generate more buzz and wishful thinking on the part of prospective buyers. One cool photo and little else. Caters to the uninformed who buy just on appearance and impulse. That is not the PS audience, in my experience. All these sellers need is a lot of rando followers -- not a handful of know-it-all connoisseurs .

 

[SomethingNew]

agreed! I also reached out to Heather and asking for the same thing, and she said she cannot but she can DM me if there's a particular piece I am interested. But by then, most are gone anyway! Isn't it easier to post the gram weight so you don't get asked the same questions over and over?

But seeing her posts, those gold necklaces and bracelets though.... they are delicious !!

 

[Mreader]

agreed! I also reached out to Heather and asking for the same thing, and she said she cannot but she can DM me if there's a particular piece I am interested. But by then, most are gone anyway! Isn't it easier to post the gram weight so you don't get asked the same questions over and over?

But seeing her posts, those gold necklaces and bracelets though.... they are delicious !!

Wow so you asked the same question. That’s the weird part for me if you don’t want to put it in the description then how come you cannot answer the question in comments when people ask? Because in the comments you have a lot of people asking you how heavy it is. Like OK I get how you try to hook them with the picture and not much info as @LilAlex said, but when it hasn’t sold and somebody in the comments is asking weight you don’t tell them? It’s just nuts. I also forgot to mention that when I messaged her I asked if there was a return policy and she said no. So not only do you get no info it’s also final sale.

 

[musicloveranthony]

I think they just don't need to so they don't. They know someone will buy without it

 

[AGBF]

I just wanted to mention that there is a thread about gold, although I think this topic probably got more attention, which it should have gotten, by having its own thread here in Hangout.

Here is a link to the gold thread. It has not been used enough recently. I do not think new posters know it exists and are posting basic questions about gold wherever they feel they might get a response, rather than looking here. This thread has a lot of information and if one posts to it he draws the attention of gold lovers.

Do You Have a Favorite Gold Designer?

I love ippolita bangles. They sometimes can feel a bit flimsy though

www.pricescope.com

 

[Mreader]

I just wanted to mention that there is a thread about gold, although I think this topic probably got more attention, which it should have gotten, by having its own thread here in Hangout.

Here is a link to the gold thread. It has not been used enough recently. I do not think new posters know it exists and are posting basic questions about gold wherever they feel they might get a response, rather than looking here. This thread has a lot of information and if one posts to it he draws the attention of gold lovers.

Do You Have a Favorite Gold Designer?

I love ippolita bangles. They sometimes can feel a bit flimsy though

www.pricescope.com

Thank you!

 

[SomethingNew]

Wow so you asked the same question. That’s the weird part for me if you don’t want to put it in the description then how come you cannot answer the question in comments when people ask? Because in the comments you have a lot of people asking you how heavy it is. Like OK I get how you try to hook them with the picture and not much info as @LilAlex said, but when it hasn’t sold and somebody in the comments is asking weight you don’t tell them? It’s just nuts. I also forgot to mention that when I messaged her I asked if there was a return policy and she said no. So not only do you get no info it’s also final sale.

I actually didn't know that purchases from Alex are not returnable. I bought something from him before but I didn't plan to return so I never asked. That is odd, because usually only private sellers would have such policy.

 

[Mreader]

I actually didn't know that purchases from Alex are not returnable. I bought something from him before but I didn't plan to return so I never asked. That is odd, because usually only private sellers would have such policy.

I think his diamond page is returnable. But the jewelry pages I guess are a different story. All I know as I asked her if there was a return policy and she said “there is no return policy“. I guess that cannot be 100% interpreted as final sale but that’s how I interpreted it.

 

[Cinders]

I can't answer the original question but I have noticed that sales actually take longer now that he has the women selling things. They even give more info than he used to give. Everything sells eventually but it surprised me to see the shift.

While I've not yet purchased anything from him, I'm fairly certain I will one day since his prices seem very fair & he seems really honest.

 

[SomethingNew]

I think his diamond page is returnable. But the jewelry pages I guess are a different story. All I know as I asked her if there was a return policy and she said “there is no return policy“. I guess that cannot be 100% interpreted as final sale but that’s how I interpreted it.

i see.... it could very much mean an "open policy" meaning case by case basis. There seem to be a lot of people on this forum who bought from Alex before, would love to hear their return experience, if any.

 

[Bron357]

I’m just very wary of IG sellers. Unless you pay via PayPal on invoice you have absolutely no recourse.
I’m sure there are established IG sellers that are reputable to deal with (and being fee free helps their business profit) but this “marketing method” of not giving full details or price and implied “DM asap or it will be gone” I find purposely opaque and unsettling.
You have no way of knowing how happy other buyers are/ were and you have no way of knowing if they have actual sales or just make it look that way.
I understand why “returns are problematic” and I always buy with the intention of keeping but I’m only buying if I can make an educated decision based on the supplied information. If the upfront information is scant you are much more likely to be disappointed or feel misled upon receipt of the item and want to return it.
I feel that sellers should always offer returns, especially when operating as an on line business, less any fees and shipping costs, if the buyer is unhappy. Sellers who supply full and frank disclosure upfront should have very few returns.

 

[autumngems]

I too cannot stand when all the information isn't listed. Apparently you don't want me to buy it then. I refuse to ask a millions questions and wait for replies.

 

[Mreader]

Hmmmm Clara’s page posted the weight…and LOVE that bracelet.