PSA: Caution regarding imagery required when buying stones from James Allen.

[yssie]

Posting this here as a PSA to consumers.

I get emails from other PSers asking for help buying diamonds fairly frequently. JA is one of the most commonly-cited sites - which is unsurprising, their videography is phenomenal.

Unfortunately, I have - on three separate occasions since January 2020 - seen exactly the same photo used for two different RBs. Since it's complete happenstance that I myself or someone who emails me runs into this, I can only assume that it's actually much more common.

Each time either I or the person who emailed me has alerted JA via the chat function. I just checked on an old set of stones I had written in about - several months ago now - and both are listed as "no longer available" but the images remain incorrent (ie. Identical).

I will preempt any "many RBs look the same" arguments with the (old) example I referenced above:
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...k-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-4302237
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...k-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-6378255

Note that JA's chat representatives - the folks who email reports out - well, I'll be blunt, I've yet to encounter someone who is knowledgeable enough to validate even RB imagery against reports. I hope training is improved in future. Right now, however, outside of PS consumers who don't know what they're looking for have no time-efficient way to verify that an image matches a privately-emailed report.

Consumers, post reports and links to potential choices here on PS for verification. Don't just post dimensions or plot diagrams. The photos and videos that you're looking at might not be for the same stone. Many PSers will be able to spot inconsistencies.

 

[yssie]

One more note here: I am NOT interested in seeing this thread turn into a JA venting opportunity, and if it starts going in that direction judgment I will ask the admins to lock it.

This is intended to be a consumer PSA.

 

[lovedogs]

Thanks for the heads up. Very unsettling.

 

[Karl_K]

That is good advise for data from any vendor, being in the trade I can not share specific names but lets just say everyone has had image problems one time or another over the years.
Sometimes its a 3rd parties fault and sometimes the vendor themselves, but its the vendor who has the responsibility for the accuracy of the images.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Good catch Yssie,
That is indeed the exact same video. I can only hope this is a human error of someone doing repetitive boring copy paste upload copy pas.....

 

[oncrutchesrightnow]

Thanks! There is so much unscrupulous stuff out there... some might be accidental but the same thing should not keep happening.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Thanks! There is so much unscrupulous stuff out there... some might be accidental but the same thing should not keep happening.

Be careful throwing stones.
There has been deliberate reuse of images that some of us knew well and managed to stop those vendors many years ago. Especially hearts and arrow's inages.
I think all those vendors have since disappeared thankfully. They all should have known better.
I am prepared to wait for an explanation before throwing.

 

[oncrutchesrightnow]

Or you could throw pretty stones.

 

[flyingpig]

Note that JA's chat representatives - the folks who email reports out - well, I'll be blunt, I've yet to encounter someone who is knowledgeable enough to validate even RB imagery against reports. I hope training is improved in future

This is unfortunate, yet difficult problem to solve. As you probably know, even trade members here sometimes get this wrong. Training SA and even sales and service managers on diamond imagery can be challenging.

 

[La2020]

Same issue might affect any vendor.. Aways Risks involved when buying online.

 

[MiniMinerva]

Or you could throw pretty stones.

Yes, please feel free to throw pretty stones in my direction

But seriously, thank you @yssie for encouraging caution to help protect us

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Wow, thanks for the heads up, @yssie.