RDI Trade Up

[domwar]

I'm hoping someone can offer some advice.

My husband bought my engagement ring some years ago, and it was accompanied by an RDI Diamonds Trade Up Certificate. We've reached the point in our lives that we're able to upgrade the diamond and the ring and are looking to do so. However, after several less than fantastic experiences with them since, we have developed a lack of trust in the jeweler he purchased the stone and ring from. We did contact the original jeweler and first they couldn't find the supporting paperwork, then they didn't call back, then RDI probably wouldn't honor the Trade Up because they couldn't find the certificate (luckily we had ended up with that), and now they won't even return our calls unless we are willing to at least double the size of the stone and order the new setting from them.

So, I contacted RDI to try and find out if they had other jewelers in the area who we could work with instead. Apparently "unmembers" of RDI cannot get lists of RDI members, the lady said she could tell me that all RDI members were Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT) members. So I contacted JBT to ask how I might go about taking our business to one of their members in our area. Guess what? JBT members are only disclosed to JBT members!

Am I alone in feeling that I'm getting the royal runaround here? The jeweler is dictating our upgrade conditions to us; and RDI and JBT are secret societies. Most companies are delighted to let you know what trade associations and organizations they belong to. Am I missing something here, or being particularly obtuse?

Does anyone have any suggestions on our best course of action here? Many thanks, in advance.

 

[bcavitt]

As a trade member (must disclose), our store does business with RDI. I asked our representative about how the trade-in policy works for upgrades (this is disclosed on their website also). The jeweler gets dollar for dollar what he paid for your diamond when he trades it in against the diamond you purchase the second time. RDI puts no restrictions as to the size of the upgrade.

Unfortunately, the upgrade policy only applies to the original jeweler that you purchased your original stone from. It can't be used at another store that does business with RDI.

I wish I could be more positive about your situation and wish you the best of luck in the search for your new stone!

 

[kenny]

Diamond prices have gone up dramatically recently.
If you've owned the diamond more than 5 years you may be throwing away money by trading it in since they only credit you the price you paid, not today's price.

If it has a report from GIA or AGS and has good specs you may consider selling yourself on the website, Diamondbistro.com

Can you tell us the shape, weight, color and clarity and which lab, if any, graded it?