Should I be worried???

[DQ]

I''ve been shopping for a diamond...I think I found the one I want and asked about having it indepndently appraised(its not that huge or expensive...but expensive for me, around $3,000). From everything I''ve read it seems like an independent appraisal is pretty routine.

When I asked about the appraisal, the jewler sounded a little shocked and said that it is "somewhat unusual". To take the stone I''d have to pay for it in full, and then they would be willing to give a full refund if I wasn''t happy. Then she asked why I wanted to have it appraised.

It all seemed a little fishy...but I personally know people who have dealt with this place for years and online they have stellar reviews.

Thank you for any help/advice on this situation.

DQ

 

[diamondseeker2006]

The number one question is...does the stone come with a grading certificate/report?

 

[DQ]

Yes.

 

[Rod]

I wouoldn''t be too concerned. Most brick and mortars (B&M) haven''t quite caught up to how incredibly well educated consumers are becoming, in large part due to forums like Pricescope. In their world, having a stone independently appraised might seem a bit odd as the average consumer wouldn''t even think to have something like this done.

Good luck.........

 

[diamondseeker2006]

What kind? GIA? AGS? The reliability of the report determines whether another appraisal is necessary. If you are comparing apples to apples, you can compare prices of comparable stones on here.

 

[Ellen]

They may totally be on the up and up, but it bothers ME that it bothers THEM that you want it independently apparasied. Please get it in writing that if you are not happy with the IA''s evaluation, it can be returned for a full refund.

And good luck!

 

[Ellen]

Rod, posted before I saw your reply. While I agree that could be the reason why the jeweler acted surprised, in my opinion, they should quietly stand behing their product, and say nothing except that would be fine with them. To question the customer, on something that in my opinion is reasonable, if not the norm with them, just sits wrong with me.

But then, I had incredibly bad experiences with B&M''s.

 

[Rod]

Believe me, I''m not defending them. I just think educated customers like us PS''ers will end up bringing the B&M world screaming and kicking into the 21st century until they get it that people have the ability to educate themselves. There will always be those trusting souuls who see something sparkly (sort of) and just plunk down their hard earned dollars and be done with it. But for purchases that are as big as diamond rings, more and more people are turning to the internet for education and advice.

Thanks Ellen!!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think there''s also the scenario that a very high reputataion jeweler might be a little insulted for a customer to ask for an independent appraisal. But if the stone is GIA or AGS graded, then it HAS been greaded by a neutral party. And in that case, I don''t see a particular need to have an independent appraisal as long as the customer compares prices of comparable stones to make sure they aren''t drastically overpaying. If it''s not a GIA or AGS cert, then you need an appraisal.

 

[WinkHPD]

I did a quick read through the thread and I can anticipate some of the future replies that are coming too, but I can tell you my take on it as a retailer.

We live in a world where our word is our bond and I can call any number of suppliers to have hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of diamonds and gems sent to me overnight. Even with dealers that I do not know they can check my references and the product will be here tomorrow.

Until the internet came most of us would buy and sell millions of dollars worth of diamonds and gems in our careers and never would any one ask us about an independant appraisal. We were (and many of us still are) the experts that our clientele turned to and it simply never occured to us that we were not trusted the same way we were trusted by our suppliers.

Independant jewelers tend to be a conservative group and the internet was not something that many of them ever thought of as a venue to sell something as personal as a diamond. True, they were wrong, but that does not mean that they are yet ready to come jump into the pool and play. A huge percentage of the retail market does not play on the internet yet, and they have no idea how incredibly vibrant this part of the market is, or of the need for the independant appraiser to establish the trust and credibility that was once earned by being part of the local marketplace.

For this reason I find nothing fishy in your local merchants surprise and discomfort at your request, and I find his willingness to offer you a full refund to be further proof that although he is surprised and not comfortable with your request that he is willing to go a step above and beyond in order to give you the service you desire.

Personally I think kudos are in order.

Wink

 

[Ellen]

Date: 7/31/2006 10:38:26 AM
Author: Rod
Believe me, I''m not defending them. I just think educated customers like us PS''ers will end up bringing the B&M world screaming and kicking into the 21st century until they get it that people have the ability to educate themselves. There will always be those trusting souuls who see something sparkly (sort of) and just plunk down their hard earned dollars and be done with it. But for purchases that are as big as diamond rings, more and more people are turning to the internet for education and advice.


Thanks Ellen!!

Welcome! And I look forward to the day when knowledge is welcomed in all B&M''s.

 

[Rod]

As usual Wink way more elegantly said than I could possibly say, but I agree with you........

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Exactly. That''s why I''ve said before and I''ll say again, if I buy a stone from Wink or Jonathan that has a GIA or AGS certificate, then I don''t need a third opinion. I have all the info I need on the stone, and they''ll give me what I need for insurance. And I can easily compare prices on the database here or on sites like Blue Nile that have a huge virtual inventory.

 

[Ellen]

Wink, I''m sure you are right to a certain degree. I know I sound cynical, but it comes well earned, and I can''t apologize for it.

I was the customer who trusted their jeweler. And for that, I ended up with a pair of studs sold as VS1, that in reality, after taking to an IA years later, were SI2.

I was the one who set up an appt. with a jeweler, telling them what size range and color stones I wanted to see. I was accused of "having been on the internet", and was told there are no magic numbers. That prices don''t jump at certain sizes.

I was the one who bought a stone with a cert, didn''t have it appraised, it became questionable, as did the jeweler. Finally got them to take it back, only after having to remind them of their 30 day money back garuantee. They kept 200 dollars for their trouble (which is their job), and by the time I got home, the entire return policy was off their website.

So, while I am sure you are speaking of upstanding, honest jewelers such as yourself, there is also another take as to why a jeweler could be offended at requesting an IA.

Hope I have conveyed my point as I meant it!

 

[Rod]

Ellen, so sorry you had such a bad experience with a B&M. I suspect there are many who have purchased what they thought were really high quality stones that turned out to be much less than they paid for. I for one was taken by one of those 'cruise ship' dealers when I bought my diamond stud. My stud was supposed to be an exceptional stone. They said it was an excellent cut. They said it was G - H. They said it was VS. They were full of fooey. The diamond is awful. It's not even set nicely. And I bought the pair and paid a pretty high price for them to boot.

Of course, I would never do anything so foolish again. I now know so much more (thanks to my friends at PS who have helped be become more knowledgeable!). But, I wouldn't avoid all B&M (in fact I bought my GIA graded pet rock and had it turned into a wonderful custom platinum ring at a high quality B&M) going forward. There are many real stores, including some of the vendors here on PS who run retail outlets that welcom knowledgeable consumers.

Again, so sorry you were taken advantage of. It's a shame not all jewelers can appreciate the intrinsic value of saavy consumers!!

 

[WinkHPD]

Date: 7/31/2006 11:32:31 AM
Author: Ellen
Wink, I''m sure you are right to a certain degree. I know I sound cynical, but it comes well earned, and I can''t apologize for it.

I was the customer who trusted their jeweler. And for that, I ended up with a pair of studs sold as VS1, that in reality, after taking to an IA years later, were SI2.

I was the one who set up an appt. with a jeweler, telling them what size range and color stones I wanted to see. I was accused of ''having been on the internet'', and was told there are no magic numbers. That prices don''t jump at certain sizes.

I was the one who bought a stone with a cert, didn''t have it appraised, it became questionable, as did the jeweler. Finally got them to take it back, only after having to remind them of their 30 day money back garuantee. They kept 200 dollars for their trouble (which is their job), and by the time I got home, the entire return policy was off their website.

So, while I am sure you are speaking of upstanding, honest jewelers such as yourself, there is also another take as to why a jeweler could be offended at requesting an IA.

Hope I have conveyed my point as I meant it!

I understand your position fully. Unfortunately there has been an infusion of incompetent and dishonest people into almost every trade, including jewelry.

I fully understand and appreciate the NEED for the independent appraiser yet I also understand the surprise and discomfort of the traditional jeweler being asked for something he is not used to being asked for.

My take on this was that the jeweler was uncomfortable, not offended, and I was attempting to explain why. I have heard way too many stories such as yours so I am well aware that we are in many places a sick industry with many cancerous sores needing to be fixed. What leads me to wish kudos for this jeweler is his willingness to acquiesce to the request of his client, leading me to believe that he is indeed probably one of the good guys.

Wink

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Ellen, I too have bought earrings that were less than they were represented, but I blame that on myself since they were uncertified. But I need to ask you one thing. Are you saying you bought a diamond WITH a GIA or AGS cert that was incorrect?

 

[DQ]

Thanks everyone...it was really interesting to see both sides of this discussion here and now I can understand the viewpoint of my jewler.