when you walk into a jewelry store...

[ame]

In a Jewelry Store it varies. I have had a lot of varied experiences. Most of them usually end up bad. Some jewelers don't get that my stone is not a standard RB, some have said it's a CZ. A lot of the independents here don't know how to do platinum, or want to do platinum, and argue with me about that. Those are usually short visits. Some you can tell have no idea what they're doing, and have no idea what they sell, someone actually thought (at the local Tiffanys a while back) that my RC was a custom Tiffany ring. Uh. What? Are you new? My stone isn't of any special provenance or huge. I shrugged her off pretty quick. Have not seen her there since. A lot of the folks if not all of the folks in our Tiffany's came from places like Zales. So their knowledge or lack there of is generally pretty ...ew.

In other non-jewelry stores it varies WILDLY. In the snooty mall (where Tiffany's is located) I could have a 10ct rock on, carry an Hermes, have a limo and drop thousands and STILL get stalked by security. They treat most people there like second class citizens, which I find hilarious, bec they then are trying to figure out why no one wants to shop there. Um, because you treat anyone in there like a thief and like they don't belong, as do any patrons that you don't treat like crap.

 

[justginger]

Nope. Nobody ever pays attention to me. Might be because everyone thinks I look like an 18 year old... Damn these Asian genes...

Me too. Minus the Asian part. Unless I'm wearing Poppy - then I receive great service. I'd think retail employees would know better by now - lots of very wealthy people dress down.

Maybe you and I can do a 31 Jump Street remake of the remake.

I'd prefer a remake of "The Tuxedo."

You can have Jackie Chan's awesome butt-kickin' moves.

And I'll have Jennifer Love Hewitt's boobs.

 

[JewelFreak]

A while ago, I walked into a jewelry store and asked to see a 7.5mm diamond. The salesgirl just looked at me and said "you know those are expensive right?" I was like "yesss"... And she just shrugged... Like she thought I couldn't afford it!
Then the manager refused to show me any. Telling me that she will after she sees some kind of money like a deposit. I had no idea that you needed a deposit to look at a freaking stone! Stupid.

YT, I can't BELIEVE that! It stuns me. What did you ever say to them? I'd think of JUST the right thing....3 days later. I hope you at least wrote to the store owner, president, whoever. If anyone did that in a store I owned, they'd be on the street in minutes!

Yes, wouldn't it be cool if we turned out to be neighbors all this time? A stitch! I knew you couldn't be these particular ones because of your beloved dogs. I do almost the same -- when I walked Buck & people said, "Beautiful dog," I replied, "He's my son!"

--- Laurie

 

[Rosebloom]

A while ago, I walked into a jewelry store and asked to see a 7.5mm diamond. The salesgirl just looked at me and said "you know those are expensive right?" I was like "yesss"... And she just shrugged... Like she thought I couldn't afford it!
Then the manager refused to show me any. Telling me that she will after she sees some kind of money like a deposit. I had no idea that you needed a deposit to look at a freaking stone! Stupid.

I am so appalled!!! That's horrible treatment!

I generally find Tiffany's to always be rude and Harry Winston to be incredibly generous. Cartier is usually pretty nice too. HW might just be so nice because they have so much less traffic and can spend a half hour with someone who is clearly just a fan there to browse.

I always wear my usual daily jewelry (studs, five stone, sapphire rhr, DBTY). I do try to clean them before hand though!

 

[kenny]

Here in Southern California plenty of people with tons of money don't just 'dress down', they dress like crap.
I'd guess employees are trained to look for other clues to know whom to spend their time with when it's crowded.

 

[Laila619]

My jewelry is pretty unassuming and modest, so I don't think most jewelers notice.

I do, however, always carry a nice handbag, and DH looks like a spender I guess, so they are usually pretty nice to us.

When I go into Tiffany, I wear my expensive yellow gold Tiffany pieces, so they know I'm probably not buying just the less expensive silver stuff.

Personally, I don't care what they really think of me. Some people who are dressed in head-to-toe designer clothing with big jewels might not necessarily spend much, while a customer who strolls in dressed casually (or even ratty) could be ready to drop some serious money. Appearances can be deceiving and everyone should be given good customer service.

 

[jaysonsmom]

I usually get decent amount of help and respect form sales associates. I'm not bedecked in jewelry, but the few classic pieces I do wear show that I like/know diamonds. I'm kinda also neutral in the way I dress. I'm not decked in designer brands nor do I look super bargain basement, and I usually carry a nice handbag (Burberry, LV).

Funny thing is, I went to a swapmeet at lunch the other day because I wanted to get some T-shirts printed to show support for my daughter's softball team. No one would help me, nor pay attention to me at the swapmeet! I guess I looked too snooty or something (in my work clothes, heels, diamonds, and nice handbag. I have never received worse service!

 

[rubyshoes]

I LOVE browsing at my closest Tiffany's (never bought anything there) because the people there are very nice. Some of the nicest sales associates I have met. I also like ogling at C D Peacock and the people there are nice too. Last year I was thinking of buying a Cartier Tank so I went to Saks and they were very good. I always get good service... even though I buy nothing at B&Ms. (Everything I own is from WF or DBL) As for how I dress... I usually wear dark jeans, a nice cardigan, heels, diamond earrings, my Solasfera solitaire, a fancy yellow or fancy pink RHR and a simple watch (Citizen or Seiko, nothing pricey). Not shabby but not what I would consider posh. I don't wear any 'labels'. Maybe I've just been lucky.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I go to places like tiffany to shop for my mom, but when I do go, people don't always notice me because I look young as well. Unless I"m in my scrubs, then they go, "oh...are you a doctor?". Haha.

I am always amused when people argue with me over my jewelry. Yesterday when I went to get my tsavorite set, I was impatient and since my usual jeweler isn't open on Sundays, I just went to a place that happened to be open on jewelers row, and the guy setting it was like "oh, that's a beautiful emerald!" Me: "it's a garnet actually" Him: "Really? Are you sure?" (grabs loupe to look at it). Me "um, yeah, pretty sure..". To his credit, he was very gracious about setting the stone and handled it with care unlike many of the "quick fix" jewelers that treat everything like a diamond and end up chipping things.

 

[Malbec54]

Nope. Nobody ever pays attention to me. Might be because everyone thinks I look like an 18 year old... Damn these Asian genes...

LOL! I'm with you right there! I'm Asian Pacific Islander and always get treated like I'm younger than my "almost 40" years old. It's a blessing, yet a curse.

I wear a Cartier watch/ring, David Yurman bangles and chain necklace, and no one gives a hoot! It makes no difference when I'm wearing my big girl pants and carrying my Prada or Michael Kors bag OR if I'm dressed down in Under Armour gear and Vibram Five Fingers - very rarely are the Sales Associates falling all over themselves to assist me, let alone check out my baubles.

 

[rosetta]

It doesn't matter what I wear. I get polite or overly fawning service. I'm assertive and I look my age I think.

 

[woofmama]

I have always received good service at the stores I've visited. Whether alone or with my DH, salespeople have always been very happy to show me anything I've fawned over. I rarely leave the house without my hair/makeup done & always wear nice jeans, boots, jewelry (rings,earrings,pendant,watch). I don't buy designer handbags but carry nice leather bags.

Mom & pop shops are my favorite, I like to support local business when possible. I'm friendly with the store I purchased my five stone ec band from and would buy from them again.

Went to Tiffanys with a friend and was given the best service. They had zero issue with letting me try on anything I requested, on a very crowded busy Saturday.

I love "being in the know" about stones/diamonds and taking out my loupe. It is mostly met with respect. Only had one store react poorly, they knew I purchased my diamond on the internet and said they needed to check it to be sure I wasn't ripped off. Ummm no thank you. Bye-bye, won't be buying a setting here. Don't insult my intelligence or I'm gone.

 

[SB621]

The last time I was really in a jewelry store it was Cartier at the Spanish Steps with DH when we were in Italy last summer. We we wearing shorts and tank tops. DH had a visor and a back pack on. I wasn't wearing any jeweler as we were traveling and the people at Cartier were just lovely. When we went to buy my bracelet from them DH said it was a birthday present so they opened a bottle of champagne for us. Really the service was the best I have ever experienced. Besides that I do almost all my shopping online. Dh and I don't have a lot of time with the little ones plus in my area there is really only pawn shops

 

[Nyc2chigal]

It varies from store to store.

I live in the Chicagoland area, and there is a high-end, supposedly reputable jewelry store in the area called CD Peacock.
The service I've gotten varied, depending on location.
I remember visiting one location where I felt like they looked at me like garbage, and another where I felt comfortable and inclined to visit again (and again, and again).
It depends on the sales person.

What those salespeople fail to realize is that their job is the sell. Not judge, or think they are better than customers. I doubt those folks like to be generalized by others as just a counter person. It's not nice.

I've been stared down by security before, but then I realized the dude liked to stare down all the women that walked in... lol

 

[Nyc2chigal]

To add to my CD Peacock story...
A big reason why I didn't purchase my Daussi ring (see profile pic) from them was because of the attitude one associate (at one of the lousy stores, not the good ones). She claimed I wasn't able to find something better anywhere else, or at a better price.
I guess I proved them wrong, by purchasing it from DBL.. for less, and better EVERYTHING!!!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

It doesn't matter what I wear. I get polite or overly fawning service. I'm assertive and I look my age I think.

I've had weird things said to me, but overall it probably is just how I carry myself because I don't wear expensive clothes or anything. My "uniform" is designer jeans w/shirts or sweaters from either Old Navy or the sale rack of Free People and then good shoes and a leather handbag (nothing more expensive than Coach) and one time I was in Ben Bridge and looking at diamonds while the woman cleaned my eng ring and she insisted I try on a 2+ ct they had there. Who knows what gave her the impression I would buy something that big...it actually looked really silly on me but she kept insisting it looked perfect and was trying to enable me. Um, yeah... lol My fingers are too stubby for a diamond that big.

ETA - oh, and my point actually was, I am assertive, as well. I never wait for a sales person to help me. If I see something, I go over and request to see something. I go in with the attitude that if I need service, it is to be provided. I do it politely, though...

 

[Dancing Fire]

bump

 

[OoohShiny]

TBH I rarely walk into Jewellery stores - I have self-confidence issues and don't want to waste people's time when I have no money to buy anything!

 

[diamondringlover]

I was just at my jewelers (small mom & pop store) last weekend dropping off my rings to get them sized and several comments were made about how beautiful my rings were, I had my e-ring, 5 stone, wedding band and my blue moissanite on, the sales associate was showing me some of their finer pieces since I appreciate finer jewelry (her words). I get so many compliments on my blue moissanite whenever I wear it...I really love that ring!

 

[Matthews1127]

I have gotten a mixed bag, depending on the store. The majority of the time, when I walk in, I’m pounced on...not sure why; I’m generally not dressed to the hilt, nor wearing anything I would consider “fancy”. Some days, I go shopping after work, and I’m in scrubs. I carry myself well, so I’m told, and my presence is rarely not noticed. I’m patient, and will wait for someone to come to me. I have a time limit, though; I’ll wait about 5-7 minutes to see if anyone attempts eye contact. If not, I’m out. Especially, if they’re slow. I’m patient, but I refuse to be ignored. I know someone else will be more than happy to try to separate me from my hard earned cash...lol!!
When I walk in to my local jeweler that DH & I have now been using for about 2 years, it’s like CHEERS...everyone knows me, and will stop what they’re doing just to say hello, even while assisting someone else. I feel loved, there, which is why I continue to take my business to their establishment. I feel like a celebrity, sometimes, and that really makes a difference.

 

[OoohShiny]

I carry myself well, so I’m told, and my presence is rarely not noticed.

I think it's interesting how some people seem to have 'presence' when they walk into a room - I am sure I have none! lol

 

[Irishgrrrl]

I’ve only been into Tiffany’s once and it was a very busy weekend in December. This was the flagship store on 5th Ave. and the staff was absolutely lovely! I was wearing jeans and a sweater with hiking boots, so definitely nothing fancy! LOL! I did have my typical bling on, though (studs, pendant, tennis bracelet, RHR, e-ring and WB) so maybe that had something to do with it? But really I think they’re just very picky about who they hire to staff that particular store.

Locally, we have a few mom-and-pop stores with varying degrees of service. The best one is really the only one I bother to go into anymore. They do all my repair work because their bench guy is fantastic and knows how to work with platinum. The other local shops? Yeah, not so much. :roll

I’m usually treated well in most jewelry stores, but I pay close attention to how others are treated. If there’s a young couple in the store and they’re having trouble getting decent service? Goodbye. I’m gone. I will not patronize shops that treat younger people with a more modest budget as “less than.”

I saw a very young couple in my favorite shop once and they were getting first class service from all the SAs, even though they were shopping for a pretty modest ring. The staff was genuinely excited for them and I was so glad to see that! Had they been ignored in favor of me or someone else who was more blingy, I would’ve left and never returned.

 

[GliderPoss]

I never shop in chain/mall stores deliberately. I've been in a few independent stores & received lovely service regardless of what I’m wearing. I get compliments on my jewels too. Most quickly realise I know a bit about gems etc. The very fancy stores I struggle with - I absolutely LOATHE being followed about the store by SA‘s or security staff. I’d much prefer to browse quietly and ask for assistance when I’m ready to try something on.

 

[cflutist]

TBH I rarely walk into Jewellery stores - I have self-confidence issues and don't want to waste people's time when I have no money to buy anything!

You know I feel the same way. We rarely walk into high end jewelry stores because they intimidate me. Hubby and I dress like bums and I don't carry a designer handbag. I also don't want to waste a salesperson's time when I know that I have no intention of buying from them.

However, we walked into a Tiffany store in Carmel CA while on vacation once. The salesperson sized me up and thought 18k Rolex, check, 3ct pear, check, 11.5 ct tennis bracelet, check. Let me sell them a yellow diamond. Now I knew that I could get a fancy yellow diamond from @Rockdiamond or @Wink for half the price, but hubby wanted me to have one Tiffany blue box, so we bought a very over priced Fancy Yellow diamond ring. I even tried to talk him out of it. They had to send it to N.Y. for sizing, so I walked out of there with my blue box (white ribbon still untouched) their matching blue bag in a plain white bag because I didn't want to advertise for them while walking around Carmel. It still bothers me today that we paid as much as we did for that Tiffany ring. However, that ring led me to get my fancy intense yellow diamond bracelet from @Wink later so I guess that is a good thing.

 

[WinkHPD]

A while ago, I walked into a jewelry store and asked to see a 7.5mm diamond. The salesgirl just looked at me and said "you know those are expensive right?" I was like "yesss"... And she just shrugged... Like she thought I couldn't afford it!
Then the manager refused to show me any. Telling me that she will after she sees some kind of money like a deposit. I had no idea that you needed a deposit to look at a freaking stone! Stupid.

Many years ago, when I had a traditional B&M store, LOL, this was in the early 80's when there were ONLY B&M stores and no one ever thought to call them that, one of my soon go be ex employees came back to my office complaining that some yahoo with cow (expletive deleted) on his boots was wandering around and asking to look at things.

"Sit in that chair! If you come out of here before I give you my permission, you will be escorted out of the store."

I went out, spent an hour with the rancher and made a very nice sale and we became good friends until he passed. It is so important to me, that everyone be treated as a person. I think most great stores work hard to train their staff to be cognizant of treating all people well, not just those that they deem to be potential clients. Those that don't rarely last all that long.

Just my thoughts.

Wink

P.S. I ALWAYS go into jewelry stores when I am traveling. I always tell whoever asks me if I would like to see something that I am a jeweler in Boise, Idaho and am just enjoying their beautiful store. Sometimes this becomes a conversation, sometimes not. It is always fun for me to see what others are doing.

 

[doberman]

I do think that the jewelry I'm wearing is noticed by jewelry store employees/owners because some have commented on it. One shop owner recognized and greeted me and I hadn't been to the store in 20 years lol. I have to say I nearly always get good service, from both male and female sales associates, even when I was young. The one notable exception was in a mall store (not Kay). The SA was busy with someone else, looked up at me and said nothing. So I stood around browsing the Tacori settings for a few minutes and then left.
I don't tend to "dress up" for a shopping expedition, so it might be the jewelry. But judging someone at a glance is often a very bad idea, as first impressions can be very misleading - I once had a skating boot fitter/SA assume that my husband was my bodyguard. Maybe he looked dangerous that day.

 

[Matthews1127]

I think it's interesting how some people seem to have 'presence' when they walk into a room - I am sure I have none! lol

You’d be surprised what people notice.

 

[stracci2000]

I was once wearing a fake Tahitian strand while window shopping in Honolulu. I don't take the real stuff on vacation.
A saleswoman came out of a jewelry store and actually pulled me inside!
This never happened to me before. I'm sure she saw the fake strand, and thought I was a big spender!
DH and I laughed and laughed afterwards.

 

[OoohShiny]

You’d be surprised what people notice.

Are you stalking me? LoL

 

[Matthews1127]

Are you stalking me? LoL