Why do we stay???

[anothernewbie]

Quick question for everyone. How many people that came here just looking for some good info and input before going along their merry way to buy a diamond are still sticking around? How many people have become fixated on this forum? Maybe it''s just a little bit of OCD, but I came here to do some research and that''s all. I ended up buying a great stone from GOG and it is in Mark Morrell''s hands as we speak. (I''ll post pictures when I get it back.) My shopping was over two weeks ago, yet here I am still reading and posting away. Anyone else do the same thing??? Maybe we can form a support group.

If I stick around much longer, I''m going to have to change by user name.

J

 

[angela]

We stay because we get addicted to diamonds. We soak up all of the information we can, but we still want more.

It is an obsession that we sometimes need to hide from our significant others because they think we're crazy.

Plus, the people who regularly post here are very personable and even though you've never met them, you feel like you know them and you stay tuned to see what's going on.

Also, who buys only one diamond? After the E-ring, you have to lust after earrings, pendants, and anniversary bands! LOL

 

[aljdewey]

We stay because we realized that we found diamonds FASCINATING when we learned more about them. Who, then, to share this newfound love with? Uh.....no one else. None of my friends know much about them, and they don't have the desire to learn at that level of depth. Here, I can share that passion with others who have a similar passion.




In a corny way, too......I guess I kind of see it as "paying it forward". This forum was invaluable to me in learning enough to make a "no regrets" choice.....I researched, discussed, and learned here for nearly a *year* before we bought my stone. If it was valuable to me, then I should be willing to help do the same for others that follow......so I'm here.

 

[pqcollectibles]

Ditto's!!

I got lots of help from folks here while I was looking, so I'm kinda repaying the favor. Plus, who else can I learn more from, but the great pros that post here??!! And no one else in my world discusses diamonds. Carat weight, color, and clarity is where it's at, you know!

 

[strmrdr]

Because its FUN!! :}

 

[valeria101]

How many...

Well, not all that few: did you check that "members directory" ? It will give you some stats. Quite a few people really use PS as a secondary source in their decision, some leave with their diamond and some NEVER leave

There are few places where one can 'talk' gems and jewelry with knowledgeable people without being punished for frivolity, unless you get into the business.

I wouldn't buy some piece every time I want to chat with a jeweler - that would be the most ruinous hobby of them all... Now, what if you want to do that EVERY DAY ?

 

[Shappy]

Ha, Ha, I thought I was the only one. I found this forum while looking for a diamond and became addicted. My kids make fun of me, "why are you still looking at diamonds?" . . .well, my right hand doesn't have a ring. I love looking at other's rings and hearing their stories. Also when my kids were younger I didn't have the luxury of the internet and access to all these beautiful jewelry sites, I was preoccupied with other things. I have kind of re-discovered my love of jewelry . . and the people on this forum are very nice.

 

[fire&ice]

I stay for the drama & my self effacing nature to see large diamonds trashed every once in a while.

That said, great new thread! I stayed because I love to see the enthusiasm & care that the proposers take to choose their rings. It warms my heart. And, I feel like I can be of help having been there done that a few times (I mean the diamond selecting process).

For those of you just visiting, what would make you stick around. What could we do to keep your interest?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I guess I stay because I'm a glutton for punishment.

Michelle

 

[Kay]

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On 3/5/2004 11:36:54 AM angela wrote:

We stay because we get addicted to diamonds. We soak up all of the information we can, but we still want more.

It is an obsession that we sometimes need to hide from our significant others because they think we're crazy.

----------------

Yep -- that about sums it up. I learned so much lurking here while searching for a diamond last year. This place is fun and addictive! Plus, when I try to talk about diamonds outside of this forum, people's eyes tend to glaze over (especially when I get to the part about percentages and angles).

When I get tired of looking at contracts or the Internal Revenue Code at work, I log on here for a little entertainment. I just hope big brother isn't watching.

 

[dbgaap]

I stay becuase I learn something new every day.
Someone is always asking a question that I have.

Also, because my first engagement (22 years ago) ring was a total impulse purchase at the mall and boy did we get ripped off.
It always left a bad taste in my mouth to have a smaller crappier diamond than that money really should have bought.

That marriage ended after 10 years and to my great surprise I am getting engaged again.

I think the excitement of getting engaged spills over into the diamond purchase.
[I have seen those ads for "Right Hand Rings" and I never felt any desire to get one. For me there is no incentive!]
It is pretty intoxicating to be in love and know my intended wants me to have soemthing nice.
Just having him so SO VERY grand.
Oh yeah, his eyes glaze over, too, when I mention 'pavilion angle' or whatever.
He sweetly responded, "OK, let's just decide that YOU will be our diamond expert!"
kinda like "do we have to know this for the test?"

 

[Mara]

I stay because I fell in love with sparkly baubles, and because I hunger for more diamond and gem knowledge. The whole industry itself is fascinating to me. I have quite the keen brain for sponging knowledge up, and I also love hanging around and helping others with questions.




When I was looking around online, Pscope had the BEST and most informative site out there. I found experts highly renowned in the industry and customers who like me had some sort of basic knowledge. Everyone was keen on assisting. You also got alot of opinions which helps immensely when you are so immersed in shopping for the *perfect stone* that you can't see the forest through the trees.




In the end I'd found a few friends and really just loved the group and audience here. I've been here over a year and I have the most posts of anyone..even Leonid!

I definitely see it as 'paying it forward' and helping others not make the same mistakes WE almost did when shopping. Pscope may be 1% of the diamond market in terms of people who come to research before they buy, but for every person who doesn't shop at their local maul store and buy an overpriced crappy stone *because* of what we all do here...I cheer inside. It makes the time spent here very worthwhile.




Plus looking at the sparkly baubles and dreaming about my next purchase is part of the fun too.

Lastly...having other people like me who love the shiny carbon pieces really does help...no one in my day-to-day life understands how fascinated I am with the stones...not even my better half...all he sees is his $$$ flying out the window. He keeps telling me that I better get involved in the industry in some way, shape, or form so that we don't go bankrupt having to BUY items...I will just get to play with them instead.

 

[luckyhonu]

I came here looking for some information, found the forum and now I'm hooked! Everyone is so nice and helpful here, it's hard to leave

I also love hearing about proposal stories and the lovely pictures that people post.

Diamonds have always fascinated me, even when I was a kid, I always liked the sparkly stuff. So now I'm trying to build up my own collection.

 

[niceice]

We're in the diamond business because we're addicted... Which explains our quest for precision, we buy each diamond as if we were buying it for ourselves but do so on behalf of our clients and really try to bite our tongues when our clients ask us to locate something that doesn't fall within our personal preferred parameters

As for the rest of you diamond addicts, we're glad that you stick around here on PS because your experience as buyers enables you to provide other consumers with general answers to their questions AND you lend creditiblity to those of us who sell diamonds on-line by being able to confirm that you have purchased diamonds from the various on-line vendors and not only "survived" doing so, but are also quite happy with your purchase and the money that you saved.

PS is a Community, some of us have more to say than others, some people post, some people lurk, but we are in essence a community. You shouldn't leave PS simply because you're not in the process of buying a diamond at the moment if you just happen to love diamonds!

 

[Mocha]

I totally know what you mean anothernewbie! I've been surfing Pricescope for a while now but have posted only a handful of times. I love the information, and of course, the beautiful pictures of other peoples' jewellery and diamonds. It's funny because what I know about diamonds I've learned from these forums and when I talk to my friends about it they think I'm a total diamond genious and say, "you should be a jeweller or work in a jewellery store with all you know." In reality, I've only begun to scratch the surface of all the information that is here and on the sites of the listed vendors! All I can say is I am here to stay...even if only quietly!

 

[bling]

I have to agree with what everyone else is saying...i just cant seem to stop either. and like everyone else..my friends and family dont quite get why i still frequent this forum since i have my ring. but i love the bling bling! i cant get enough..and like mara said..reading all this is so fascinating..i do learn something everyday. i get so excited when someone posts a new thread in the "show me the ring" forum...new eye candy and bling bling to look at! i too want everyone who stops at this site to get the best information and help they can, so i will give my feedback, if i feel i can contribute and give correct information.
my friends dont share the same enthusiasm i have for these little sparklies...so where else can i get my fix?

i even tell my single friends..if they ever need help in their diamond search..im always up for a project! i plan on sticking around for a while...hehehe...

 

[Rank Amateur]

I guess I'm here until Leonid blocks my IP.

 

[gmpi]

You might as well change your user name now. you're not going any where.

. we are all hooked. at least now we know we are not alone and i thank you for that

 

[Griffin]

I spent a lot of time on the internet because I was sort of a shut-in due to an accident, and found Pricescope.
During the time that I haven't been able to design jewelry - surgeries to reconstruct my right wrist and multiple pins in my arm sort of put a damper on that - I found I just couldn't keep away from discussions about jewelry and diamonds. They are definitely addictive.

Now that I am slowly beginning to get back to work I find I am still checking in here whenever I get the time, and even when I am back to working full time I will probably still drop in. This place has a neat dynamic of people.

 

[hoorray]

I stay because it's a great intersection of learning about and discussing diamonds, gems, and jewelery, an useful and very well done implementation of a much maligned use of the internet (the dreaded chatroom...), and an interesting cross section of people who constantly broaden my horizons. That along with these great proposal stories and beautiful rings keep it an interesting place to check into regularly.

 

[fire&ice]

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On 3/5/2004 5:30:02 PM Griffin wrote:


This place has a neat dynamic of people.
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I could not concur more. It's like being at a cocktail party w/o the insipid chatter.

Lop, you are not the first one to mention that this is a form of a chatroom. What does that mean? I thought a chatroom was a bunch of people chatting at the same time & not one response at a time? What is a chatroom? Am I in one?

 

[Mara]

Pscope isn't a chatroom in the technical sense...but when Lop says the 'dreaded chatroom'...I tend to think about the cheesy AOL chatrooms where the most intelligent thing that most people come in to say is 'what's your sign'. Internet gets a bad rap when you tell people you 'chat' with them, or when you say things like...'on my diamond forum...'...hehee.

 

[fire&ice]

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On 3/5/2004 8:39:29 PM Mara wrote:


Pscope isn't a chatroom in the technical sense...but when Lop says the 'dreaded chatroom'...I tend to think about the cheesy AOL chatrooms where the most intelligent thing that most people come in to say is 'what's your sign'. Internet gets a bad rap when you tell people you 'chat' with them, or when you say things like...'on my diamond forum...'...hehee.

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Mine's Libra!....what's yours?

You know, I mentioned my diamond forum when I was talking to a "friend" about my niece's e.r. & she got that kinda weird look. I really don't know what a chatroom is. Kinda like a what a stupid cocktail party is to my generation? I fail to attend those also unless it's mandatory for business.

 

[hoorray]

It's not a chatroom -- I have to keep explaining that to dear hubby who just doesn't get this...But it has some similarities in that you are having online discussions with people you have never met, about, of all things, *he thinks and shudders*, DIAMONDS!

I think it is hard for some to believe that this is really as objective and informative as it is. We see that sometimes with the accusations of "who do you really work for!?" I was nervous and skeptical at first, and am very impressed how Leonid has put together a set of policies and drawn a group of people that keep it as non-chatroom, catty, biased, false-fronted. etc... as it is. (with the delightful exception of the Friday Tiffany threads and the new small/large diamond controversy!)