ring shopping sucks

[munchkin]

I also posted this in my blog, so some of you may have already read this.

Well, I thought ring shopping was going to be so much fun. I was proven wrong.

DJ and I went for a short shopping trip tonight after class ended. I was pretty excited, since we didn’t get to go last Saturday due to some work problems (his, not mine.) Anyway, we went to Ben Moss, where I had seen a pretty cute ring a few days ago. It’s still cute, but it’s smaller than I expected and the diamonds aren’t that good of a quality. No matter, it was just looking.

The ring quality wasn’t the issue however. The salesperson was. She was absolutely insane and so pushy. She kept saying that if we bought the three rings tonight (my engagement ring and our two wedding bands) she would give us a discount. Um lady, I don’t know how many people come in and buy all three rings at once after only looking at one store, but we’re not going to do that. She was just so horrible. So we’re going to look somewhere else because I just could not deal with her. We walked out of the store and I felt like I’d just been battered about the head like a boxer. The person, not the dog.

Anyway, I’m hoping our next ring shopping experience is better since this one was just absolutely horrific and it’s really put me off shopping for awhile. And that’s saying a lot because I love shopping

[Complicated Woman]

Aw, I'm sorry to hear it wasn't fun, babe! You should make DJ do it next time!

I'm no help in this at all as my e-ring was an antique family heirloom and we just got the wedding band at Wal-mart...but you have my sympathy!

[michaelsbride]

I kinda feel like Jewelry shopping is like finding a new OB/GYN. If you're uncomfortable with the person from the start, it will only go downhill from there. I had an excellent jeweler who was never pushy but definitely let us know he could help us. I wound up dealing with his associates for my engagement and wedding sets instead of him but because I knew him so well from years before, i got excellent service and left really happy.

Shortly after he was transferred to a location a couple hours away and i never got the same service there. Now im hesitant to go to any of the sister companies and i keep waiting for some salesperson to wow me into being comfortable. Until that happens im just uneasy so i feel ya.

You want to be comfortable with the person though. You want to knwo that they are telling you the truth and not just looking for the sale. I tend to walk away as soon as someone gets pushy because i dont want them to talk me into something i will regret later.

[AshyBekka]

Ugh-there is nothing worse than a pushy sales clerk!

Keep in mind too, if you decide you like that ring the best, you're not "married" (ok sorry, that was horrible) to the stones used in the display. I know when we picked my e-ring out, they made my actual ring to Cliff's specifications-size of stone, type of metal, etc. etc. So if the one being displayed is smaller than you'd hoped, or bad quality, it may just be because it's the display piece. Just keep that in mind!

Also keep in mind that you can always try to find that ring at a store withOUT pushy sales clerks...I can't believe she acted like she was playing "Let's Make a Deal" with your wedding bands-doh!

[Julz518]

I agree with everyone else... in fact, if I encountered a pushy sales person at a jewelry store, I would probably turn around and walk right out. It's just not appropriate! This is one of the most improtant investments you guys will make - as your going to be wearing it for the rest of your life. Instead of trying to make a deal, she should have been trying to find out what you wanted and figure out how they best could serve you. Liks Ashy said, a good jeweler will encourage you to pick out your own stones & work with the setting you picked out to design a ring specially for you - not just sell you soemthing out of a case.

I'm not sure if Ben Moss is a chain store of not, but I would highly suggest staying away from them. A local jewelry store is much more likely to work WITH you to design your ring to your specifications. Local stores rely on the quality and reputation of their products to bring in business, whereas chain stores rely on holiday specials and expensive advertising campaigns.

Also, be wary of "maintenance plan" where you have to bring your ring is every 6 months for service. A "good" ring shouldn't "need" service every 6 months, and it DEFINITELY should not be required by the warranty. I think someone else mentioned hearing horror stories of stones being swaped out during their "service... A good jeweler will tell you "bring the ring in anytime you want for service, and it is covered." So if you want to take it in every 6 months, you can, or you can take it in more or less often, and the warranty remains valid.

But, Munchkin, your next shopping experience WILL be better. Even thoguh the sales lady was miserable, you probably still learned a lot about rings and what to look for. So the next store you go to, you can tell the pushy sales person to bug off b/c you don't need them.

Good Luck!

[michaelsbride]

Originally Posted by Julz518

Also, be wary of "maintenance plan" where you have to bring your ring is every 6 months for service. A "good" ring shouldn't "need" service every 6 months, and it DEFINITELY should not be required by the warranty. I think someone else mentioned hearing horror stories of stones being swaped out during their "service... A good jeweler will tell you "bring the ring in anytime you want for service, and it is covered." So if you want to take it in every 6 months, you can, or you can take it in more or less often, and the warranty remains valid.

I strongly disagree. Life puts wear on your ring. I know in a typical work day, i hit it on ladders and shelves and scratch boxes with it.... You never know when something will knock a prong loose and the 6 month warrenties keep you rigorous about coming in to get it checked so you dont have to go through that panic of "oh my god, i lost a stone". Plus just general cleaning is always good.

I had diamond earrings from marks and morgan. Only one time in four years did they ever need to have work done to them and that was to switch the backs to screw backs but to me it was like birth control with the sugar pills... the first few months i needed those to get me in the habit of taking my pill everyday... the 6 month thing has me in the habit now of taking better care of my ring.

Also many of those 6 month plans are more flexible than people are usually told. M&M, Kays, Jared, Osterman, and a couple others are sister companies so they have the same plan. If you happen to go a year (or any amount of time) without a cleaning or check up and bring it in after that period of time, you get to reinstate your "insurance" plan. You might have to pay for current repairs if you've let it laspe but you get to return to the "if you get it checked every six months, than you're covered". This is regardless of how much time has passed since the last check.

And at least with the companies above, i know i can come in as often as i like to have my ring checked... its not JUST at 6 month intervals. And as far as stone swapping if your ring is sent out, your stones should be marked with a lazer so thats something if youre worried about, you can check it out.

[Julz518]

Originally Posted by michaelsbride

I strongly disagree. Life puts wear on your ring. I know in a typical work day, i hit it on ladders and shelves and scratch boxes with it.... You never know when something will knock a prong loose and the 6 month warrenties keep you rigorous about coming in to get it checked so you dont have to go through that panic of "oh my god, i lost a stone". Plus just general cleaning is always good.

I guess the maintenance plan is personal preference. For me, I've only had my ring since June but I've taken it in to have it cleaned and checked 3 times It's the only "real" piece of jewelry I have and I want to keep it looking good. I know if I smashed it against something I would be at the jewelers the next day! So I guess adhering to the 6-month plan wouldn't be a problem for me, but I am just wary of those kind of warranties. I feel like it's a ploy to get me into the store to sell me something else.

I like that with my jeweler no matter when I bring it in it's still covered, whether it's every 6 months or every 2 years. I NEVER have to pay extra to have the warranty reinstated. So when I get preggos & gain weight and can't wear my ring for 6 mo+, I don't still have to take it in to get checked just to maintain the warranty.

[munchkin]

Yeah, it was a chain store. We were basically just looking but oh my god. I'm still rattled by it, and it was last night!
We're going to look at a few more places, and are saving my local jewellery shop for last. The owners of that shop have known me since I was two, and have sold me (well, my parents mostly) almost all of the fine jewellery I own. They also loaned me a diamond necklace to wear to my grad (prom). I know that they would be wonderful, but I wanted to check out other places first. Serves me right for not going to the good place first!

[feb-bride]

Here is my crappy ring-shopping experience. We went to the same chain where my husband bought my rings to have his finger sized for his wedding ring (he doesn't wear rings, so he didn't know his size). The sales guy asked us about what type of ring my husband wanted, and he replied that he didn't know because it didn't matter. When I mentioned that he doesn't wear jewelry and would only be wearing the ring occasionally (that's why it didn't matter), we got a lecture on the importance of wearing a wedding ring every day. The guy then proceeded to ask us if we were truly engaged. After that, he told my husband that not wearing a ring was the same as saying that you didn't love your wife. Needless to say, we did NOT buy his ring at that shop!

[deputysgurl]

I am so sorry to hear about your horrible shopping experience. Matt and I didn't have any problems shopping for our rings, becuase we got them from www.bluenile.com
I would highly recomend looking online to see if you can find the style that you like, and then see if you can find it in the store, without a pushy salesperson.

[DragonYoga]

http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/Product...37|30038|31145


Sorry for the HUGE link! It's a picture of the wedding ring I want... From JC Penny's

[MarthaA562]

A lot of times, with the jewelry stores that are not chains, you can talk them down anyways. My FH had heard around town about this one jeweler, and since he had an heirloom diamond for me, I wanted an antique setting. He also specializes in making custom jewelry. We actually talked to the owner and Joe was able to knock $600 off of the cost of my engagement ring and matching band... Unfortunately, Joe wants a tungsten ring, and they don't carry those metals... So I am stuck with the same predicament as you... And let me tell you, it is so difficult to get Joe into those jewelry chains because of the pushy sales people (he also likes to negotiate, and is great at it). Good luck!!

[munchkin]

Originally Posted by wilford

It bis better if you bring with you your wife when buying your wedding ring,.. Who knows, when your wedding day comes, the ring that you bought can no longer fit to your finger, neither to your wife's..

dude I am the wife. If you looked at my avatar and thought I was a guy, I might need to go off and weep for a few hours.

[Complicated Woman]

LOL! Kerry! You kill me, babe! And you are beautiful!

I am starting to think that English is a second language for Wilford.

[munchkin]

Hey, she deleted her post!

[labeadel]

I think he was a troll and his posts may have gotten deleted.

[justnmary]

Originally Posted by DragonYoga

http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/Product...37|30038|31145


Sorry for the HUGE link! It's a picture of the wedding ring I want... From JC Penny's

Too funny!!!!! That's my wedding band! Mine is yellow gold with just diamonds, but that's the same thing! My e-ring is a 1/2 ct marquise. Too cool!

[SerendipityCrafts]

We went through it all when trying to find a ring for DH! We were so frustrated with choice, price, & sales people that we were about to give up, use another ring for the ceremony and then go looking again when the pressure had let up.

Then .... a friend of ours asked us why we were shopping retail. I didn't know what he meant but apparently, you can buy wholesale from the same people who supply the retail locations.

Look in the Yellow Pages under wholesale jewellery. Many times, these companies will sell direct but sometimes you have to know someone to get through the door.

Call the company and ask if you can make an appointment to come in. If need be, try telling them that you know Bob Smith and he recommended their company. Heck, it's worth a shot. We saved at least $200 on DH's wedding band.

We are headed back to the wholesaler today to buy an occasion ring for my son.