Is this true or do they want more money out of me? [UK BASED]

[arjunajane]

Date: 2/22/2008 7:00:57 AM
Author: Cleo

Date: 2/22/2008 5:54:48 AM
Author: arjunajane
''The advise you all give is very good advise, but there is a misconception that you save money. That was my only point from the start.''

I''m sorry, but I really don''t see how your insistence that ''you can''t save money buying online from the US'' can possibly be validated??

I''d been trying to work out how to say exactly what you said, as well as you did!

I agree completely that the highlighted statement from QD regarding saving money flies in the face of all the evidence posted by UK PSers who have used the QD site to try to compare prices.

The fact remains that our experiences show using QD will save you money compared to the UK high street, but will not save you money compared to using USA-based online vendors.

*Apologies to PapaSB for thread hijack*

x x x

Thankyou cleo, I try

xxx

 

[Lord Summerisle]

about the duty charges... i posted this on another forum for someone (uk based) who was looking into buying from the US

Author: Lord Summerisle
everything is now via a european TACduty codeing... but that page is about as easy to navigate as the HM customs site...

which is here: Euro TARIC code link via a text search

what is easier is to sign up to FedEx and use their calculator. they will do the same TARIC code search

jewellery code is: 7113190000 which has a duty rate of 2.5% then VAT on top.

but if your just bringing a diamond then its 7102390000 with 0% duty

 

[QD Rocks]

Hi All,

I have watched your comments with interest, It is a fact that the prices are no cheaper. If you feel you get better service or feel more comfortable
buying from pricesope vendors. Or there sites offer better info thats fine. Like one person said they would pay more to buy from WF thats there choice.
We do offer a price match with anyone worldwide and we do honour this. I have many improvements coming on the site and will bring the site in line with the finest
in the world. Also be aware we all deal with the same suppliers and pay in the same currency. Its not a problem to match price.

Keep up the good work..


Paul
Qd Rocks

 

[Cleo]

Date: 2/22/2008 1:31:52 PM
Author: QD Rocks
Hi All,

I have watched your comments with interest, It is a fact that the prices are no cheaper.

I feel we are starting to go round in circles a little here.

Fact: research by PS members on your site shows that QD prices are higher for diamonds of comparable quality, than diamonds on USA websites.

Notwithstanding the price matching which you have now mentioned, I really do not understand how you can continue to assert that USA prices are no cheaper.

Obviously the price matching does mean that you are now at least as cheap - but certainly not cheaper.

Please don't feel I am moaning at you - I'm really not.

It's fantastic that there's a company trying to do for UK consumers what the USA websites are doing over there... and given that that your prices, quality and information are at least as good as the US sites in the future, I am sure your site will get support from the UK PS community.

x x x

 

[Maisie]

Date: 2/22/2008 1:31:52 PM
Author: QD Rocks
Hi All,

I have watched your comments with interest, It is a fact that the prices are no cheaper. If you feel you get better service or feel more comfortable
buying from pricesope vendors. Or there sites offer better info thats fine. Like one person said they would pay more to buy from WF thats there choice.
We do offer a price match with anyone worldwide and we do honour this. I have many improvements coming on the site and will bring the site in line with the finest
in the world. Also be aware we all deal with the same suppliers and pay in the same currency. Its not a problem to match price.

Keep up the good work..


Paul
Qd Rocks

What I meant was, I would pay more for peace of mind and comfort in making a very expensive purchase. I don''t routinely going round volunteering to pay over the odds for something. Which is why I shopped for my diamond in the US.

You should see me run rings round a used car salesman however. I got him to knock loads off the price of our last car. More than he was comfortable with considering how red his face was when we shook hands!

 

[Michel]

The cheapest place to buy diamonds in the UK is from www.cooldiamonds.com, who are also based in hatton garden.

They''re also a good palce to go to clinically and without mucking about inspect a few different specifications of stones to know what you want, as well as getting her giner sized before you order form the states (which is what I did).

And yes, Enrest jones, etc are the world''s biggert rip off.

I recently bought a 0.97 H SI2 in a custom Mark Morell Platinum setting from the US. The total price was $6000, the diamond only $4200.

In the UK it would have cost on the high street about $12000+. Even from Cool Diamonds the diamond would have been about £3000 for a crap cut.

I even avoided duty by getting my uncle to bring it back...

MADE A KILLING!

 

[Maisie]

Again we are back to the issue of information. On cool diamonds you can choose a diamond but you can''t view the grading certificate first.

 

[PapaSB]

Thanks for the help guys and gals.

I am now stepping out of the "I am cheaper than you" banter.

All of you, thank you so much, your help was extremely useful

Regards.

 

[Maisie]

I hope you find what you are looking for, and that you come back and show us when you do!! Good luck!!

 

[Po10472]

I recommend that you contact John at goodoldgold, tell him your specifications and get him to send you a video of stones. I can guarantee that you will get more bang for your buck buying from the US, I know, I have done it myself and the ps vendors are excellent.

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 2/22/2008 1:31:52 PM
Author: QD Rocks
Hi All,


I have watched your comments with interest, It is a fact that the prices are no cheaper. If you feel you get better service or feel more comfortable

buying from pricesope vendors. Or there sites offer better info thats fine. Like one person said they would pay more to buy from WF thats there choice.

We do offer a price match with anyone worldwide and we do honour this. I have many improvements coming on the site and will bring the site in line with the finest

in the world. Also be aware we all deal with the same suppliers and pay in the same currency. Its not a problem to match price.


Keep up the good work..



Paul

Qd Rocks

It disappoints me that, on a site that clearly has some of the most extensively researched consumers, you would repeatedly state your point without proof, as if you were trying to will it to be true. Real life examples have been shown that not only is the extent of information available for these stones better from certain US vendors, but the prices are better too--the prices, which have been your point of contention. You claims are not being judged by whether you will price-match others (a point you haven''t mentioned until now); you are being judged on your published stone prices, with comparable stones.

 

[arjunajane]

It disappoints me that, on a site that clearly has some of the most extensively researched consumers, you would repeatedly state your point without proof, as if you were trying to will it to be true. Real life examples have been shown that not only is the extent of information available for these stones better from certain US vendors, but the prices are better too--the prices, which have been your point of contention. You claims are not being judged by whether you will price-match others (a point you haven''t mentioned until now); you are being judged on your published stone prices, with comparable stones.


DiTTo Ditto, well said

 

[QD Rocks]

Hi gwendolyn & arjunajane

You have asked me for some proof on our UK pricing, Here is a stone on WF you will find the exact stone on our site, If you use an exchange rate of 1.94-1.95
and then add the VAT on you will see we are slightly cheaper. I can with time show you thousands of diamonds that are listed on all the major USA suppliers and
on our site and you will find we are as competitive. Let me know your thoughts or if you want more examples with different vendors. Like i said before we all deal
with the same suppliers and work with our own inventory plus our partners.

Item Code: 13244382
. Report: GIA
. Shape: Round
. Carat: 2.00 E IF
. Depth %: 63.4
. Table %: 62
. Girdle: TN-TK
. Measurements: 7.92-7.98X5.04
. Polish: Very Good
. Symmetry: Very Good
. Culet: None
. Fluorescence: Medium Blue

Pls be assured i do not make claims without proof, i am not comparing our site with any others or even trying to drive traffic to my site that’s why my contact details
are not seen. I am just letting people know there is a UK seller that matches prices worldwide which is something that’s not told here.

Kind Regards

Paul
QD Rocks

 

[Maisie]

I can't find that diamond on Whiteflash. Can you give me a link to it please?

ETA - Found it!

 

[QD Rocks]

http://www.whiteflash.com/round/Round-cut-diamond-439585.htm

 

[Maisie]

Problem is, I can''t find it on your website!

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

Date: 2/23/2008 7:15:04 AM
Author: QD Rocks

Hi gwendolyn & arjunajane

You have asked me for some proof on our UK pricing, Here is a stone on WF you will find the exact stone on our site, If you use an exchange rate of 1.94-1.95
and then add the VAT on you will see we are slightly cheaper. I can with time show you thousands of diamonds that are listed on all the major USA suppliers and
on our site and you will find we are as competitive. Let me know your thoughts or if you want more examples with different vendors. Like i said before we all deal
with the same suppliers and work with our own inventory plus our partners.

Pls be assured i do not make claims without proof, i am not comparing our site with any others or even trying to drive traffic to my site that’s why my contact details
are not seen. I am just letting people know there is a UK seller that matches prices worldwide which is something that’s not told here.
Kind Regards

Paul
QD Rocks

Hi Paul at QD Rocks,

First, as a hello, welcome on PS. I do hope that people on this forum will not start confusing you with me, as we both happen to have the same first name.

Having spent a number of years on this site already, I am surprised about the agressive way in which you suddenly start to post here, and I am even more surprised that forum regulators allow you this leeway. On the other hand, this means also kudos to you for the talent of posting such agressive vendor-posts while apparently staying within allowable forum-rules.

Where most replies on this thread are opposing to you, I will come partially to your defense, showing that you are probably partially right. On the other hand, it would be truly correct that you would rephrase your message to the areas in which you are right, and not state it as a blunt, generally true message, since it is clearly not a generalized truth.

First, as a defense for you, the fact that retailers in the European Union, thus in the U.K., post their prices including V.A.T., while American retailers post their prices before sales-tax, creates a disadvantage in the price-perception. Consumers from Europe, buying in the U.S., have to pay V.A.T. when importing the stone also, and many forget this in the comparison.

Second, as a defense for you, the perception that the low USD-exchange rate makes buying in the U.S. beneficial does not hold up for diamonds. The basic currency in which diamonds are traded is the USD, so the basic purchasing-price for retailers is generally the same. The exchange-rate-benefit actually does not exist.

Third, as a defense for you, when you are talking about virtual inventory-stones, you probably have access to the same stones as many of your American colleagues have. Then, it depends on your business-model, which profit margin you work with, so it could well be that you have taken a competitive price-position on these virtual inventory-stones.

Fourth, your first untruth. You do not ALL deal with the SAME suppliers. When it comes down to the diamonds with the highest qualities, many American retailers have a privileged relationship with some suppliers, and I highly doubt that you have access to this supply. For instance, you will not be able to obtain the ACA-supply of WF. And what I am absolutely sure of: you are not able to obtain the Infinity-supply, while selected retailers in the U.S., but also in the U.K., Ireland, Finland and Belgium can.

Fifth, going further on this. Many American retailers offer a lot of background-information on their stones, and you are clearly not. You are fairly new on PS, but you should know by now that the average consumer here expects a minimum of info from their retailer. At this point in time, you are not reaching that minimum-level, and this is the first reason why your claims are not taken seriously.

To summarize:

- You are probably correct, when saying that your pricing is competitive to the U.S.-level, if you are talking about virtual-inventory-stones.
- You are incorrect, when saying that you can compete with ALL diamonds offered in the U.S., since you surely do not have access to the most popular cut-qualities, that PS mainly talks about.
- You are also correct, when saying that there is no reason why a diamond in the U.K. should automatically be more expensive than in the U.S. One can also find the very high cut-quality in the U.K., at comparable prices to the U.S., but it will not be on your site.
- You may even have a privileged supply of high cut-quality-stones, but without the necessary background-info on your site, this is meaningless.

Live long,

 

[belle]

great post paul. obviously qd doesn't get it.

it's too bad that that papa's thread got totally hijacked with this nonsense from qd. tsk tsk tsk.

 

[WinkHPD]

Date: 2/22/2008 7:29:39 AM
Author: Maisie
I agree that paypal is easier and quicker but I don''t think all vendors will accept it. They get charged to withdraw the money at their end. Unless you would lose your discount to cover their charges......

It is only a little more than we pay for cc charges and about the same as we offer for wire discount. So on an expensive stone it makes sense to do the wire transfer. By the way, I am informed by my out of the states friends that our banking charges here are absurd.

I know that when I went to Hong Kong many years ago with a letter of credit which I ended up needing I was called the the vice presidents office the next morning and offered a personal apology for the fee which the American bank had charged for using the letter of credit. The Chinese banker felt he had lost face and offered to pay the $40 fee which he felt to be without honor.

I declined the offer, I felt so honored to be invited to his office with my wife and given tea while he apologized. It was an incredible insight into cultural differences and how they apply in even the most simple business situations.

Wink

 

[denverappraiser]

What’s the URL for QD Rocks?

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[Maisie]

http://www.qualitydiamonds.co.uk/

 

[Michel]

QD Rocks:

Almost all of their stones are EGL, which is inferior to GIA and certainly inferior to AGS.

Further:

Almost all the ''ideal'' cut stones do not have equally ideal poish/symmetary; AND it is your own measuring and from what I have inspected - the range is huge! And totally incomparable with the scrutiny and diligence of ACA stones or those from GOG in terms of table width etc.

You just have a big inventory of rubbish, and your attiude is pathetic. How do you expect to sell on this site like that?

What bafoons!

 

[Ali]

This thread has gone far off topic and courtesy is lacking. If someone needs clarification on pricing, they can start another relevant thread.

 

[QD Rocks]

Hi Paul

thanks for your very good reply. You are correct with most you say. I always have a battle here as i am misunderstood. Some of the PS community get very personal and don’t not have the knowledge to back up there quotes. There are a few guys here after something that is not easily found on our site but there is many very high quality diamonds on the site. I do deal with 16 of the biggest wholesalers in the world and i can source stones at the usual places available to the trade. I can supply the highest quality stones.

The diamond in question

http://www.qualitydiamonds.co.uk/Find.aspx?item=Loose&code=1--184-0931--16286938

for gwendolyn & arjunajane

I will reply correctly when i have time.

I would be interested who Michael is, he has a very bad attitude, doesn’t state facts and is intent on putting down our company. If you want to please let me know who you are in this industry. Then this will back up your claims. We supply many fine diamonds. You cannot be searching, as you will see there are many triple Ex stones on the site if you search. as with all our searches the cheapest stones show up first and these of course are EGL.

The last person i had this conversation with was Lord Summerisle who has posted here. i found his replies very fair. Please don’t put down someone who sells many millions of pounds of diamonds at very competitive prices and trying to be competitive worldwide.

As stated before i will reply in depth when i have time.

Kind Regards


Paul

 

[Cleo]

QD Paul,

I do feel that Michel''s reply to you was unfair, and I am sorry for that.

I may not necessarily agree with everything you have said, but I hope that I have been able to disagree with you in a respectful and polite manner - as have the other PS members.

I hope that you will stick around, as I would personally be very interested in helping/working with you to develop your website to make it a much more attractive purchasing option for UK PSers in particular... I can offer the perspective of a UK consumer, as well as being someone with considerable marketing and business experience under their belt. Oh yes, and an all-consuming passion for great diamonds!

Whilst there may be certain elements lacking from the site at the moment, which PSers would like to see, I take it as a very positive sign that you are on this site and interpret that to mean that you would like to compete with the US vendors on their terms.

x x x

 

[QD Rocks]

Hi Cleo,

Thanks for your very nice post, I will stick around but find some posts hard to take from miss informed people.

There are some great people here who offer great advice.

Your post cheered me up after some of the others.

Thanks.

just trying our best to serve the UK.

i will be back soon.

Thanks to Paul Also

Kind Regards

Paul

 

[PapaSB]

LOL - now i am confused.

It would now appear that it might be cheaper to purchase form the US, not absolutely defintely cheaper? Is it possible to easliy resolve this? I think not.

Until we can litterally compare "apples with apples" e.g. have certs, images, everything equal between US and UK sites then this can not be actually answered.

What i will say is that purchasing from a B&M high street shop UK is more expensive than buying from a B&M Hatton Garden shop, which is more expensive than purchasing from an e-shop (either UK or US).

Until the UK e-shops can supply the vast amounts of information that the US sites supply (actual images, certificated, IdeaScope, etc) then it is likely that i would chose US over UK.
That said, if the UK e-shop could get me exactly one that i wanted then i would probably prefer that to buying over a wire transfer, etc...

Feel totally confused, feel i have caused one or two issues here which have been very "genteel" for the most part, and seeing as this is genearlly regarding months worths of wages some what deflated.

Common sense would tell you that everything is simple, just know what you are trying to do, realise there is a sequense that you have to go through, and that nothing turns out as you originally expected.
Well, i thought i knew what i was going to do, i did have the sequense i was going to follow, but as the last line says, what i throught i was going to do didn't quite turn out as i was going to expect it to.

US, UK, online, B&M? I am more confused then when i started!

Excellent quality stone, in hand picked setting for a good price. Sounds easy enough...

 

[Cleo]

First of all, apologies for the thread hijack which happened. Normally posts do tend to stay on topic and don''t add further confusion.

Having said that, I think perhaps you are slightly over-complicating matters.

Your aim, I assume, is to buy the best possible diamond for the best price.

You have already excluded B&Ms and Hatton Garden as possible sources, due to their high prices.

You have (by the sound of it) also excluded UK-based online vendors owing to the (arguably) higher prices, lack of AGS certed diamonds and absence of full sets of information and pictures for each stone.

That leaves you with USA-based online vendors.

Most PS members use Whiteflash, Good old Gold or James Allen (and probably some others).

These three vendors carry awesome stones and will give you plenty of choice. You will also get a discount as a PS member.

So... now you just need to find your 1ct princess cut stone and your yellow gold mount. What sort of budget do you have in mind?

Just to start you off,here''s a spectacular stone to consider.

x x x

 

[Cleo]

Left it too long to add this to my last post, but I thought you might like this simple, elegant setting for your diamond.

http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/-Sleek-Lines--Solitaire_688.htm#

It can be made in 18ct yellow gold, with a platinum head to fit a princess cut stone for just $550.

http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Solitaire/-Legato--Sleek-Line_1118.htm#

This is a little more at $745.

Or, check them all out here.

Don''t get too caught up in the where. Just look around until you fall in love with a stone or a setting... and then you will know where!

x x x

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 2/23/2008 4:38:17 PM
Author: QD Rocks
Hi Cleo,

Thanks for your very nice post, I will stick around but find some posts hard to take from miss informed people.

There are some great people here who offer great advice.

Your post cheered me up after some of the others.

Thanks.

just trying our best to serve the UK.

i will be back soon.

Thanks to Paul Also

Kind Regards

Paul

Paul, you have replied to our posts and represented your argument, so kudos to you. However, my one gripe is that all the while you have alluded to myself and Gwendolyn and others that have asked you to explain your statements as "mis informed". I do not for a second, try to represent myself in any means as a pro in this area. I do, however feel, that my post was simply a fair challenge from a consumers POV, that I presented to you to back up your repeated claims, which you accepted. I have re read my post, and as I did at the time, I still feel it is civilized and unbiased. I have no personal gain or position in asking you these questions - I am not "in the business", I simply have an "enquiring mind".
If you do hang around PS a lil while, you may find that ppl do not always agree with each other, but usually it is under constructive and educative motivations - any isolated attempt at personal attack or professional degradation would be quickly shut down.

I think Paul (other Paul) has made some very good and valid points in addressing this topic, and perhaps he just put them into a more succinct post that I was incapable of.
I too apologize to the original poster for thread jacking.
I agree with Cleo''s post that it would be helpful for you to stick around PS to represent ur unique postion in the UK, however I will say that you may isolate yourself by referring to those who are presenting their opinons as "mis informed". They are, after all, just opinons, no?

I also apologize to PS regulators if they feel this thread has de generated into an unhelpful discussion - I excuse myself for my part in that, and I will say no more on the topic.
with regards
AJ.