canadian-diamonds-wholesale.com - Reputable?

[Doomaise]

Hello everyone,

I am looking into buying a "Canadian" diamond (for an engagement ring) and have been to a few jewelers in my area that carry them. I''ve also looked online, specifically at www.canadian-diamonds-wholesale.com, and found that their prices are much better than in the jewelry stores.

I''ve searched around on the forums for comments on this website and haven''t found anything negative, but haven''t really found a "100%, this is a for sure reputable/honest place to buy a diamond." I''ve also found that the latest posts were from a couple years back.

So, that being said....is there any more info or opinions out there on www.canadian-diamonds-wholesale.com? Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you very much in advance.

 

[cectra79]

I don''t know anything about them, but check out Better Business Bureau bbb.com. I always do that with on-line retailers.

 

[Doomaise]

Thanks for the tip.

I checked out the BBB website and they''ve had no complaints, and everything seems good.....but I''m still a little skeptical.

I''d love to hear from anyone who''s purchased a diamond from them.

Alternatively, are there any other good, reputable places online to buy "Canadian" diamonds? Any help is much appreciated.

 

[sparxs111]

There was somthing posted last week or the week before saying that they have misleading information on their website. It had to do with belonging to a diamond organization, but they actually dont. The organization has contacted to remove it from their site, but they haven''t. Maybe do a search and you can find the posting.

Good luck. And btw, you can get better prices from the reputable dealers that PSers use. They even offer a PS discount, great return policies, and upgrade policies.

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 5/12/2008 11:06:16 AM
Author: sparxs111
There was somthing posted last week or the week before saying that they have misleading information on their website. It had to do with belonging to a diamond organization, but they actually dont. The organization has contacted to remove it from their site, but they haven''t. Maybe do a search and you can find the posting.

Good luck. And btw, you can get better prices from the reputable dealers that PSers use. They even offer a PS discount, great return policies, and upgrade policies.

Though the point your making I''ll bet is re Infinity is known to use Canadian stock frequently. Not necessary bottom dollar, though...but excellent quality.

 

[niceice]

The first thought that comes to mind when I read the domain name "canadian-diamonds-wholesale" is "are they actually selling diamonds at legitimate ''wholesale'' prices?" or are they merely attempting to dupe the public into believing that they are selling diamonds at ''wholesale prices'' by integrating the word ''wholesale'' into their domain name?

Here in the U.S. there are definite issues with the misuse of the word wholesale in consumer advertising and I believe that to some extent the content of a domain name might be considered to be a form of advertisement. Here is a link to a publication created by the Jewelers Vigilance Committee here in the United States regarding the proper use of the word ''wholesale'' with reference to consumer advertising. I think the statement on the front of the brochure sums the issue up quite well: "if you are being sold jewelry for your own personal use, it is a RETAIL transaction."

I suppose that it would be relatively easy to determine whether this web site is actually selling diamonds to the public at wholesale or retail prices by running a search here on PS for valid comparisons although I do not have time to do it at the moment... However I think that the statement "Canada''s Top Online RETAILER" on the front of their web site says it all

Could this be (a little Satirical Wit) what we might hear if we could slip inside the inner workings of this guy''s brain? (perceived perspective) Picture a cartoon angel and devil sitting on opposite shoulders:

We''re wholesale...
We''re retail...
We''re wholesale...
We''re retail...
Wholesale! Our parent company is ''Canadian Diamonds Wholesale, Ltd." it says so at the bottom of our web site!
Retail! We advertise that we''re Canada''s Top Online RETAILER!"
Wholesale.
RETAIL.
Jekyl.
Hyde.
Hey wait a minute, what were we trying to establish anyway?

You know, they could be BOTH wholesale AND retail, but in my experience most of us who are retailers (brick or click) don''t make it a habit to buy diamonds wholesale from suppliers who are also trying to sell retail to the same people we are...

 

[Doomaise]

Thanks for all the help everyone!

I''m not too hung up on what they want to call their business....be it retail, or wholesale. If they are reputable, honest, have nice stones, and good prices, then that''s all that matters to me.

That being said, I''ve looked at niceice.com, and their (your) prices also look good and you have beautiful stones. Also helps that you''ve got a good reputation around these forums.

My search continues....

 

[niceice]

Date: 5/13/2008 1:43:22 PM
Author: Doomaise
I''m not too hung up on what they want to call their business....be it retail, or wholesale. If they are reputable, honest, have nice stones, and good prices, then that''s all that matters to me./QUOTE]

No doubt that those of us in the trade take more offense to the subtle nuances pertaining to the terminology of our trade. If you want to see a really good debate, just get us started on the use of terms such as GIA or AGS "certification" or "certificate" which is an incorrect slang reference to a lab report (the labs issue reports, not certificates)

If you''re looking for diamonds of Canadian origin, we obviously sell them and I believe that GOG does as well, although we let the cutter carry most of the inventory expense and pull them in as we need them. Best of luck with your quest!

 

[zerj]

One of the things that would really bug me about www.canadian-diamonds-wholesale.com is the lack of information for each item.

When I am buying something that costs more than my last car I expect to be able to see a little more information before I have to give you my name/address/phone number etc. I certainly recognize that a lot of time can be wasted answering silly questions from buyers who are not legitimate and have no interest in purchase. That said for a $5000 dollar item I wan't at least a photo and a certification report posted online prior to giving any contact info. It's probably unfair but I see this as an attempt to make it difficult to compare thier offerings to somebody elses. It's probably more likely that they just have a crappy website because nobody who works there is internet savvy yet. Perhaps they have a very quality product but I'll never know as their website seems to be a little behind the times. Most of the vendors who post on these forums have a lot more upfront information and I would look there first.

 

[niceice]

Date: 5/13/2008 2:20:23 PM
Author: zerj
I certainly recognize that a lot of time can be wasted answering silly questions from buyers who are not legitimate and have no interest in purchase.

I''m glad to see that you appreciate having access to detailed information Zerj. I think more time is "wasted" answering questions if detailed information is not provided because the lack of information forces consumers to have to waste their time to ask questions that would otherwise often be answered if the information were present. Sure, it takes time to physically evaluate a diamond and put together a detailed diamond details page, but having the information available to customers expedites the purchase process... I suppose that there are a lot of people who are comfortable buying a diamond sight unseen with very limited information, but most of the people that I''ve run across here on PS are rather detail oriented.

By the way, I''d like to state for the record that I believe that most of the vendors here on PS welcome and encourage questions from our customers because we see it as an opportunity to better understand the needs of our clients and therefore increase our chance of maintaining a relationship that is mutually beneficial to both ourselves and our customers... And it''s a two way street, there are a lot of times that the questions we ask our customers in an attempt to "get it right" on their behalf probably drives them nuts because they''re probably thinking "Jeez, I just want to buy a diamond..." and we''re trying to determine whether the diamond being discussed is going to meet the expectations of a client sight unseen. Questions are the key to the puzzle

 

[zerj]

Date: 5/13/2008 3:07:20 PM
Author: niceice And it''s a two way street, there are a lot of times that the questions we ask our customers in an attempt to ''get it right'' on their behalf probably drives them nuts because they''re probably thinking ''Jeez, I just want to buy a diamond...'' and we''re trying to determine whether the diamond being discussed is going to meet the expectations of a client sight unseen. Questions are the key to the puzzle

I have to admit when I first started to look at buying an ''engagement'' ring for my wife I was in a bit of sticker shock.

My brain simultaneously thought
1) It''s just like pulling off a bandage get it over quick and don''t think about it.
and
2) If I''m gonna drop that much money the vendor damn well better convince me. I don''t care even if his profit margins are only 2% because of wholesale costs, that thing still costs more than my car.

Fortunately I''m an engineer so the physics was interesting enough to go route #2. Otherwise I''d have been one of those saying I don''t want to talk about it just send me the ring.

The information you post on your inventory is very cool and I definately appreciate it.

 

[niceice]

Date: 5/13/2008 3:23:38 PM
Author: zerj
I have to admit when I first started to look at buying an ''engagement'' ring for my wife I was in a bit of sticker shock.

My brain simultaneously thought

1) It''s just like pulling off a bandage get it over quick and don''t think about it.

and

2) If I''m gonna drop that much money the vendor damn well better convince me. I don''t care even if his profit margins are only 2% because of wholesale costs, that thing still costs more than my car.

The information you post on your inventory is very cool and I definitely appreciate it.

Thanks Zerj, there are actually quite a few of us here on PS who take great care in hand selecting the diamonds that we sell and to prepare diamond details pages, I hope that it is a trend that more diamond companies will adopt as they enter the online marketplace. No doubt that consumers are the driving force that will dictate whether online diamond companies provide detailed information for their customers because they decide who to buy from based upon their preferences and smart companies try to provide for their customers preferences whenever possible to increase sales and brand loyalty.