consumer responce to JCK pricescope charge:

[strmrdr]

Consumers only please:

The charge was:
"During questions, one audience member charged that Pricescope capitalizes on the trust that has been earned and nurtured by retailers and uses that trust to undercut retailers."
...........
Some random thoughts:

My first thought was what trust?

I think a large part of why PS hits the right notes is lack of trust by consumers for the industry.
Price fixing, fake sales, high pressure, diamond switching, sub-par certs,
and never give the consumer a fair shake is the reputation the industry has given itself with the general public.

Consumer to consumer feedback lays a ground work for rebuilding trust and communication.
It also works to keep vendors on the right path knowing that verification of anything they say is a few mouse clicks and some typing away.

The days of the diamond expert are here and the days of clueless sales people is fading away.
Each sale will have to be worked for and will not be as easy as it once was.

I do feel for the dealers, margins are getting smaller at the same time more training of employees and more time is required per sale than before.
It doesnt help any that any time there is a possiblity of charging more that the parties up the chain raise prices to snag any possible added profit.

 

[strmrdr]

http://www.jckgroup.com/article/CA605764/jck?section=Internet+Update

Link to the article.

 

[aljdewey]

Date: 6/3/2005 9:45:44 AM
Author:strmrdr
Consumers only please:

The charge was:
''During questions, one audience member charged that Pricescope capitalizes on the trust that has been earned and nurtured by retailers and uses that trust to undercut retailers.''
...........
Some random thoughts:

My first thought was what trust?

I think a large part of why PS hits the right notes is lack of trust by consumers for the industry.

Wholeheartedly agree with this, Storm. In fact, if anything I think it''s the other way around. It''s because consumers *don''t* trust their retailers that they go online to self-inform and end up finding Pricescope in the first place.

As noted, 80% of folks research their diamond purchases, but only a few percent actually buy online. That means the other 70-some-odd percent are using PS and/or internet to acquire knowledge....knowledge on what makes a good diamond and knowledge on what a decent price is for such a diamond. TThen, they are going back to the retailer armed with that knowledge.

It is because of Pricescope and places that may be like it that folks are gaining the confidence to shop at a local retail store.

 

[bopitaddict]

Date: 6/3/2005 10:19:25 AM
Author: aljdewey

It is because of Pricescope and places that may be like it that folks are gaining the confidence to shop at a local retail store.

definitely agree... being empowered with knowledge helps... especially the knowledge you find here on PS... it also helps you distinguish between the retailers who are upfront and honest and the ones who aren''t...

 

[Kaleigh]

I couldn't agree more. Today many people are distrustful of the information they are getting from the retailors and are seeking out the correct information for themselves. When they are ready to purchase they are very educated on diamonds and are able to see thru the crap many retailors lay on them and are able to make better purchases. B&M's should embrace PS because they are getting informed consumers. Unless of course they are selling crap, then I can definelty see why this would not be good for them.

 

[aljdewey]

B&M's should embrace PS because they are getting informed consumers.

You'd think that would be welcome, but it really isn't. An informed customer is a scary thing for retailers who've been operating on a "hey, don't worry about the pesky details - just trust MY judgment" protocol.

To them, an informed customer means they'll actually have to start answering questions with information instead of schmooze, and many of them aren't used to operating that way.

I used to work in sales for an LTL trucking company. Prior to my getting into the business, all the shipping rates were regulated, so there wasn't a lot of variance from one carrier to the next. Salesmanship in those days meant schmooze.....who the customer developed relationships with, and not much else.

Then deregulation happened (just as I was getting in), and the pricing wasn't standard anymore. Discounting practices arose, as did many pricing models....raising shipping rates to select zip codes, surcharging for time-intensive deliveries such as those in Manhattan, etc. Pricing could vary wildly on a given shipment from carrier to carrier.

The "old-time" salespeople weren't used to having to know anything information-wise....they were just there to guffaw with the clients and hand out comp sporting tickets. When they actually had to start selling based on knowing their stuff and knowing rate distinctions, etc......whole different ballgame. Many of them got out of the business. As an information hound, I made out fantastically in that market.

Some of today's jewelry retailers are like the old-time salespeople I mentioned.....they aren't used to operating with a more sophisticated customer.....and it's not a welcome change for them because they don't know how to adapt and change.

 

[Blue824]

I came to Pricescope to learn more for future purchases and just because of my enjoyment of jewelry. I loved how it was a mix of experts and just regular people who enjoy diamonds & jewelry. My impression would be that if I went to a store, with no prior relation to the jeweler, they''d of course try to tell me that their product was excellent for the money I was paying. I felt that I couldn''t trust them, especially after I''d seen people get talked into buying gross pieces, not knowing better, trusting the jeweler. The fact is, people turn to the internet to learn about any purchase, large or small....I''ve come online to look at everything from books I might enjoy buying to expensive pieces of technology or even art. Often, I take what I learn so I can just go into a store and know exactly what I want, not always to take my business away from a local retailer. Knowledge is power, and that is obviously a threat to some people.

 

[belle]

this truly is the age of information and that means change.
things are different now then they were 10, even 5 years ago. you can see it everywhere.
of course, as a consumer, i feel empowered with the amount of information that is so easily accessed now. i wouldn''t even think about making a major purchase without doing a significant amount of research first. for instance, i used to *hate* the idea of going to buy a new car. now, though it''s not my ideal way to spend a day, i don''t mind so much. why? because i have information.
the salesperson is not necessarily the expert anymore. today''s consumer, if they choose to, can become extremely knowledgable about their purchase. this means being able to determine the best product to suit their needs. not the needs of the salesperson or the company, the consumer. if the marketer is able to reach their client in a mutually benefial way, they will succeed. ultimately, this means embracing today''s knowledgable and resourceful internet shopper and making it work for the business.