Frustration over ctw discrepancy - advice?

[Rfisher]

I hate to ask - how positive are you that they gave you the correct bracelet? Are there more than one that look similar?

I do agree with dreamer, to an extent.
If paying for a impartial evaluation (that the vendor possibly will need to agree to beforehand who it is for them to ‘trust’, will wipe even or out pace what you’d spend on the restock fee
I think then it becomes mind clean in what to spend /save on getting it returned, vs financial.

If it’s a vendor you’ll never be likely to revisit - then credit card nuclear option

What a mess. I’m sorry.

 

[Mreader]

I hate to ask - how positive are you that they gave you the correct bracelet? Are there more than one that look similar?

I do agree with dreamer, to an extent.
If paying for a impartial evaluation (that the vendor possibly will need to agree to beforehand who it is for them to ‘trust’, will wipe even or out pace what you’d spend on the restock fee
I think then it becomes mind clean in what to spend /save on getting it returned, vs financial.

If it’s a vendor you’ll never be likely to revisit - then credit card nuclear option

What a mess. I’m sorry.

I at first wondered about a mixup but in the photo they have of the “9ct” there’s a hallmark, and I also counted the stones and the length which all match. So they sent me the same bracelet they advertised. I suppose it’s possible did a mixup with their own inventory before listing. But based on the phone convo I doubt they would admit to that when they get it back if that was the case.

 

[marymm]

I wonder if you are open to emailing or calling them, letting them know you had reached out in good faith because you do like the bracelet but have a genuine belief that the total carat weight is closer to 7 carats, and ask: is there a middle man appraiser the two of you can agree on that you can send the bracelet to, and you will both share that person's cost, and if it is determined 8 carats or heavier you will either keep or return with 3.25% fee and if it is determined less than 8 carats the bracelet cost will be adjusted to correlate to the updated carat weight and you will be able to keep the bracelet with credit given or return bracelet for full refund (no fee)?

FWIW I think the accepted carat weight margin of error for mounted stones is 10-15%, and Israel Rose listings generally includes "approximately" before any carat weight ...

 

[Rfisher]

I wonder if you are open to emailing or calling them, letting them know you had reached out in good faith because you do like the bracelet but have a genuine belief that the total carat weight is closer to 7 carats, and ask: is there a middle man appraiser the two of you can agree on that you can send the bracelet to, and you will both share that person's cost, and if it is determined 8 carats or heavier you will either keep or return with 3.25% fee and if it is determined less than 8 carats the bracelet cost will be adjusted to correlate to the updated carat weight and you will be able to keep the bracelet with credit given or return bracelet for full refund (no fee)?

FWIW I think the accepted carat weight margin of error for mounted stones is 10-15%, and Israel Rose listings generally includes "approximately" before any carat weight ...

I like this
But maybe I misread - I thought mreaders math led up to noticeably less than 7.

 

[Mreader]

I wonder if you are open to emailing or calling them, letting them know you had reached out in good faith because you do like the bracelet but have a genuine belief that the total carat weight is closer to 7 carats, and ask: is there a middle man appraiser the two of you can agree on that you can send the bracelet to, and you will both share that person's cost, and if it is determined 8 carats or heavier you will either keep or return with 3.25% fee and if it is determined less than 8 carats the bracelet cost will be adjusted to correlate to the updated carat weight and you will be able to keep the bracelet with credit given or return bracelet for full refund (no fee)?

FWIW I think the accepted carat weight margin of error for mounted stones is 10-15%, and Israel Rose listings generally includes "approximately" before any carat weight ...

After the convo I had with him, I don't think so. Also, my conclusion is 5.20 and I think the max would be 6. They do say approximate but I would say give or take 1 ct not 3.
I will know more today because I am taking it somewhere and I will report back.

ETA - I’m so unhappy with the situation now that as @LilAlex pointed out before - keeping it would now bother me.

 

[Mreader]

Update - took it to the only gemologist in my small town who already said they don't do appraisals unless it's their own stuff (that is so mystifying to me but whatever). I didn't tell him the ctw I suspected or what it was sold to me as. He had one of those presidium tools and measured a few of the larger stones and a few smaller ones and came with the same measurements as me. Said the bigger ones are .25 most likely. He said every stone would have to be .25 to be seven ctw and that it's probably under 6. His eyes popped out when I told him it was sold to me as 9. He was like "absolutely no way".

The frustrating thing is he won't write even a statement bc "they don't do that" and I really want a statement for my cc. But at least I have validation.

It's not worth a 5 hours drive and the expense of the appraisal. If I could get the appraisal here I would do it.

I also went to a Pawn Broker and they used a different tool - one of those gauge things. He didn't look at every single stone either but said he would say about 4ct.

Anyway, at least I have some validation . Because it is NOT EVEN CLOSE.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Update - took it to the only gemologist in my small town who already said they don't do appraisals unless it's their own stuff (that is so mystifying to me but whatever). I didn't tell him the ctw I suspected or what it was sold to me as. He had one of those presidium tools and measured a few of the larger stones and a few smaller ones and came with the same measurements as me. Said the bigger ones are .25 most likely. He said every stone would have to be .25 to be seven ctw and that it's probably under 6. His eyes popped out when I told him it was sold to me as 9. He was like "absolutely no way".

The frustrating thing is he won't write even a statement bc "they don't do that" and I really want a statement for my cc. But at least I have validation.

It's not worth a 5 hours drive and the expense of the appraisal. If I could get the appraisal here I would do it.

I also went to a Pawn Broker and they used a different tool - one of those gauge things. He didn't look at every single stone either but said he would say about 4ct.

Anyway, at least I have some validation . Because it is NOT EVEN CLOSE.

Yeah I believed your measurements to begin with! But without something in writing for the cc will you be able to proceed with this evidence?

EDIT: maybe the vendor will budge with an email verifying this evidence and the assertion that you will be leaving negative reviews on Yelp, Pricescope etc...

 

[Rfisher]

If you dispute something with cc
Under not as advertised
And you send it to a PS approved appraiser for verification
What’s the timeline (more like deadline) for starting a cc disputal?
Is there one?
And do you get reimbursed for the appraisal costs too?

At some point the appraisal cost might be palatable or even tasty in this scenario - because all other costs are refunded by cc dispute?

 

[Mreader]

If you dispute something with cc
Under not as advertised
And you send it to a PS approved appraiser for verification
What’s the timeline (more like deadline) for starting a cc disputal?
Is there one?
And do you get reimbursed for the appraisal costs too?

At some point the appraisal cost might be palatable or even tasty in this scenario - because all other costs are refunded by cc dispute?

The problem is I only have seven days to return this item so I need to send it back to avoid any further problems with the seller. I think I would have plenty of time with the cc but I don't have time to mail the item off for an appraisal and get it back etc etc. The cc didn't say anything about refunding the appraisal fees so I don't think so.

I will dispute and provide all of the evidence that I can.

I also alerted the seller that I was returning via registered mail and that I implore them to look at this bracelet again upon receipt because it is definitely far below 9 ctw.

 

[Bron357]

There is a BIG difference between returning an item because you changed your mind or didn’t like it and therefore being subject to a “restocking fee” and receiving an item that doesn’t match the description as sold to you.
Restocking fees are used as a disincentive to returns, it does cost the seller time, money (some selling costs are refundable) and energy to not sell an item so many, not all, actively discourage returns.
A return where the item doesn’t match the description is completely different.
It is a legal right in most Countries to get your money back if what you received doesn’t match the description of the goods sold.
The bracelet is obviously well short of the stated 9 carats of diamonds.
Do you not have a jeweller who will do appraisals like say for Probate or Insurance purposes? That’s all you need, you don’t need to declare that it’s for a dispute with the seller. Saying that will definitely put people off - they don’t want to get involved basically
Yes, it will cost you but it may the only way to get evidence that supports your claim.
It’s disappointing that the seller hasn’t responded favourably, your assertion is valid by provided measurements and calculated carat weight, circa 6 carats of diamonds is a lot less than the stated 9 carats. I wonder how the seller calculated 9 carats?

 

[Mreader]

There is a BIG difference between returning an item because you changed your mind or didn’t like it and therefore being subject to a “restocking fee” and receiving an item that doesn’t match the description as sold to you.
Restocking fees are used as a disincentive to returns, it does cost the seller time, money (some selling costs are refundable) and energy to not sell an item so many, not all, actively discourage returns.
A return where the item doesn’t match the description is completely different.
It is a legal right in most Countries to get your money back if what you received doesn’t match the description of the goods sold.
The bracelet is obviously well short of the stated 9 carats of diamonds.
Do you not have a jeweller who will do appraisals like say for Probate or Insurance purposes? That’s all you need, you don’t need to declare that it’s for a dispute with the seller. Saying that will definitely put people off - they don’t want to get involved basically
Yes, it will cost you but it may the only way to get evidence that supports your claim.
It’s disappointing that the seller hasn’t responded favourably, your assertion is valid by provided measurements and calculated carat weight, circa 6 carats of diamonds is a lot less than the stated 9 carats. I wonder how the seller calculated 9 carats?

The closest appraiser is 2.5 hours away I really just don’t have the time to do this during the work week and by the weekend I’m out of time. The gemologist I visited today does not do appraisals. I didn’t tell him the story until after he told me how many ct weight he thought the bracelet was after doing a couple of measurements with his tool. After that, I asked if he would please just write any sort of statements, but he said that his store doesn’t do appraisals or anything like that. I really don’t understand why but that’s the predicament I am in. I have also wondered how the seller is getting nine karat and the fact that he’s digging his heels in really makes me feel like it’s deceitful rather than just an error. I’m pretty exhausted by the whole thing at this point.