Jeweler upset

[gedean]

Hi everyone,

I apologize in advance for posting a complaint but I really need to vent and I dont think anyone else would understand.

I was walking around today and went into a local jeweler''s to browse at what they had. And instead of finding something nice, I ended up encountering one of the most snobby jewelers I have met. I hate how he made me feel. It was completely pretentious and the feeling I got from him was... "You cant afford anything here...oh and by the way your ring cant be that nice (cause I was trying on bands with my ering)" How does he know what is and what isnt? Just because I walked in with my scrubs and looked like a mess does not give him the right to treat a customer like that.

aaaaaaaaa.....I''m sorry. I''m still fuming from the whole encounter. Please forgive my soapbox rant. I just needed to get it out. Thanks everyone for listening.

 

[Elmorton]

I think the true test of a retailer (no matter what kind of retailer) is if they treat you the same way if you walk in with your hair in a ponytail, no makeup, and wearing sweats, as they do if you walk in wearing business clothes, your nicest jewelery and an expensive bag. If I know I won't be treated with the same courtesy in both situations, they're not getting my business. Unless they have the band you want at an amazing price, I wouldn't give them your business...and I can't imagine they're getting anyone else's with attitudes like that!

ETA: Gedean...my dear, your beautiful ring is begging you to go post pics in the ECs...Show Me Some Life! thread in SMTR. Asschers have been asked to please join the step cut party over there.

 

[Circe]

Oh, GOOD LORD. Your e-ring is amazingly beautiful, and one would hope that a jeweler would have a good enough eye to spot that off the bat! As for scrubs, well, maybe I''m betraying my own biases here ... but I''d imagine that should get you more respect, and not less. Sounds like the man is either determined to tank his own business, or *remarkably* contrary ....

 

[Kaleigh]

I''m sorry, that''s a real shame. Your ering is gorgeous, he just lost a sale, probably one of many if that''s the way he treats people.

 

[claireabelle]

so incredibly stupid. He could have missed out on a big sale!

I''ve had this a few times....especially in antique jewelery stores. They''re usually older people and have a very stuffy attitude.

Don''t let it get to you - hopefully the business is struggling due to their poor customer service!!!

 

[monarch64]

Gedean, that jeweler is clearly an idiot, please don''t take it personally! I completely agree with Elmorton''s post!

Your ring is stunningly beautiful, and the fact that you were dressed in scrubs should have had absolutely no bearing on his opinion of you. I''ve worked in retail for years, had some jewelry experience, and I can tell you that pre-judging people on how they are dressed is a fatal mistake but it does happen...unfortunately. The difference in a great and successful retail associate and an a$$hole who is running a sinking ship is whether they treat their customers fairly and without prejudice. So sorry to hear of your experience but glad you came here to vent. I bet we''ve probably all been in your shoes at some point!

 

[nytemist]

So sorry that he was so obnoxious to you! It really does suck how bad a retail person canmake you feel sometimes.

As a black person that gets that attitude pretty much everytime I go into a high-end shop, I''m unfortunately used to it.

 

[applequeen]

That's terrible. I hate stores that do that. In my "work" life I'm usually in a suit which makes me super casual when I'm out and about in my "real" life. I really do notice a change in how I'm treated depending on how I'm dressed and it really ticks me off. Sales people should just present the options and let the customer decide for themselves what they can and can't afford.

I had a similar experience at a local store when I was shopping for a diamond necklace a few months ago. I decided I wanted a 1/4 carat bezel necklace and was browsing some of our downtown jewelry stores just sort of looking with the possibility of buying. At one store I encountered the snobbiest salesperson I've ever met. I was not working that day so I had on a sweater and jeans and although I am 30 I look like I'm in my early twenties (which is good I guess since I married a younger man

). He actually said "I don't think we have anything in your price range ($300-$500). I also asked him about the possibility of having my engagement ring reset and (as he glanced snobbily down at my hand) he said.... "We don't deal with many Princess Cuts here... most of our clientele prefer something more traditional".... WTH!!! Oh... and by the way... My stone is a ROUND stone in a four prong setting so while it does look a little squarish at times it is certainly not a princess cut (not that there is anything wrong with them... I love them (and wanted one) but the round just looked better on me). At that point I knew the guy was an idiot and went across the street to another store.

At the other store I told the guy my budget and he told me what he could do for me. He game me estimates on both a 1/4 and 1/3 carat option and I said I'd go home and think about it. He was great (friendly, helpful, let me try on random rings he knew I had no intention of buying) so I knew I wanted to buy from him. The next day I went back (this time on my lunch break so I was dressed in a suit) and told him I'd decided to go bigger. I ended up with a 1/2 carat... and spent 3 times my budget ($1200 instead of $400). He even ordered several versions of bezel settings so I could choose the one I liked best. He treated me exactly the same when I came in looking for the cheaper option as when I decided to go larger. It was obvious he loved his job and just liked to see the happiness people got from their purchases (big and small).

I hope to become a regular customer of his

BTW.... I originally asked him to alter the setting so I could switch it between a 16 and an 18 inch chain depending on what I was wearing. I was going to have to buy both sizes of chains so he offered to cut down an 18 inch chain to 16 inches and use the extra 2 inches to make an extender. He actually didn't even charge me to do it which I was super impressed with since he could have made more $ by just letting me buy 2 chains.

 

[Ellen]

You know, a perfect opportunity has just been presented to you. The next big purchase you make, go back in wearing it, and politely let him know how rude he was and how he missed out making that particular sale to you, Julia Robert''s/Pretty Woman style.

 

[LegacyGirl]

I loved that part of the movie!

 

[Diamond*Dana]

Date: 5/16/2008 10:04:58 AM
Author: Ellen
You know, a perfect opportunity has just been presented to you. The next big purchase you make, go back in wearing it, and politely let him know how rude he was and how he missed out making that particular sale to you, Julia Robert''s/Pretty Woman style.

I was thinking the very same thing!
It is a shame that you were made to feel that way, but take comfort in the fact that this man is a snoot, and you are not going to contribute to his commision.

 

[diamondfan]

That is really rotten and unfair.

It does not happen to me anymore, but when I was younger it did happen a couple of times and it intimidated me.

Now, I mostly am in casual stuff during the day. I often have little make up on and my hair pulled back. Sometimes I have a nice bag and my jewelry on, sometimes I don''t...and I mostly find I am treated okay. If for some reason I am not, I leave. There are lots of places I can spend my money. I do not need to be mistreated while I do.

Hubby says that I seem ready for action when I am shopping, so maybe I give off a sense of, I may look casual but I am a serious buyer...and I get mostly good service. But when I was younger and insecure, I let salespeople make me feel badly. I am not saying you are young or not secure, mostly he was just a jerk off, but I am giving insight into my sense of why it used to happen to me and now does not really. I think I walk in and know I can buy there if I want to, and that it is my choice, and their sale to lose. It is my little secret when I walk in, and it is kind of a test in a way. If this is how they treat a customer I am not likely to part with my money there. I like a place that is gracious and gives their time and attention, not knowing if I am buying there ever or right now. That is what impresses me.

 

[monarch64]

Date: 5/16/2008 9:57:43 AM
Author: applequeen

That''s terrible. I hate stores that do that. In my ''work'' life I''m usually in a suit which makes me super casual when I''m out and about in my ''real'' life. I really do notice a change in how I''m treated depending on how I''m dressed and it really ticks me off. Sales people should just present the options and let the customer decide for themselves what they can and can''t afford.

I had a similar experience at a local store when I was shopping for a diamond necklace a few months ago. I decided I wanted a 1/4 carat bezel necklace and was browsing some of our downtown jewelry stores just sort of looking with the possibility of buying. At one store I encountered the snobbiest salesperson I''ve ever met. I was not working that day so I had on a sweater and jeans and although I am 30 I look like I''m in my early twenties (which is good I guess since I married a younger man

). He actually said ''I don''t think we have anything in your price range ($300-$500). I also asked him about the possibility of having my engagement ring reset and (as he glanced snobbily down at my hand) he said.... ''We don''t deal with many Princess Cuts here... most of our clientele prefer something more traditional''.... WTH!!! Oh... and by the way... My stone is a ROUND stone in a four prong setting so while it does look a little squarish at times it is certainly not a princess cut (not that there is anything wrong with them... I love them (and wanted one) but the round just looked better on me). At that point I knew the guy was an idiot and went across the street to another store.

At the other store I told the guy my budget and he told me what he could do for me. He game me estimates on both a 1/4 and 1/3 carat option and I said I''d go home and think about it. He was great (friendly, helpful, let me try on random rings he knew I had no intention of buying) so I knew I wanted to buy from him. The next day I went back (this time on my lunch break so I was dressed in a suit) and told him I''d decided to go bigger. I ended up with a 1/2 carat... and spent 3 times my budget ($1200 instead of $400). He even ordered several versions of bezel settings so I could choose the one I liked best. He treated me exactly the same when I came in looking for the cheaper option as when I decided to go larger. It was obvious he loved his job and just liked to see the happiness people got from their purchases (big and small).

I hope to become a regular customer of his

BTW.... I originally asked him to alter the setting so I could switch it between a 16 and an 18 inch chain depending on what I was wearing. I was going to have to buy both sizes of chains so he offered to cut down an 18 inch chain to 16 inches and use the extra 2 inches to make an extender. He actually didn''t even charge me to do it which I was super impressed with since he could have made more $ by just letting me buy 2 chains.

So glad to hear you were treated better at that store! That is exactly the way customers should be handled, and that is why SA''s who deal with customers in the way he dealt with you are usually duly rewarded for their efforts and non-judgmental attitudes. Congrats!

 

[gedean]

hi everyone,

thank you so much for you support. I think I was just thrown aback at how rude the person was. I definitely wasnt expecting that at all. But with all said and done, I''m so happy to know that there''s always support here.

applequeen-- I''m so glad to hear that you found what you were looking for and at just a gracious place. I bet the necklace is lovely!

diamondfan-- you might be right on the age thing. I''m nearing my 30''s but I look a lot younger than my age (i suppose that''s a good thing) so I''m guessing the jeweler thought I was too young to be purchasing anything for him. His lose I guess.


Thanks again everyone. I feel much better about it all.

 

[diamondfan]

G, I look younger than my age, but still, I hate that assumptions are made about someone''s ability to spend money based on their looks. You are right though, his loss. You can always exercise your right to chose where to shop.

 

[kbarro1]

I am so sorry that happened to you! Your ring looks gorgeous and I can''t stand when things like that happen. My Fi and I were looking at rings about 2 months ago and went in to a B&M and were treated so rudely! We were looking at a ring that was marked $27,000, which was 3 times our budget, so we had no intention of buying that ring, but we were interested in spending a nice chunk of change there. Anyway, the saleswoman let us look at it an my Fi jokingly said "Put it on my Platinum Visa" and her reply was "Do you even have a Platinum Visa?" ?!?!?!?!?! I am so sure!!!! We immediately handed her that ring back and didn''t look at anything else there and promptly left. It is always amazing to me that the people in those stores quickly forget that they are among the rest of us working folk and earn their money the same way we do. Just because they work in some fancy named jewelry store they think they are somehow teleported to a different level of society, when in fact, they can''t afford those pieces of jewelry either! Ugh...