Lack of Control at Intergem

[minousbijoux]

So as many of you from the Bay Area know, this weekend is the Intergem show. Although I really want to go, I am not. If I knew one thing I really wanted and could trust my self control to limit my purchasing to the one or two stones I want, then I would go. But as it is, I know I'll get there, ask around for what I want, find that no one likely has it, and then feel like I have to buy something and then go on a buying frenzy of secondary stuff that wasn't even on my list. Last time I came home with three new settings - one pendant, two rings - that I did not need. Have I set them all yet? Nope.

Wouldn't it be nice if we knew what vendors would have ahead of time, so we could reasonably set our sights on certain items?

Sigh.

 

[movie zombie]

i had no idea you were in the bay area!

i got the flyer and promptly tossed it.....too much temptation and too many people....i'd rather get the house paid off.

oh, and there is the pesky fact that i haven't set any of my purchases over the last couple of years.......

 

[minousbijoux]

oh, and there is the pesky fact that i haven't set any of my purchases over the last couple of years.......

Unfortunately, this fact has not slowed me down in the least...

 

[gongli]

budgeting... what do you guys do about holidays? do you save up and buy something nice once in a while (every year or 2 or 6mo or what?) or do you spread out and get moderately good stuff for all the occasions (xmas, val, bday, anniv)? now that i've been reading ps for a while i have some sense of what you can get at what price, but i could really use some of you guys' experience in terms of budgeting... what works, what's good, what's bad, and what's the ugly!

(in terms of ugly, i bought about 15 stones on ebay one night, luckily they were all $20 stones, and now i know to avoid gem shows, which was exactly where i was expecting to go one of these days!)

 

[beau-wy]

Go to the show, but leave the ATM/debit/credit cards/check book at home - or at least in your vehicle. Allow yourself a reasonable amount of cash to take into the show with you, that can be used for guilt-free impulse buys (depending on your circumstances, that could be $20 or several hundred) . If you REALLY find what you want or are looking for, you will happily make the arrangement with the seller to hold your gem while you go to the trouble of retrieving your other payment options for a significant purchase, or to make payment post-show and receive your gem by mail.

Another bonus of carrying cash is it will help you muster the courage/fortitude to talk with the seller and discuss options - whether it be a lower price, to match your cash, or arrangements to take future delivery upon payment. I have gone to shows with as little as $10, to as much as $500. This forces me to be disciplined, makes me a better bargainer, and I end up with better quality and value when I do make a purchase.

 

[Pandora II]

Go to the show, but leave the ATM/debit/credit cards/check book at home - or at least in your vehicle. Allow yourself a reasonable amount of cash to take into the show with you, that can be used for guilt-free impulse buys (depending on your circumstances, that could be $20 or several hundred) . If you REALLY find what you want or are looking for, you will happily make the arrangement with the seller to hold your gem while you go to the trouble of retrieving your other payment options for a significant purchase, or to make payment post-show and receive your gem by mail.

Another bonus of carrying cash is it will help you muster the courage/fortitude to talk with the seller and discuss options - whether it be a lower price, to match your cash, or arrangements to take future delivery upon payment. I have gone to shows with as little as $10, to as much as $500. This forces me to be disciplined, makes me a better bargainer, and I end up with better quality and value when I do make a purchase.

Ditto this.

If you can't trust yourself, leave the cards at home.

Instead of buying, get the vendor to write the details down, ask if you can take a picture of the stone for reference (iphone camera type photo, don't pull out the DSLR), and agree the price. Do this for anything you really like. You can then review in the comfort of your own home and decide whether you really want any of them.

 

[T L]

The lighting in the shows is often made to show optimal dispersion and you cannot see color shifts, so keep that in mind as well.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

budgeting... what do you guys do about holidays? do you save up and buy something nice once in a while (every year or 2 or 6mo or what?) or do you spread out and get moderately good stuff for all the occasions (xmas, val, bday, anniv)? now that i've been reading ps for a while i have some sense of what you can get at what price, but i could really use some of you guys' experience in terms of budgeting... what works, what's good, what's bad, and what's the ugly!

(in terms of ugly, i bought about 15 stones on ebay one night, luckily they were all $20 stones, and now i know to avoid gem shows, which was exactly where i was expecting to go one of these days!)

Been there, done that. Have ugly stones to prove it (they did come in handy for setting practice, eventually).

I think it all depends on you. Some people are happier with a single, better piece. Others prefer a variety of less expensive things they can switch and vary. My own purchases aren't tied with specific holidays and, in fact, I tend to be somewhat of an impulse buyer - when I find something I love from a seller I trust and that is within my budget, I buy it. It comes out of my "fun money" and all is well. If I want a more expensive thing, I save up for it.

 

[pregcurious]

I save up for the big purchases, which I count towards Xmas, an anniversary, or a birthday. I allow myself small purchases (<$75) every once in a while, but they're always for a specific project in mind which gets rolled into a "big purchase" (e.g. setting 10 lower cost stones into a custom necklace that in total is expensive.)

I think that makes me less a collector of stones, but a planner and collector of special jewelry pieces.

 

[minousbijoux]

I save up for the big purchases, which I count towards Xmas, an anniversary, or a birthday. I allow myself small purchases (<$75) every once in a while, but they're always for a specific project in mind which gets rolled into a "big purchase"

I aspire to be like you Preg, but in the meantime, I'll plug along. I only bought one piece of rough at the show, so I'm happy with myself. I saw the most amazing set of Russian demantoids, but I'll start another thread on those.

 

[pregcurious]

Thanks, Minous, but I suspect my habits might change as I do this for longer. I just started buying stones a few years ago, and am finally setting my first piece.

When I saw the title of this thread, I thought it was going to be about how some PSers got rowdy at Intergem, and started some Black Friday crazy antics over a stone

 

[minousbijoux]

"Occupy Intergem"

 

[chrono]

When I saw the title of this thread, I thought it was going to be about how some PSers got rowdy at Intergem, and started some Black Friday crazy antics over a stone

Ditto: I thought you were going to complain about people hogging a stone, long lines, the crowd and etc.