MDC Diamonds on Ebay - also in NYC ? Are they reputable?

[jewelgal]

I saw a gorgeous ring on ebay and it is being sold by
mdc diamonds of nyc - anyone have any dealings w/ them?

 

[pearcrazy]

I had a rather strange experience with them. I had seen a ring on Ebay that I liked. I was only interested in the center diamond and not the complete ring so I called them and inquired as to whether they would sell me only the center diamond. The said they would and quoted me a price for the center stone. I agreed to send the money via certified check overnight and they were to ship the diamond the next day to arrive before I left for vacation. A mysterious thing happened. They called to say they'd received an empty UPS envelope. I was horrified and went nuts trying to get a stop payment on the check from my bank.

What baffled me was that at first they told me that the envelope arrived completely sealed. That story changed when I said I'd put the check in a white envelope from my bank with my name and address on the outside and personally sealed the envelope myself at the shipping outlet. Then they told me the outer envelope was open at one end upon arrival. I called UPS and they told me that damaged items are usually noted on delivery by the driver and no notation of damage was made. I really don't know what happened and who was at fault. I had theories that they didn't realize that they couldn't ship the diamond until the certified check cleared (which takes at least 5 business days even though the funds are certified) and were looking for a way to stall me. The UPS Store (MailBoxes Etc.) refunded my money for shipping and stop payment fees at my bank even after UPS said I wouldn't be reimbursed which also made me scratch my head. I smelled a rat, I just didn't know where I smelled it.

Long story short, my bank wouldn't re-credit the funds back to my account for 90 days after the stop payment order. The check was never presented for payment nor did it ever turn up. I called MDC diamonds and told them to return the diamond to stock, that even if I did decide to purchase it would be at least 3 months before I'd have the funds to do so. In the meantime, I found PS and did some more homework. By the time my 3 months was up and my funds returned to my account, I'd found a GIA certified stone that was better clarity at DCD for only $100 more than the MDC stone (which carry some sort of lab certification I've never heard of).

I'd also seen a negative disappear from their Ebay feedback that sent them back to 100% Very strange, I didn't think negatives could be removed without a notation about being mutually withdrawn. Be careful of the color and clarity they post, I see very few stones above a G and above a SI1. Knowing a little more about depth and table percentages that I learned here, some of their stones are a little deep too. Just know what you are looking at over there and then run a PS search over here to see what a similar diamond with a GIA certificate will run you here.

 

[jewelgal]

WOW pear crazy! what a story! I am sure glad u told me.. the ring is gorgeous - i wonder if another jeweler can get a hold of that setting??? because i like it but would wnat the center stone higher and color better....

Thank you so much for your story- I'm so glad u told it!

 

[pearcrazy]

Which one are you looking at? I've never seen a setting there that I haven't seen elsewhere. Also, their pictures are stock photos, not the actual stone in the actual setting.

Like I said, I don't know where I smelled the rat. MDC could have been totally innocent in the whole thing, it's just that with every phone call I made their story changed just a little bit. I'll never know what really happened. I'm just glad that I eventually got my money back.

 

[dg23]

Not sure if you bought a ring already, but FYI... after much research, I bought a ring and anniversary band from MDC diamonds. It was a 2ct center stone with 1.5tcw side stones. I figured they had the 100% 10-day money back guarantee, I could always send it back. Upon receipt I had it appraised by two local jewelers (both GIA certified gemologists).
I was pleased to find the ring and matching anniversary band were just what they were represented to be. In fact, one of the appraisers said that the side stones looked to be a slightly better color than the GHI certificate stated. Both appraisals valued the replacement cost of rings at least $1300 more than what I paid for them.
All in all, I would buy from them again. They were nice to do business with.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 3/10/2005 7:11:25 PM
Author: dg23
Not sure if you bought a ring already, but FYI... after much research, I bought a ring and anniversary band from MDC diamonds. It was a 2ct center stone with 1.5tcw side stones. I figured they had the 100% 10-day money back guarantee, I could always send it back. Upon receipt I had it appraised by two local jewelers (both GIA certified gemologists).
I was pleased to find the ring and matching anniversary band were just what they were represented to be. In fact, one of the appraisers said that the side stones looked to be a slightly better color than the GHI certificate stated. Both appraisals valued the replacement cost of rings at least $1300 more than what I paid for them.
All in all, I would buy from them again. They were nice to do business with.

their certificate said G-H-I for the color? that''s a wide range.

any diamond should appraise at least 30% more than what you paid.

 

[pearcrazy]

Just to clarify, DFire I believe that GHI is the name of their grading lab and not the color of the diamonds. I''m with you though, any diamond should appraise for AT LEAST 30% more than was paid.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 3/10/2005 9:28:55 PM
Author: pearcrazy
Just to clarify, DFire I believe that GHI is the name of their grading lab and not the color of the diamonds. I''m with you though, any diamond should appraise for AT LEAST 30% more than was paid.

pearcrazy

thanks for the clarification,well ...that tells you how much i know never hear of that lab before

i was told its normal for a smaller stones to appraise close to 2x the amount paid? which doesn''t mean anything.

 

[Sunni79]

Hi, I corresponded with MDC Diamonds through email about a couple of stones. They annswered my questions very honestly but the diamonds always seemed to me to be either good in color but poor in clarity or vice versa. All the pics of the rings are stock photos so you don''t really know what you are getting. I read the post from the person who had a bad experience with them. I personally wouldn''t buy a stone from them because you might go through a similar situation. I recently had a pleasant experience with Diamonds By Lauren. I bought a 1.50ct yellow diamond and I couldn''t be happier with it. I will post pics under the show me your ring forum in a couple of days. I thoroughly checked out DBL before buying from them and haven''t heard one negative thing.

 

[cute330xigrl]

Date: 3/11/2005 4:10:46 PM
Author: Sunni79
Hi, I corresponded with MDC Diamonds through email about a couple of stones. They annswered my questions very honestly but the diamonds always seemed to me to be either good in color but poor in clarity or vice versa. All the pics of the rings are stock photos so you don''t really know what you are getting. I read the post from the person who had a bad experience with them. I personally wouldn''t buy a stone from them because you might go through a similar situation. I recently had a pleasant experience with Diamonds By Lauren. I bought a 1.50ct yellow diamond and I couldn''t be happier with it. I will post pics under the show me your ring forum in a couple of days. I thoroughly checked out DBL before buying from them and haven''t heard one negative thing.

I agree w/ Sunni79... be careful.

Also, just one other thing to note... DG23 registered the same day he/she posted to this thread. Hmm. However innocent it may truly be, just can''t be too careful. Too many thread stalkers. I say listen to PearCrazy and Sunni79. My opinion, leave it be....