Newbie's experience buying from "closer to source" sellers

[theredspinel]

Just to correct and clarify.


My discounts were the same for a regular customer or a new customer. Never had two fixed prices for one stone or stones for any customer(s). If the customer did not ask for a discount, then they paid the posted price. But over half did ask for a better price and depending on how much I paid for the stone was what I could do for a discounted price, but never more than 20%. My prices were reasonable to begin with.

Oh, I am not selling anymore.

This is why I always ask for a discount haha! Don’t ask - don’t get!

 

[LilAlex]

I personally never raised my prices after the initial price

My favorite local B&M place is like this for all of their vintage/antique stuff. They would price it high and the market would eventually catch up. Some things sat there for a decade -- I could "visit" my favorites and always count on their being there . Until they weren't. Also, there was a (now) antique ring that I virtually "visited" at Lang for five years before finally pulling the trigger (over mostly FOMO). Price never moved but the market had -- although not so much for this unique thing with probably limited appeal.

 

[Cinders]

OP, I understand why you might feel this way & create this thread. I also understand why you won't name the vendor. I also find this thread helpful even though no specifics are given.

I am probably not someone who will ever be a VIP in the gemstone/jewelry world. On any level. I am someone who loves gems. So, in that context, I wholeheartedly agree that the price increases you encountered seem unreasonable. A blue sapphire, while admittedly popular, is not so rare or hard to find as to justify such massive leaps in price.

Who knows, though?

 

[LightBright]

I’m late to the thread. I’ve been noticing price increases on specific “in-demand” jewels and jewelry across the board. For example, I’m surprised at what vendors are asking for antique diamonds and sapphires in particular. This is after decades of me watching antique diamonds be undervalued and underappreciated… Likewise, I recently read an interview with an India based gem cutter/vendor of non-diamond stones, who remarked that his biggest surprise about Western buyers is how much they were willing to spend. I reviewed this particular vendor‘s prices (and others in similar location) recently and they seem to have increased/are surprisingly high; rivaling now US based vendors. So I think increasing demand for certain things, ease of shipping and purchasing internationally, and “willingness to pay more” has impacted everyone/all aspects of the jewelry business globally.

 

[Voodoo Child]

Something for the OP to consider…in sales, time is money, and people who sell things often develop a sixth sense about customer intentions. If a vendor, aka sales person, feels that you aren’t a serious buyer or that you are a difficult buyer, they will often give you a ridiculous quote in order to get rid of you because they think that you are wasting their time. A lot of times their gut instinct is correct, but sometimes it is not. Now let me be clear…I am NOT saying that OP wasn’t ready to purchase, or that OP was difficult to deal with. The OP may have inadvertently given off that vibe, or the vendor might just be a jerk.

When I was a much younger man, I had a sales job buying and selling widgets. Sometimes we would get a very rare widget in that we knew we could get top dollar for. The widget price guide might say it’s worth $5,000, but in our market we knew we could get $8,000 for it. I’m not going to sell it to someone for $5,000 if I know I have a very realistic chance of selling it quickly for $8,000. Customers would often see $5,000 in the price guide and think that the widget should automatically be sold for that price, or less. They’d get mad at us for asking $8,000. Also, If someone comes in that I reasonably believe doesn’t have the money or intention to purchase the widget (we used to call them strokes, because they’d stroke your ego to make you think they’re going to buy and then never buy anything), I’m going to tell them that the price of the widget is $10,000 just to get them out of my store. Sorry, that might sound harsh, and sometimes I might have done that to someone who legitimately wanted to buy, but I don’t have time to do an in-depth analysis of every customer that contacts me when I have a busy store to run. If you’re giving me the vibe that you’re a stroke, 99% of the time you are, and I’d rather focus my time and energy on someone that I think I have a better chance of getting a sale from.

 

[fredflintstone]

Something for the OP to consider…in sales, time is money, and people who sell things often develop a sixth sense about customer intentions. If a vendor, aka sales person, feels that you aren’t a serious buyer or that you are a difficult buyer, they will often give you a ridiculous quote in order to get rid of you because they think that you are wasting their time. A lot of times their gut instinct is correct, but sometimes it is not. Now let me be clear…I am NOT saying that OP wasn’t ready to purchase, or that OP was difficult to deal with. The OP may have inadvertently given off that vibe, or the vendor might just be a jerk.

When I was a much younger man, I had a sales job buying and selling widgets. Sometimes we would get a very rare widget in that we knew we could get top dollar for. The widget price guide might say it’s worth $5,000, but in our market we knew we could get $8,000 for it. I’m not going to sell it to someone for $5,000 if I know I have a very realistic chance of selling it quickly for $8,000. Customers would often see $5,000 in the price guide and think that the widget should automatically be sold for that price, or less. They’d get mad at us for asking $8,000. Also, If someone comes in that I reasonably believe doesn’t have the money or intention to purchase the widget (we used to call them strokes, because they’d stroke your ego to make you think they’re going to buy and then never buy anything), I’m going to tell them that the price of the widget is $10,000 just to get them out of my store. Sorry, that might sound harsh, and sometimes I might have done that to someone who legitimately wanted to buy, but I don’t have time to do an in-depth analysis of every customer that contacts me when I have a busy store to run. If you’re giving me the vibe that you’re a stroke, 99% of the time you are, and I’d rather focus my time and energy on someone that I think I have a better chance of getting a sale from.

Though I never raised the price on a person who was difficult or insincere, I agree 100% with what you wrote. Countless hours of time waisted. Of taking pictures and video waisted, of writing novels (LOL) to the potential customer that nine times out of ten I knew he/she was not going to buy, until I finally said, there is no more I can do.

I know all this was part of my job, but there are people who make it very difficult to the point you say, no more.

 

[theredspinel]

I’m late to the thread. I’ve been noticing price increases on specific “in-demand” jewels and jewelry across the board. For example, I’m surprised at what vendors are asking for antique diamonds and sapphires in particular. This is after decades of me watching antique diamonds be undervalued and underappreciated… Likewise, I recently read an interview with an India based gem cutter/vendor of non-diamond stones, who remarked that his biggest surprise about Western buyers is how much they were willing to spend. I reviewed this particular vendor‘s prices (and others in similar location) recently and they seem to have increased/are surprisingly high; rivaling now US based vendors. So I think increasing demand for certain things, ease of shipping and purchasing internationally, and “willingness to pay more” has impacted everyone/all aspects of the jewelry business globally.

I hate that this is so true. People (me included) pay stupid prices!

 

[theredspinel]

Something for the OP to consider…in sales, time is money, and people who sell things often develop a sixth sense about customer intentions. If a vendor, aka sales person, feels that you aren’t a serious buyer or that you are a difficult buyer, they will often give you a ridiculous quote in order to get rid of you because they think that you are wasting their time. A lot of times their gut instinct is correct, but sometimes it is not. Now let me be clear…I am NOT saying that OP wasn’t ready to purchase, or that OP was difficult to deal with. The OP may have inadvertently given off that vibe, or the vendor might just be a jerk.

When I was a much younger man, I had a sales job buying and selling widgets. Sometimes we would get a very rare widget in that we knew we could get top dollar for. The widget price guide might say it’s worth $5,000, but in our market we knew we could get $8,000 for it. I’m not going to sell it to someone for $5,000 if I know I have a very realistic chance of selling it quickly for $8,000. Customers would often see $5,000 in the price guide and think that the widget should automatically be sold for that price, or less. They’d get mad at us for asking $8,000. Also, If someone comes in that I reasonably believe doesn’t have the money or intention to purchase the widget (we used to call them strokes, because they’d stroke your ego to make you think they’re going to buy and then never buy anything), I’m going to tell them that the price of the widget is $10,000 just to get them out of my store. Sorry, that might sound harsh, and sometimes I might have done that to someone who legitimately wanted to buy, but I don’t have time to do an in-depth analysis of every customer that contacts me when I have a busy store to run. If you’re giving me the vibe that you’re a stroke, 99% of the time you are, and I’d rather focus my time and energy on someone that I think I have a better chance of getting a sale from.

I understand your frustration but this attitude is as ridiculous as a teacher saying a child is unwilling to listen so they won’t teach, a doctor saying a patient is unwilling to exercise so they won’t do their essential surgery, a parent saying their child is disobedient so they won’t parent them anymore.

Whilst all the frustrations are understandable and indeed human, the world has progressed and continues to progress because on the whole, logic and intelligence superceeds base emotions.

When someone walked into your store and browsed and asked you a hundred questions, they wernt wasting yours or their own time; they were learning.

Eventually that learning led to a sale, a sale and end product which probably would have made them smile to recollect decades later. That is the sign of a life lived well!! A life in which the person grew, not just in body but brain too. Someone, anyone, taking the time to educate themselves is NEVER wrong, not ever. It is never a waste of anyones time.

 

[Voodoo Child]

I understand your frustration but this attitude is as ridiculous as a teacher saying a child is unwilling to listen so they won’t teach, a doctor saying a patient is unwilling to exercise so they won’t do their essential surgery, a parent saying their child is disobedient so they won’t parent them anymore.

Whilst all the frustrations are understandable and indeed human, the world has progressed and continues to progress because on the whole, logic and intelligence superceeds base emotions.

When someone walked into your store and browsed and asked you a hundred questions, they wernt wasting yours or their own time; they were learning.

Eventually that learning led to a sale, a sale and end product which probably would have made them smile to recollect decades later. That is the sign of a life lived well!! A life in which the person grew, not just in body but brain too. Someone, anyone, taking the time to educate themselves is NEVER wrong, not ever. It is never a waste of anyones time.

Them learning isn’t keeping a roof over my head or putting food on my table. I’m a business, not a library. In economics, they talk about opportunity cost, which is basically what are you giving up for what you are actually getting. I’m not going to give up a bunch of paying customers, i.e. money, for one customer who maybe will buy something down the line.

 

[theredspinel]

Them learning isn’t keeping a roof over my head or putting food on my table. I’m a business, not a library. In economics, they talk about opportunity cost, which is basically what are you giving up for what you are actually getting. I’m not going to give up a bunch of paying customers, i.e. money, for one customer who maybe will buy something down the line.

But do you also not understand them (customers) willy nilly handing over their hard earned money is not keeping a roof over their heads either nor putting food on their table? The way you value money as a seller, guess what, customers value money in the same way.

Correct you were a business not a library it’s a good thing they didn’t walk into your store to read a book, they walked in to purchase something.

Would you purchase a single thing without knowing the first thing about it and how did you learn about buying a home, a car, heck even a hat without educating yourself first? What about your coat, you know what fit you like, what material works for you, what colours suit you best, how did you learn all this if not via *learning*.

Did you also not look at things, learn about what is best for you before purchasing or are you the first human to walk around throwing money forward, arms out just happily expecting whatever to fall into your arms, in exchange for your money. I think not.

The correct opportunity cost decision is the reason why some businesses thrive and make people millionaires and others sink, bringing nothing but stress and ill will. Not implying yours didn’t thrive, just general saying.

 

[theredspinel]

Like all things in life, the art and science of conducting a business clearly isn’t for everyone. Everyone can be (and is) a customer for something though!

 

[Voodoo Child]

But do you also not understand them (customers) willy nilly handing over their hard earned money is not keeping a roof over their heads either nor putting food on their table? The way you value money as a seller, guess what, customers value money in the same way.

Correct you were a business not a library it’s a good thing they didn’t walk into your store to read a book, they walked in to purchase something.

Would you purchase a single thing without knowing the first thing about it and how did you learn about buying a home, a car, heck even a hat without educating yourself first? What about your coat, you know what fit you like, what material works for you, what colours suit you best, how did you learn all this if not via *learning*.

Did you also not look at things, learn about what is best for you before purchasing or are you the first human to walk around throwing money forward, arms out just happily expecting whatever to fall into your arms, in exchange for your money. I think not.

The correct opportunity cost decision is the reason why some businesses thrive and make people millionaires and others sink, bringing nothing but stress and ill will. Not implying yours didn’t thrive, just general saying.

I think you are misunderstanding what I am trying to say, and that’s my fault for not being clearer. I’m not saying that business owners/sales people shouldn’t treat their customers respectfully. Of course they should! I’ve never had a problem providing knowledge and education to serious customers. Or, if it’s a slow day, I’ll gladly provide it to non-serious customers. But, and this is the important part, if it is busy or even steady, I don’t have time to waste with people who are non-serious buyers. Spending time with them is literally costing me money. It’s nothing personal. I don’t dislike them. I just have limited resources and need to allocate those resources carefully.

 

[fredflintstone]

But do you also not understand them (customers) willy nilly handing over their hard earned money is not keeping a roof over their heads either nor putting food on their table? The way you value money as a seller, guess what, customers value money in the same way.

Correct you were a business not a library it’s a good thing they didn’t walk into your store to read a book, they walked in to purchase something.

Would you purchase a single thing without knowing the first thing about it and how did you learn about buying a home, a car, heck even a hat without educating yourself first? What about your coat, you know what fit you like, what material works for you, what colours suit you best, how did you learn all this if not via *learning*.

Did you also not look at things, learn about what is best for you before purchasing or are you the first human to walk around throwing money forward, arms out just happily expecting whatever to fall into your arms, in exchange for your money. I think not.

The correct opportunity cost decision is the reason why some businesses thrive and make people millionaires and others sink, bringing nothing but stress and ill will. Not implying yours didn’t thrive, just general saying.

When we are speaking of gemstones and jewelry, these are luxury items. It is a want not a need. You are buying something that while it makes you happy, it is a status symbol, something to show off. It is not essential to life. No one is twisting the consumer's arm to buy luxury items. Many would be better off paying their bills instead. I've cut off buyers before because they became addicted to buying gemstones to the point of bankruptsy. I tell you no lies.

Comparing learning to buy gemstones and jewelry to learning to buy a coat to keep you warm, a house to give you shelter, a car so you can go to work, the hospital, the grocery store and a million other necessary functions for life is I'm sorry, a very, very weak argument, that has its basis in self-gratification. Nothing to do with the essentials of life.

Tell this not only to us who have or do this to feed our families in this first world, but the starving in the third world that risk their lives so you can have a shiny bauble. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but it is the truth.

You may retort in saying it is your/the consumer money that feeds us all, but those of us from the source to the jewelry store are giving up large amounts of income (buying the inventory with no gurantee it will sale) for you to have something you really do not need, and when the consumer comes and wastes our time, that is valuable time that we could put to use promoting our product and garnering real sales to give us the essentials of life and to keep our employees employed and the third world miners their life giving source of money to provide a living for their families and the hard truth that many risk their lives in doing so.

 

[PrecisionGem]

When you think of buying closer to the source, are you referring to the mining location, or the cutting location? A lot of the stones sold from dealers in Asia, are not stones that are mined in Asia. Even many of the sapphire sold from Sri Lanka are mined in Madagascar. The biggest buyers of sapphire rough from Madagascar are guys from Sri Lanka. I'm not aware of any stones mined in Bangkok, but there are a lot of stones cut and sold there.

 

[fredflintstone]

When you think of buying closer to the source, are you referring to the mining location, or the cutting location? A lot of the stones sold from dealers in Asia, are not stones that are mined in Asia. Even many of the sapphire sold from Sri Lanka are mined in Madagascar. The biggest buyers of sapphire rough from Madagascar are guys from Sri Lanka. I'm not aware of any stones mined in Bangkok, but there are a lot of stones cut and sold there.

Yes, this is true, and it used to be that 80% of the world's colored gemstones were brokered in Thailand.

 

[theredspinel]

I think you are misunderstanding what I am trying to say, and that’s my fault for not being clearer. I’m not saying that business owners/sales people shouldn’t treat their customers respectfully. Of course they should! I’ve never had a problem providing knowledge and education to serious customers. Or, if it’s a slow day, I’ll gladly provide it to non-serious customers. But, and this is the important part, if it is busy or even steady, I don’t have time to waste with people who are non-serious buyers. Spending time with them is literally costing me money. It’s nothing personal. I don’t dislike them. I just have limited resources and need to allocate those resources carefully.

Oh yes that’s a whole different ballgame, wanting or expecting enlightening conversation from a store manager / employee on busy days is just plain rude!

 

[theredspinel]

When we are speaking of gemstones and jewelry, these are luxury items. It is a want not a need. You are buying something that while it makes you happy, it is a status symbol, something to show off. It is not essential to life. No one is twisting the consumer's arm to buy luxury items. Many would be better off paying their bills instead. I've cut off buyers before because they became addicted to buying gemstones to the point of bankruptsy. I tell you no lies.

Comparing learning to buy gemstones and jewelry to learning to buy a coat to keep you warm, a house to give you shelter, a car so you can go to work, the hospital, the grocery store and a million other necessary functions for life is I'm sorry, a very, very weak argument, that has its basis in self-gratification. Nothing to do with the essentials of life.

Tell this not only to us who have or do this to feed our families in this first world, but the starving in the third world that risk their lives so you can have a shiny bauble. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but it is the truth.

You may retort in saying it is your/the consumer money that feeds us all, but those of us from the source to the jewelry store are giving up large amounts of income (buying the inventory with no gurantee it will sale) for you to have something you really do not need, and when the consumer comes and wastes our time, that is valuable time that we could put to use promoting our product and garnering real sales to give us the essentials of life and to keep our employees employed and the third world miners their life giving source of money to provide a living for their families and the hard truth that many risk their lives in doing so.

I really do not understand the logic behind this argument, or even what the argument you are making is.

The point behind comparing being a knowledgable consumer in gemstone buying to being a knowledgable consumer in any other facet of life was not to say gemstone buying is essential knowledge, it was literally to make the point that every facet of life you are a consumer in - it is always wise to be a knowledgeable consumer.

Are you arguing that only life essentials deem having any basic knowledge, and everything else is life should be done knowledge less? It not, we are not disagreeing.

You touched upon some reasons behind buying luxury items, again that’s not what’s being discussed here. You also tried to allude to some (lack of) morality in being a gemstone customer ?? Which to be honest makes me laugh. Says the (former) gemstone dealer LOL.

 

[fredflintstone]

I really do not understand the logic behind this argument, or even what the argument you are making is.

The point behind comparing being a knowledgable consumer in gemstone buying to being a knowledgable consumer in any other facet of life was not to say gemstone buying is essential knowledge, it was literally to make the point that every facet of life you are a consumer in - it is always wise to be a knowledgeable consumer.

Are you arguing that only life essentials deem having any basic knowledge, and everything else is life should be done knowledge less? It not, we are not disagreeing.

You touched upon some reasons behind buying luxury items, again that’s not what’s being discussed here. You also tried to allude to some (lack of) morality in being a gemstone customer ?? Which to be honest makes me laugh. Says the (former) gemstone dealer LOL.

If we are not discussing luxury items, then what are we discussing? You know what we are discussing. This thread is about buying gemstones and what one deems unfair practices, prices. Though you were talking about "Widgets," this is the same anology. Something is rare, someone has to have it because, it is rare.


"But do you also not understand them (customers) willy nilly handing over their hard earned money is not keeping a roof over their heads either nor putting food on their table? The way you value money as a seller, guess what, customers value money in the same way."

"Would you purchase a single thing without knowing the first thing about it and how did you learn about buying a home, a car, heck even a hat without educating yourself first? What about your coat, you know what fit you like, what material works for you, what colours suit you best, how did you learn all this if not via *learning*."

These two paragraphs are positive proof of what I was saying as far as you comparing luxury items to essential life priorities, especially the first paragraph. Got to love this sentence - "But do you also not understand them (customers) willy nilly handing over their hard earned money is not keeping a roof over their heads either nor putting food on their table?" - If you’re going to complain about buying luxury items with your hard earned money, then you probably should not be buying them in the first place and put that money in the roof over your head and the food on your table.

As far as money goes for us sellers, it means the same thing to all of us, sellers, and consumers alike, that were not born so rich that money is no object.

"You touched upon some reasons behind buying luxury items, again that’s not what’s being discussed here. You also tried to allude to some (lack of) morality in being a gemstone customer ?? Which to be honest makes me laugh. Says the (former) gemstone dealer LOL."

There is a lack of morality when you constantly complain about gemstone and jewelry prices. Constantly brag about getting discounts from listed prices, with glee, I might add. Because what you do not realize (or just don't care about) is that all this trickles down the very source, the miner. When we get less money, they get less money. When we do not sale gemstones, we do not buy gemstones. Be honest, you don't give two sh@#$s about the miners, the source dealers, the wholesalers, the retailers, all you care about is what you can get and how cheap you can get it.

Says, the former gemstone dealer.

 

[theredspinel]

If we are not discussing luxury items, then what are we discussing? You know what we are discussing. This thread is about buying gemstones and what one deems unfair practices, prices.


"But do you also not understand them (customers) willy nilly handing over their hard earned money is not keeping a roof over their heads either nor putting food on their table? The way you value money as a seller, guess what, customers value money in the same way."

"Would you purchase a single thing without knowing the first thing about it and how did you learn about buying a home, a car, heck even a hat without educating yourself first? What about your coat, you know what fit you like, what material works for you, what colours suit you best, how did you learn all this if not via *learning*."

These two paragraphs are positive proof of what I was saying as far as you comparing luxury items to essential life priorities, especially the first paragraph. Got to love this sentence - "But do you also not understand them (customers) willy nilly handing over their hard earned money is not keeping a roof over their heads either nor putting food on their table?" - If you’re going to complain about buying luxury items with your hard earned money, then you probably should not be buying them in the first place and put that money in the roof over your head and the food on your table.

As far as money goes for us sellers, it means the same thing to all of us, sellers, and consumers alike, that were not born so rich that money is no object.

"You touched upon some reasons behind buying luxury items, again that’s not what’s being discussed here. You also tried to allude to some (lack of) morality in being a gemstone customer ?? Which to be honest makes me laugh. Says the (former) gemstone dealer LOL."

There is a lack of morality when you constantly complain about gemstone and jewelry prices. Constantly brag about getting discounts from listed prices, with glee, I might add. Because what you do not realize (or just don't care about) is that all this trickles down the very source, the miner. When we get less money, they get less money. When we do not sale gemstones, we do not buy gemstones. Be honest, you don't give two sh@#$s about the miners, the source dealers, the wholesalers, the retailers, all you care about is what you can get and how cheap you can get it.

Says, the former gemstone dealer.

You’ve clearly got some chips on your shoulders, further confounded by a basic inability to follow along a conversation or apply any understanding.

I said to voodoo child, in response to him saying him educating a customer isn’t putting food on his table nor a roof over his head, NOR is it putting the customer food on his table/roof over head by handing over his money to voodoo child *without education*. Do you understand this point? I ask because up until this point, you clearly have not followed the conversation we were having.

A seller may not have time to waste in letting a customer educate themselves by asking questions, likewise, a customer doesn’t have MONEY to waste by buying something wrong for them. Again - do you understand this basic point?

No one is complaining about buying luxury items and for the rest of your diatribe… it’s too nonsensical to respond logically to.

 

[fredflintstone]

You’ve clearly got some chips on your shoulders, further confounded by a basic inability to follow along a conversation or apply any understanding.

I said to voodoo child, in response to him saying him educating a customer isn’t putting food on his table nor a roof over his head, NOR is it putting the customer food on his table/roof over head by handing over his money to voodoo child *without education*. Do you understand this point? I ask because up until this point, you clearly have not followed the conversation we were having.

A seller may not have time to waste in letting a customer educate themselves by asking questions, likewise, a customer doesn’t have MONEY to waste by buying something wrong for them. Again - do you understand this basic point?

No one is complaining about buying luxury items and for the rest of your diatribe… it’s too nonsensical to respond logically to.

I made my point. No point making it more.

 

[minousbijoux]

I've already given the scenario and the prices. That should be enough for someone to have their own opinion on whether a price jump for that type of stone from $5K (not sure whether regular but let's assume it is) by ~100% in 9 months for a non regular is within the realm of normal.

And opinions on what % of discounts to a regular is "fair" varies as well.

Did you tell us the specific type of stone you sought? Without rereading the whole thread, I looked back at your initial post and did not see that you had indicated the stone type. This makes it near impossible to say whether such a price jump in the time period is within the realm of normal. Quite conceivable that some rarer stones might have legitly jumped in price.

Apologies if I missed where you indicated the stone type.

 

[marymm]

OP did state in one of her posts that she was looking at blue sapphires

 

[minousbijoux]

OP did state in one of her posts that she was looking at blue sapphires

TY. Wish it were in the lede, lol

 

[yssie]

I’m glad @Bojambles made this thread.

For those who buy gemstones often - what was said in the initial PSA - which to me amounted to Reminder: Do your own homework to find out what’s fair for what you’re looking for, don’t rely on your association with PS or any specific posters to get you good or even reasonable pricing is obvious. Sure, there are any number of additional details that can skew discussion - and, heck, morality - in any number of directions, but that was and is my takeaway.

To those of us who don’t buy gemstones often, like me, it is actually considerably less obvious. The only gemstones that I claim comfort buying are diamonds, opals, and pearls. And as an end consumer in the US, my access points into the diamond, opal, and pearl markets are in general much more [culturally] transparent, [culturally] forthright, and [culturally] equitable, whether I’m a new customer or not, whether I know what I’m doing or not. This thread is a reminder that other gemstones are bought and sold differently in different parts of the world - so wake up and watch out.

Just an FYI here that I’m the one who reported a couple of posts. I do think some posts are getting overly personal and antagonistic.

 

[minousbijoux]

Thanks, @yssie - some of us tend to miss the point unless it is synthesized down to one sentence and broadcast billboard size (ahem, me)!

 

[Ella]

Folks, let's remember to be kind to each other, this world has enough meanness in it already without bringing it to a jewelry forum.

 

[CaseyLouLou]

Personally, I would never buy from an Instagram seller.
I dislike the “DM for price” and the lack of transparency for success and number of past sales. I get that it’s a “fee free” forum for sellers but are they passing the savings onto the buyer?
I think some make the price up as they go along, they create a sense of urgency and exclusivity which in “lock down times” has blurred the “sight of buyers”. I accept that it’s a marketing technique but it leaves me cold. So I’ll pass thanks all the same.
Ive been on eBay over 20 years. For all its flaws it is one of the best venues for buyers. A buyer can see exactly how long a seller has been selling, how many sales, what they sold and for how much (normally, some set their feedback to Private which I dislike) Plus Paypal is safe and secure to use.

I agree! I posted a question about Instagram buying recently and it irritates the heck out of me so I won’t do it unless the price is listed.

I’m getting so tired of seeing “DM for deets and dibs”. Drives me bonkers! I’m not desperate enough to call dibs.

 

[LD]

Think the point of the thread was to gauge if it was “fair” for “regulars” to get quoted one price and newbies get quoted a heck of a lot more.

It’s just wilful ignorance to try to believe the above doesn’t take place, when confirmation has come from horses mouths so to speak! And yep, I’ll add myself to that, I’ve most assuredly been quoted prices cheaper after becoming a regular customer then the sticker price.

Do I think it’s because I have a special link with the vendor? No. Because I am special? No. Because I have the potential to spend a lot of money? No. Because I am from PS? Heck no. Because I buy often and it’s a good business model? Well duh.

This 100% sums it up perfectly. Nothing more to add!

 

[whitewave]

I also dislike when prices aren’t published, but I have since realized that many sell to retailers, so they say they are protecting the middle man from people knowing how much they bought the stone for.