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- Jul 31, 2014
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This is my speculation.
Even when wholesalers are willing to sell to retail customers, they might not have the best items for them because they have some kind of agreement with other companies who buy lots or bags of pearls from them. It's because they don't want one off customers, they want returned customers to keep their business going. If say an unknown customer approaching them, they will of course sell you some pearls but I bet they won't show you the best item that they have because the best has been reserved for their better known clients.
Therefore, pearl retail buyers keep purchasing hoping to find the best pearls with reasonable price and in the end, the price they pay for their quest for the best pearl strand could easily add up to the retail price of a strand from the best known brand out there. It's because during their quest, they keep buying because they are not satisfied with their items at hand knowing that it's not AAA or not equal to AAA of a big brand.
That's why retail buyers save a lot by going straight to big brand because once you are satisfied with what you have, you are less likely to keep wanting more and keep buying.
This is my speculation because I know something about art galleries. This is how they sell arts, they want you to buy the not so 'Wow' piece before they show you the masterpiece from the modern artist.
For pearls, I suspect it's the same.
That's why for people who want grand pearls or surpearls, be prepared to spend a lot on the less fulfilling pearls before they show you the 'wow' pearls. And in the end, tell me how much in total you have paid in order to get that grand pearls or Surpearls. And add that all up, does it equal to the same amount of a strand in a big brand?
Yes, you have a few more strands you can argue but you have a few strands that you might not be happy with. That's what I am saying.
You are very wrong. General pearl and many others will sell granpearl strands to someone who has never purchased before. They are $$, but no one is hiding them.