Sending Jewelry Back to Blue Nile

[Maroon3]

Hi, my understanding is that you can send jewelry back to Blue Nile for inspection via the post office only, and that it is recommended that you get insurance for the jewelry. I am thinking of sending them my engagement ring to inspect 2 damaged prongs, but am very nervous about the post office route, even if that is my only option. Has anyone sent any jewelry back to Blue Nile through your post office and gotten insurance, and if so, how was the experience?

 

[glitterata]

I hope some of the vendors who frequently ship diamonds will chime in. It''s my understanding (Wink told me) that shipping by registered mail is the safest way to go. Armored trucks or something like that? It can be a slow trip, but very safe.

 

[mrssalvo]

i''ve sent my ring out twice registered mail and both time it arrived safe and sound. just make sure you have it packaged correctly, the detailed instructions are on the usps.com website site.

 

[Maroon3]

Thanks!

mrssalvo, what state are you in and how long did your package get to Blue Nile both times?? Does the mailing address have "Blue Nile" in it or is it some other designation so that no one can guess the contents of the package?

 

[LesleyH]

Maroon3:

U.S. registered/insured mail is really the safest way for individuals to ship packages of high value. It is the only way we will receive packages from our customers.

LesleyH
www.whiteflash.com

 

[Mara]

If it's a ring, aka jewelry piece and not a loose stone, you can also send it by UPS insured.

I hate USPS Registered Insured because it takes so flippin' long, I mean what makes someone feel good about an expensive jewelry piece floating around in the USPS system for 3-7 days? I practically can't sleep the whole time when I have sent pricey items this way. I know they get locked up etc etc but it's the timeline for me that just doesn't work for me.

But with UPS, they insure jewelry...and you can do next day AM so at least if I drop it off at 5pm at the UPS facility I only have one night to worry about it and it arrives by 10am the next morning. Then I know if it doesn't, I really have something to worry about!

I don't know about the loss stats between with something like USPS vs UPS or what the claims are like with either or, but last time I asked the gal if they ever lose items, she said of course they do...but nothing 'insured for this much' so that at least made me feel better and it arrived the next day just fine.

So I know everyone says USPS is the way to go and for a lesser item I would maybe agree...but I was happy with UPS last time. I know lots of people here have used USPS and been pleased, I have used it a time or two myself and been fine as well. Just know that you may have another option if you wanted.

Edited to add: However you send it, be sure to get the return address from BN and find out if you have to get a RA #. And I'm sure it will not be addressed to 'Blue Nile' because that is like inviting a thief to take your pacakge! It may have initials or something like BNI or something. I think WF's is something like WFC.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 7/24/2005 9:37:25 PM
Author:Maroon3
Hi, my understanding is that you can send jewelry back to Blue Nile for inspection via the post office only, and that it is recommended that you get insurance for the jewelry. I am thinking of sending them my engagement ring to inspect 2 damaged prongs, but am very nervous about the post office route, even if that is my only option. Has anyone sent any jewelry back to Blue Nile through your post office and gotten insurance, and if so, how was the experience?

wouldn''t it be easier to have a local jeweler to fix problem for you?

 

[OldBride]

This doesn''t make sense. Most of the vendors send packages via FedEx. Why then would you only accept a return via US Mail?

 

[kenny]

I have bought and shipped diamonds a few times.
Packages always come UPS or FedEx, but I always ship USPS.

I know some vendors have *private* insurance contracts, UPS and FedEx may be doing the shipping but they are not always doing the insuring.
One vendor I bought from shipped UPS and when I went to pick up the package it was just sitting on the shelf in plain view with all the other low value packages.
I asked the vendor and they said they feel it is best to not draw attention to the package.
They said if they insured it through UPS it is more likely to be stolen buy UPS personnel.
Humans are humans and humans are everywhere.

When I ship USPS I always send regesterd, insured, return reciept requested.
Also the DO have a faster way to send registered.
I forget if it is Priority or Express; I think it is Express.
It is not next day, but it is 2 or 3 days.
For a $15,000 package it is only about $25.
The same package sent and insured through UPS is something like $150.

FedEx won't allow a private individual to insure for that amount.

One more thing.
I prefer fewer humans touch my package, and for my package to move as little as possible.
That is why I don't give my address.
I Instruct the vendor to tell UPS to hold the package for pick up.
Then I show up right when the doors open, so it doesn't sit around.

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 7/24/2005 11:12:20 PM
Author: Maroon3
Thanks!


mrssalvo, what state are you in and how long did your package get to Blue Nile both times?? Does the mailing address have ''Blue Nile'' in it or is it some other designation so that no one can guess the contents of the package?

I''ve never shipped to bluenile but I''ve shipped to Richard Sherwood in Florida and it took 10 days

the second time I shipped I sent it to Quest Jewelers in the DC area and it only took 2 days

Both companies had a "special" title to ship to, so the average mail carryier would have no idea of it''s contents.

I have also heard that many jewelers have special insurance contracts with fed ex, usp, etc. that are not available to us. If you truly worried, you an always check to see if you can send it UPS but it will cost a lot more $$ to ship. As long as your package is insrured i''d try not to worry too much, chance are it will arrive just fine

 

[Maroon3]

Thank you all very much for your input!

Dancing Fire, I am struggling between taking my ring to a local jeweler and sending it back to BN. Part of the tip of two platinum prongs appears to have chipped off. I know platinum can chip but it seems odd as to the location of these chips. I don''t know which local jeweler to go to. I have gone to two downtown jewelers (I''m in Chicago) already and did not have good experiences with them. So I am debating whether to just send my ring back to BN, and I think they only accept packages from USPS. The dilemma there becomes the wait time, which, based upon the helpful posts I have received, may take as long as a week.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 7/25/2005 9:05:14 AM
Author: Maroon3
Thank you all very much for your input!

Dancing Fire, I am struggling between taking my ring to a local jeweler and sending it back to BN. Part of the tip of two platinum prongs appears to have chipped off. I know platinum can chip but it seems odd as to the location of these chips. I don''t know which local jeweler to go to. I have gone to two downtown jewelers (I''m in Chicago) already and did not have good experiences with them. So I am debating whether to just send my ring back to BN, and I think they only accept packages from USPS. The dilemma there becomes the wait time, which, based upon the helpful posts I have received, may take as long as a week.

if you''re going ship it back to BN,USPS is the way to go.

 

[sjz]

I''ve shipped items several times via USPS registered insured mail. Everything I''ve ever sent has arrived safe and sound, and inside of 3-4 days. I know that can seem like an eternity, but that''s worth it to know it''s being shipped safely. The package won''t be thrown in with the rest of the parcels, it''s hand transferred, and locked up during tansport. It has to be signed in and out at each and every point of the journey. That''s why it takes longer.

I know when I''ve picked up packages, both from Fed-Ex and UPS, when I went to the counter and asked for my package, it was just sitting on a shelf behind the counter in plain sight with all the other packages. Didn''t seem all that secure to me

. But then again, it did get to my "overnight". The last package I got via Fed-Ex was pretty crunched looking when I got it, too. Thank heaven for the extemely good packing the item had, or else it might have been damaged!

I wouldn''t have any qualms about sending jewelry, or anything else via the USPS.

 

[Mara]

kenny the last time i shipped something when i was figuring out USPS vs UPS...i was told in that thread that the Priority option of Registered Insured would still take just as long as the regular option so to not overpay for the Priority option...or that is what I got out of the discussion anyway! So I have never had the nerve to try it since it sounds like it all gets locked up in the same place and goes the same pace regardless.

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 7/26/2005 1:30:31 AM
Author: Mara
kenny the last time i shipped something when i was figuring out USPS vs UPS...i was told in that thread that the Priority option of Registered Insured would still take just as long as the regular option so to not overpay for the Priority option...or that is what I got out of the discussion anyway! So I have never had the nerve to try it since it sounds like it all gets locked up in the same place and goes the same pace regardless.

I have heard this directly from my postman. He said sending priority registered mail will not make it get there any faster. all registered mail goes into the same bag and is locked up together and it always moves at it''s own pace

 

[Iceman]

How far in the booneys do you live ? I would take it to a local jeweler, why take a risk. Things get lost in the mail , fedx, ups its part of life. Send it out and roll the dice , but for something as simple as that I would go to your local jeweler unless you live too far away from a city.

Best of luck

Corey J.

 

[cutes814]

I would recommend sending it USPS registered, insured with signature return slip. Sure registered mail takes longer (4-5 days), but it is much safer and I wouldn''t want to risk it.

I just sent back my diamond to WF through USPS registered mail. I agree with everyone else here, if you MUST send it back, use USPS registered mail, insured mail.