Anyone else have a bad experience with buying Cartier?

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

I've only recently tumbled down the jewelry rabbit hole, but these types of stories only reinforce my initial impression from my local Cartier boutique. I don't understand how they think this is acceptable. I was turned off by them from my initial experience at Cartier and instead turned to Bulgari and Chopard which have thoroughly impressed me with their customer service. There are so many other options out there.
 
Good news and bad: The Boston store is alternatively claiming that they cannot pull from international stock (huh? Isn't this why I paid them for the bracelet sight unseen 2 months ago?) or that they can pull it in but everything has to go through paris first....But the bracelet is supposedly going to arrive in three weeks. I have waited almost 8 weeks already. They have me stuck at this point. [emoji35]

Absolutely do not pay these people for anything that you cannot leave the store with immediately. Anything they tell you is completely untrustworthy.
 
Last edited:
Did they offer to give you your $$ back? I would buy it in Paris in one of your trips.
Good news and bad: The Boston store is alternatively claiming that they cannot pull from international stock (huh? Isn't this why I paid them for the bracelet sight unseen 2 months ago?) or that they can pull it in but everything has to go through paris first....But the bracelet is supposedly going to arrive in three weeks. I have waited almost 8 weeks already. They have me stuck at this point. [emoji35]

Absolutely do not pay these people for anything that you cannot leave the store with immediately. Anything they tell you is completely untrustworthy.
 
Did they offer to give you your $$ back? I would buy it in Paris in one of your trips.

They did. I'm corresponding with the SA in Paris now to find out how they handle the detaxe etc. The detaxe procedures have been a nightmare lately too. Without that its almost $2000 more. If that works out I'm going to cancel. I just hope they refund my money promptly. Their website says they can take 3 or more weeks to process refunds.
 
They did. I'm corresponding with the SA in Paris now to find out how they handle the detaxe etc. The detaxe procedures have been a nightmare lately too. Without that its almost $2000 more. If that works out I'm going to cancel. I just hope they refund my money promptly. Their website says they can take 3 or more weeks to process refunds.

Do they use Premier or Global Blue for detaxing?
 
Do they use Premier or Global Blue for detaxing?

Good question. I'll ask that too. Although I have had issues with premier paying on my chanel items too. Cash at the airport would be my preference. Or I will be in heaven if I can wire the money and have it shipped with the vat already deducted, Chanel has done that for me in the past.
 
Good question. I'll ask that too. Although I have had issues with premier paying on my chanel items too. Cash at the airport would be my preference. Or I will be in heaven if I can wire the money and have it shipped with the vat already deducted, Chanel has done that for me in the past.

Premier was great after I purchased at the Chanel flagship; I think that I received my refund 1-2 weeks after returning home. Global Blue took around 6 weeks. This was all recent; spring 2017.
 
  • Like
Reactions: EmileH
Well, you have been very patient, I would have already flipped the switch. Chanel premier detax I had problems with but mainly because chanel gave me the wrong copy of the form and after doing everything Chanel told me to do, even going to the french consulate and 6 months later I filed a dispute with my card for the detax amount. I would speak to a manager regarding the return, theres no reason it should take three weeks especially since you placed the order in store. Definitely send corporate an email.
They did. I'm corresponding with the SA in Paris now to find out how they handle the detaxe etc. The detaxe procedures have been a nightmare lately too. Without that its almost $2000 more. If that works out I'm going to cancel. I just hope they refund my money promptly. Their website says they can take 3 or more weeks to process refunds.
 
  • Like
Reactions: westcoastgal
Well, after doing some investigation it seems like it would cost me at least $500 more to buy it in France. More depending on what I get charged for duty, and there is the whole vat refund nonsense. They will give cash but it's at the discretion of the refund company whether they decide it's over their limit and make you wait for a credit card refund. So I would be hurting myself more than the store. The damage is done. They put me through the grief and held my money for two months already. I'll stick it out but I'm certainly not doing business with them again.
 
Well, after doing some investigation it seems like it would cost me at least $500 more to buy it in France. More depending on what I get charged for duty, and there is the whole vat refund nonsense. They will give cash but it's at the discretion of the refund company whether they decide it's over their limit and make you wait for a credit card refund. So I would be hurting myself more than the store. The damage is done. They put me through the grief and held my money for two months already. I'll stick it out but I'm certainly not doing business with them again.
Sorry this happened to you. Hope this experience doesn't overwhelm the joy of your new bracelet. I'd be fuming!
 
Sorry this happened to you. Hope this experience doesn't overwhelm the joy of your new bracelet. I'd be fuming!

Thank you. I'm going to try to erase the whole experience from my mind and just remember the happy day in Paris when DH made me try it on almost ten years ago now. Thanks for letting me vent and for your support. [emoji8]
 
Top