Bait and Switch?

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McLoverly

McLoverly

O.G.
Oct 7, 2006
1,994
567
#1
I have a family stone which I want reset. I received a reasonable quote from a jeweler located about an hour from my home. I received the first quote online and then spoke to his partner in more detail over the phone. I met with the partner today and gave him the stone. He agreed with the original estimate. This evening I received an email that they had unset me stone and discovered a scratch on the tip which had been hidden by the original setting. Disappointing news, but the scratch well could have been there for many years so I'm not necessarily accusing them of scratching my stone. A few hours later, I got another email... after discussing things with the jeweler, their more accurate quote is 2-3 times higher than their original estimate. I am very upset! They now have my great grandmother's stone and have removed it from its setting. It's not that their new estimate is outrageous itself, but I feel it was extremely dishonest to give such a wildly inaccurate quote. I am not prepared to pay so much for this project and would have continued to gather other quotes had I received this price initially.

I'd love some feedback. Has anyone had a similar experience? What would you suggest I do in this scenario? I feel quite trapped now that they have my stone.
 
#2
I would drive back there, very friendly like, and talk with them. You'll talk about exactly what they are going to do and about all the possibilities of cost. Be creative, say, how could we do this for less? Could I use lesser gold, whatever, ask them all about options and choices, knowing you are just going to get your stone back but pretend that you are really interested.

Get them to bring the stone and the setting out so you can see it and play with it while you talk about what can be done.

Once they have brought it out to you, DO NOT LET THEM TAKE THE STONE TO THE BACK. NOT to clean it. NOT TO DO ANYTHING. DO NOT LET THEM TAKE IT.

Hold it next to different colors of gold, try it in different lights, etc. Then I would slowly just say, "You know, I think I'm still not emotionally reset it right now after all and I also need to wait and save more money towards affording what you can do with the new quoted price." And I would snap it shut inside my purse and nice as pie, thank them so much and get them to write everything down about price.

I would then find a reputable jeweler -- using YELP reviews or similar to find a jeweler who is honest and will stick to their word. I would then have them reset the stone and I would forget about the first jeweler.

I feel bad recommending this approach, but to avoid hurt feelings, you can say that you are still attached and that it was more and you need to save. Then leave.

Even if they said, oh ok, it can be cheaper you still wouldn't trust them because of this so just get your stone and go.
 
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#3
saligator said:
I would drive back there, very friendly like, under the auspices of talking with them about exactly what they are going to do and talking about all the possibilities of cost. Be creative, say, how could we do this for less? Could I use lesser gold, whatever, ask them all about options and choices, knowing you are just going to get your stone back but pretend that you are really interested.

Get them to bring the stone and the setting out so you can see it and play with it while you talk about what can be done.

Once they have brought it out to you, DO NOT LET THEM TAKE THE STONE TO THE BACK. NOT to clean it. NOT TO DO ANYTHING. DO NOT LET THEM TAKE IT.

Hold it next to different colors of gold, try it in different lights, etc. Then I would slowly just say, "You know, I think I'm still not emotionally reset it right now after all and I also need to wait and save more money towards affording what you can do with the new quoted price." And I would snap it shut inside my purse and nice as pie, thank them so much and get them to write everything down about price.

I would then find a reputable jeweler -- using YELP reviews or similar to find a jeweler who is honest and will stick to their word. I would then have them reset the stone and I would forget about the first jeweler.
Click to expand...


This is actually a "by appointment" jeweler who makes mostly custom settings so I can't just stop off to see them. They are very highly recommended on YELP. I'm not asking for anything particularly large or complicated. It's just a simple pendant setting. With their experience, they should not both have been so far off in their estimates. I knew that the final quote could be slightly higher, but this was waaaaay off. The original quotes were $250 for gold and $25-50 extra for platinum. They've now come back at $500- $750. I have a few projects I'd like to do, my aunt has something, my mom has something, and my best friend has something. I've been looking for a good local jeweler and would have referred them lots of business.
 
#4
You can make an appointment to discuss your options and while there see if they can explain the difference in the estimate. It may be because of the scratch or in the reset they are using more platinum etc or it may need to be bezel set to protect the stone if it's that antique / old.
 
#5
NYC Chicky said:
You can make an appointment to discuss your options and while there see if they can explain the difference in the estimate. It may be because of the scratch or in the reset they are using more platinum etc or it may need to be bezel set to protect the stone if it's that antique / old.
Click to expand...

I think I will try to make an appointment, if only to discuss my options and get my stone back. The quote was already for a simple bezel setting. There is no reason it should have changed so significantly. I feel they quoted low either to mislead or out of incompetence. If they had given me a more honest quote, I would have gathered other estimates and considered theirs in the mix. I don't appreciate that I spent nearly 3 hours of my time yesterday just to give them my stone and will need to do the same this week to get it back unset.
 
#6
I had a custom bezel made for a .40 carat antique diamond and it was about 400 dollars. Gold is expensive and labor is expensive. I had something set in a pre-fab basket and it was a lot less. Maybe they couldn't tell over the Internet. The bottom line is that trust is really important in the jewelry business and it sounds like your trust is shaken with them. If Yelp didn't work out, try word of mouth for a jeweler in your area or GIA recommendations.
 
#7
McLoverly said:
This is actually a "by appointment" jeweler who makes mostly custom settings so I can't just stop off to see them. They are very highly recommended on YELP. I'm not asking for anything particularly large or complicated. It's just a simple pendant setting. With their experience, they should not both have been so far off in their estimates. I knew that the final quote could be slightly higher, but this was waaaaay off. The original quotes were $250 for gold and $25-50 extra for platinum. They've now come back at $500- $750. I have a few projects I'd like to do, my aunt has something, my mom has something, and my best friend has something. I've been looking for a good local jeweler and would have referred them lots of business.
Click to expand...


I think Saligators post was a good one. You can make an appointment to go over the reset, just call and say you Received the new estimate and would like to talk further.
 
#8
saligator said:
I had a custom bezel made for a .40 carat antique diamond and it was about 400 dollars. Gold is expensive and labor is expensive. I had something set in a pre-fab basket and it was a lot less. Maybe they couldn't tell over the Internet. The bottom line is that trust is really important in the jewelry business and it sounds like your trust is shaken with them. If Yelp didn't work out, try word of mouth for a jeweler in your area or GIA recommendations.
Click to expand...

It's definitely about trust. The quote isn't outrageous, but to double the initial estimate is misleading. The first quote over the Internet I could understand, but a second partner had evaluated in person and came up with the same quote. I had a wonderful jeweler before I moved, but I've had trouble finding anyone locally. I spoke with the jeweler this morning and expressed my feelings. I appreciated that he apologized and said that he hadn't handled things as he should have. They are going to knock down their design fee and get me a formal quote early in the week.
 
#9
After my shock at the initial quote, I spoke with the jeweler and he assured me that it was a padded quote because his original quote was too low. He said that pricing would probably come in much lower and that he would be willing to cut his design fee and basically sell to me a little over cost because he and his partner had both so under quoted me. The partner I have been in primary contact with is now out of town. The other partner contacted me yesterday with a final quote. It is the high quote + tax and excluding a chain (I was originally told that was included in the higher quote). I do love the design, but I am having trouble with this transaction on principal.

The jeweler has disclosed to me their total cost. How much do you think is a reasonable markup considering cost being much higher than the original quote?
 
#10
I am so so sorry this happened to you! What I don't understand is why is the quote changed after they got your stone and unset it. I would ask them to explain in details. TBH, if it was me, I would walk away from this jeweller now. Or at least get the stone back and obtain some alternative quotes. I just can't trust them to leave the stone with them any more.
 
#11
Honestly, get your stone back and move on. I'd simply tell him you're no longer feeling comfortable working with him, that this constant back and forth on pricing feel like games and you are going to move on.
 
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