Online order quality vs In store

[yvesjilaurent]

Hello! I made an online order for a pair of the Love hoop earrings. When I received it, I noticed hairline scratches on the side. I brought it to the store to make an exchange but they said that some scratches may happen when the person is packaging it. They advised it would be better to return it and order another pair online than exchanging in store because the quality would be better. However they also said that there’s no guarantee that the next pair would be in perfect condition.

I’m wondering if anyone else who has ordered online before, if your items came in perfect condition or if what the sales associate said was typical? Or if anyone has other suggestions it would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Berengeria]

They said the quality of the online jewelry is better than what you get in the store? That doesn't make sense to me. Why would they make two different standards of the same item and especially why would the store version be worse? Or did I misunderstand?

 

[A bottle of Red]

I must have read too fast, because I thought it would be the other way around @Berengeria

 

[mocktail]

It’s the same jewelry there is no quality difference. But jewelry in the store is more likely to have been handled/tried on than jewelry from the online store. So ordering online means there’s less of a chance that the piece will already be scratched.

I wouldn’t worry about hairline scratches on the side of small hoops. 18k gold is relatively soft; they’re going to end up with some small scratches over time anyway.

 

[yvesjilaurent]

@Berengeria that’s how I understood it but also to @mocktail ’s point of it being handled by customers as well.

Thank you @mocktail I was contemplating for a long time, I wasn’t sure if I was overthinking it haha!

 

[Seaglasshunter]

I purchased small love hoops online. They shipped from a Las Vegas store. There was a little Cartier tag (plastic with metal) floating around the box. I didn’t notice any scratches but one of the backings was stuck. Cartier online service was the worst and said I needed to return them but they had no others in stock. I will only buy from the store now.

 

[Pop Art Suzy]

Because Colorado no longer has a Cartier boutique, I had to order all of my pieces online. Never had any problems at all. All arrived in pristine condition and arrived quickly and safely.

 

[Starburst 413]

Because Colorado no longer has a Cartier boutique, I had to order all of my pieces online. Never had any problems at all. All arrived in pristine condition and arrived quickly and safely.

Same. My nearest store is almost 2 hours away so not very convenient. Every time I go in there they never have what I want in stock in my size so I just end up ordering online when I get home. Never had any quality issues from online, though I am careful to order things I know I want to keep bc I’ve heard horror stories about returns not being accepted.

 

[Starburst 413]

It’s the same jewelry there is no quality difference. But jewelry in the store is more likely to have been handled/tried on than jewelry from the online store. So ordering online means there’s less of a chance that the piece will already be scratched.

I wouldn’t worry about hairline scratches on the side of small hoops. 18k gold is relatively soft; they’re going to end up with some small scratches over time anyway

I’d also keep them.

I’m not quite clear how earrings could have scratches - from the backings? Take a jewelry cloth to them, if they’re hairline then they should buff right out

 

[Pop Art Suzy]

Same. My nearest store is almost 2 hours away so not very convenient. Every time I go in there they never have what I want in stock in my size so I just end up ordering online when I get home. Never had any quality issues from online, though I am careful to order things I know I want to keep bc I’ve heard horror stories about returns not being accepted.

I know with online returns, they have to be returned within 30 days, however I've never needed to return or exchange anything before.

 

[DaintyDiamonds]

I've ordered online and recently made my first boutique purchase; the closest to me is two hours away. I was careful to ensure that my online orders were coming from their warehouse directly and not a boutique where it will have been tried on and handled. I had a horrible experience with Tiffany where a boutique sent me a ring that was very worn and scratched. Going through the exchange process was no fun. Since then whenever I order jewelry online I ask if it's coming from a warehouse. I've never received a defective piece, all were pristine.

 

[Starburst 413]

I've ordered online and recently made my first boutique purchase; the closest to me is two hours away. I was careful to ensure that my online orders were coming from their warehouse directly and not a boutique where it will have been tried on and handled. I had a horrible experience with Tiffany where a boutique sent me a ring that was very worn and scratched. Going through the exchange process was no fun. Since then whenever I order jewelry online I ask if it's coming from a warehouse. I've never received a defective piece, all were pristine.

I’ve ordered quite a few items from Cartier eboutique and they’ve all come from the warehouse in TX (pristine, well packaged). On the other hand, I’ve had items I ordered from Bulgari and Tiffany online that shipped from stores and I was not very happy with those (packing was messy, items not secured inside the jewelry box etc).

 

[Moxisox]

All of my eboutique items have come from the warehouse, and have been pristine. I’ve only had 1 disappointment with Cartier, and that was when I sent a new bracelet in to be resized and it came back scratched up. It was sent to NYC for the resizing. I should’ve called and complained, but I didn’t say anything. I still regret that.