| There are thousands of places online to buy | | | | of the BBB. This also means that they cannot |
| jewelry, but the quality of those stores, their | | | | display fake sale prices, which many online jewelry |
| customer service and their products can vary | | | | stores do! The "normal price" that those guys |
| greatly! This article will help you avoid those | | | | display is actually a "retail price" which nobody |
| problems and assure a pleasant online buying | | | | charges, even the old fashioned mom & pop |
| experience. | | | | jewelry stores! So, you really do not "save 50%"! |
| | | | 5. Does the store provide accurate and detailed |
| 1. Is the store site secure? If you are worried | | | | information about its products, or does it just |
| about your personal information, like your credit | | | | show a picture and a 1-sentence description? |
| card number, being stolen by hackers, just make | | | | Jewelry almost always looks smaller than the |
| sure the store has a real "Hacker Safe" | | | | photo on the website, so it is very important that |
| certification, or something similar. You can check | | | | you check the dimensions of the item, so that |
| that by clicking on the certification logo and it | | | | you know exactly what you are buying. The item |
| should take you to a website operated by the | | | | description also should always provide the gold |
| certification service which confirms the store's | | | | type (14K? 18K?), the weight of the item (the |
| identity. If the logo is "static", so that it does not | | | | more gold, the more expensive), the carat weight |
| direct you to such a page, then it is surely fake! | | | | of the precious stones, and if diamonds, the |
| Also, on the page where you enter your personal | | | | clarity and color specifications for them. A photo |
| information, make sure that your see the | | | | of a platinum wedding band can look the same |
| "padlock" symbol in your browser as well as | | | | from two different stores, but the weight of the |
| "https" at the beginning of the store URL shown | | | | ring, and consequently it's cost, can vary by 50%. |
| in the browser address bar, | | | | And, a 1/2 carat diamond can vary by even |
| 2. Does the store have a reasonable return | | | | more, just depending on its quality! |
| policy? You need time to receive the item and | | | | 6. Does the store offer services such as |
| make sure it is exactly as described in the | | | | engraving and ring sizing, or do they just "sell |
| website. 30 days is fairly typical. You should | | | | stuff"? It takes a more significant investment of |
| expect the store to refund the entire cost of | | | | a store owner's time and money to offer such |
| your item, less the original shipping charges, but it | | | | services--a store that is just a guy with a cell |
| will be your responsibility to return the item at | | | | phone is not one that you want to buy jewelry |
| your expense. If the item was over $500, you | | | | from! If you buy a ring from such a fly-by-night |
| might have to pay a small restocking fee to help | | | | store, you will have to get it sized and/or |
| cover the merchant's credit card fee on your | | | | engraved at a local jewelry store--expect them |
| order (around 3% which does not get refunded | | | | to charge more than they would have it you |
| to the merchant). In addition, no store will take | | | | bought from them! |
| back an item that you have scratched or | | | | 7. Is the store a "drop-shipper", or a real jewelry |
| otherwise damaged, or any item that has been | | | | store? Many jewelry wholesalers, who do not sell |
| engraved or rings that have been sized. So, read | | | | directly to the public, will nevertheless "drop ship" |
| the refund policy on the store's website carefully! | | | | an item directly to a jewelry store's customer. |
| 3. Is the store reputable with a long-term history? | | | | That means that the "guy with the cellphone" can |
| You can gain some comfort by checking the | | | | take your order and have it shipped from his |
| store's reviews in one of the shopping engines, | | | | supplier without ever touching your order! That |
| such as Yahoo! Shopping, but not all stores | | | | might work just fine for buying a laser printer, but |
| participate in such ratings, because there are | | | | don't buy jewelry that way! The reason is |
| scores of shopping engines out there! Don't be | | | | because a jewelry item can be shipped from the |
| fooled by reading a review which actually applies | | | | distributor in "less than perfect" condition. This can |
| to the shopping service, but not the individual | | | | happen with the best of suppliers, so that is why |
| merchant (Amazon is notorious for this!) Many | | | | it is important for your jewelry store to inspect, |
| stores will give summaries of customer's | | | | clean, adjust and/or assemble your item(s) prior |
| comments on their website, so read those to get | | | | to shipping them to you! So, how can you tell? Call |
| an idea of the store's "flavor". If you really want | | | | the store's toll-free number and ask them! |
| to get a perspective on the store, though, call | | | | There are many online jewelry stores that meet |
| their toll-free number and see if you get a human! | | | | most or all of the above criteria, so you shouldn't |
| If you get voicemail, it might mean that they are | | | | have any problem locating a few! After that, |
| too busy to answer the phone, or it could just be | | | | compare the items you are interested in, you |
| a part-time business or a cell phone. Try again in | | | | might find the same items in more than one |
| an hour or two (during their normal business | | | | store, so you can do a bit of price shopping. Don't |
| hours, of course!) | | | | forget to check shipping prices, time from your |
| 4. Is the store accredited by the Better Business | | | | order to when the store ships your order, sales |
| Bureau? If the store displays the BBB seal, you | | | | tax (you won't pay sales tax unless the store is |
| can click on it and see the store's complaint | | | | actually located in your state), and cost of extras |
| history, and how long they have been a member | | | | such as sizing and engraving. Happy shopping! |