Let me start with the disclaimer that I'm personally not into jewelry, and as a matter of fact I used to dread the inevitable experience of engagement ring shopping. Despite having heard all the horror stories concerning ring-shopping, I thought that the easiest way would be to go with one of the major, national retailers in one of the local shopping malls. Lo and behold, I had a terrible experience there, feeling like I was forced to spend way more than I had initially budgeted, being presented with plenty of deals that would only be available at that same moment and not even a day later, and some people even had the audacity to present me with what they called attractive financing at the 27% APR level, tantamount to a loan shark! I ended up purchasing a very unique setting from the major retailer, and decided to hold off on the diamond, mostly because I had a very bitter taste from the overall shopping experience, one that reinforced my preexisting "fear" of jewelry stores. Let me also add that, because we decided to only go with the setting (A $3,300 setting, mind you) and not bump up the bill to the $20k+ range by not buying a stone on the spot, the national retailer made clear that we would get the setting at MSRP, not a penny less. Apparently their "special rates" apply only if one spends an arm and a leg there on one visit. To complete this horrific experience, the lady checking us out just nonchalantly mentioned that it would be an extra $300 for warranty for the setting, and she had the nerve to ask, in the end, whether we wanted a box for the setting. I guess spending less than a fortune there only entitles one to a ziplock bag for the setting... So, yeah, a terrible, terrible experience, without even having purchased the actual diamond to go on it...
Enter Diamonds Direct and Richard Posey. From the beginning of my visit to that store, I could tell that the ambience was really different, and, given the general laid-back demeanor of our city, it really felt less stuck-up and more "Austin-y" - point for Diamonds Direct. We told Richard that we are looking for a loose diamond in our budget for the setting we had purchased from the major retailer, and I felt that he went above and beyond to find something for us within our budget. Not once did he mention the "perks" of potentially switching to a way more expensive stone, and as a matter of fact the whole time we were there, I felt that he had a genuine interest in finding something we would both love and could afford, rather than acting as a ruthless salesman trying to close a deal. He spent time trying to understand what we really prefer, and he made sure he presented us with a variety of beautiful stones within our specifications and budget. Comparing it to the horrific experience at the mall, this has been night and day.
Since it was September, the month that Diamonds Direct offers the once-a-year 60-month 0% APR financing in collaboration with Wells Fargo, we wanted to explore this option too. After finding a beautiful stone we were comfortable with, Richard ran the numbers, and I found out that I actually got approved for a credit line significantly higher than the cost of the diamond. At that point, a "salesman" would have changed his rhetoric, trying to push me towards spending more - not Richard Posey.
To sweeten the deal even further, Richard offered a free lifetime warranty and dippings for the diamond AND the setting, even though we had not purchased the setting from Diamonds Direct. What's not to love? We were elated. And finally, the cherry on top - Richard offered us to check with their custom jewelry designer on whether they could recreate the exact setting (size, materials) we had bought from the major retailer, and if we approved the renderings and the quote they would give us, we could return the setting to the other place and have both the setting and the diamond from Diamonds Direct - both in the 60-month interest free deal! It goes without saying, that, after a few days we got a call that the jeweler came back with a quote $400 cheaper than the marked up price we paid at the mall sharks. We wholeheartedly approved the custom-made setting and returned the purchased one to the mall. As a matter of fact, I had been so traumatized by the vultures at the location I had purchased the setting, that I opted to return in at a different location, just in order to avoid putting myself through the same ordeal again.
We ended up saving a lot of money, getting a magnificent ring (Richard even helped me receive it in a hush-hush way so I could actually surprise my now fiancé!) and, overall, get me to actually like being in a jewelry store. Diamonds Direct and Richard Posey have found a loyal, happy customer for life. Because more of the actual details of the transaction, throughout the process I felt like I was being respected and appreciated as a human being, not some number to fulfill a retailer's quota. Next stop: wedding bands, Richard! read more