Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
August 8, 2010
I've heard that some online diamond dealers offer a new customer policy called "diamond at your door", allowing customers the opportunity to view the diamond before they pay for it. I want to know how exactly does it work: Which diamond stores provide this option, does it cost an extra-fee, and is it recommended? If there's no catch then it seems it could make my life much easier when I come to purchase a diamond online.
August 15, 2010
From what I know Diamonds on Web is the only company that offers such service. Basically you can order a diamond and wait up to 10 days from the delivery date until you decide whether you want to pay for the diamond or not. You would need to provide the store with your credit card details before the diamond is shipped, but it won't be charged unless you decide to keep the diamond. I'm not sure how much time you would have left between the delivery date and the end of the 10 days in which you must give Diamond on Web your answer, but in some cases you might be able to have the diamond appraised by a local appraiser and only then decide whether you want to keep it.
Is there a catch? I don't think so, but still I don't think this policy should be regarded as such a breakthrough. Most online diamond jewelry stores provide you a 30 day money return policy (and so does Diamonds on Web), which all the reputable ones indeed realize and respect. Therefore you can always obtain the diamond, look at it, try it on, have it appraised and only then decide whether you want to keep it or not. The only difference between the "Don't pay until you see the diamond at the door" policy and the 30 day return policy is that in the former the default is not paying, while in the latter the default is paying, though it's usually not that difficult to return the diamond and cancel the payment.
When it comes to diamond stores you can't really trust then things are more problematic and you might fear that they would not respect such 30 day policy. But if you don't trust Diamonds on Web neither then how will you know that they indeed won't charge your credit card until you tell them so (as I stated earlier, you do give them your credit card details anyhow) ?!
To sum it up: This "diamond at your door" policy might save you some headache, might even save you a couple of phone calls or a mail, but I doubt if it will make the difference between getting ripped off and obtaining the diamond of your dreams.
