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Attire & Accessories Forum
ISSUES with Kay Jewelers
I need to vent. I just recently became enagaged (March to be exact) and within the last 3 months two stones are fallen out of my ring. I took it to the store to have the stones replaced. I went to pick it up Saturday, very excited to get my ring back! The salesman handed it to you and I inspected it...
The stones were replaced, but one stone didn't look big enough to fit in its place, not level with the one right next to it. Whoever did the work also scratched the ring so much that the yellow gold was showing. I remained calm and let the man know. He tried to clean the ring, as if that would make it better. When he handed it to me again, I explained that this was unacceptable and not how my ring looked when I got it. I wanted to inspect it again to see if there was anything that I missed before leaving. While looking at it, ANOTHER stone feel out while he was cleaning it and he didn't even notice it, I did!! He had the nerve to ask me how many times it's been brought in and I tried to stay calm and explain that I just got it in March and I shouldn't even be in the store, let alone having this conversation with him. He then let me know that he would be personally calling whoever to tell them what needs to be done with the ring (I'm thinking to myself, isn't that what the procedure is? Isn't that what you did the first time?)
Apparently not... The man says he will take care of it and that if it isn't fixed, we might be able to "explore other options". I was dumbfounded. My poor fiance spent A LOT of money on the ring and I haven't been able to wear it in over 2 weeks
Any experience with Kay's? Any comments? Feedback? Thanks
The stones were replaced, but one stone didn't look big enough to fit in its place, not level with the one right next to it. Whoever did the work also scratched the ring so much that the yellow gold was showing. I remained calm and let the man know. He tried to clean the ring, as if that would make it better. When he handed it to me again, I explained that this was unacceptable and not how my ring looked when I got it. I wanted to inspect it again to see if there was anything that I missed before leaving. While looking at it, ANOTHER stone feel out while he was cleaning it and he didn't even notice it, I did!! He had the nerve to ask me how many times it's been brought in and I tried to stay calm and explain that I just got it in March and I shouldn't even be in the store, let alone having this conversation with him. He then let me know that he would be personally calling whoever to tell them what needs to be done with the ring (I'm thinking to myself, isn't that what the procedure is? Isn't that what you did the first time?)
Apparently not... The man says he will take care of it and that if it isn't fixed, we might be able to "explore other options". I was dumbfounded. My poor fiance spent A LOT of money on the ring and I haven't been able to wear it in over 2 weeks
Any experience with Kay's? Any comments? Feedback? Thanks
This discussion has been closed.
Re: ISSUES with Kay Jewelers
We have since started shopping at a local store with jewelers on site. Their prices are comparable to Kays, they have high quality service, and my e-ring and wedding band only took a matter of hours to get sized in-store.
FI had bought me a promise ring a few years ago, we had exchanged it for a different ring two times. I had three different promise rings! I wear a size 6 and every sales person kept telling me it's because they had to size it so small so the diamonds kept getting loose. A 6 is not that small! It's practically their sample sizes. I went through three different of Kay's styles, and each one would get loose diamonds.
Anyway, it's a shame because of their buyback program we had remained Kay customers. My engagement ring is from Kay because we already had so much invested there. As only being engaged since April and my ring only coming in about a month and a half ago, I hope to have better luck with the engagement ring...
FI had gotten me open heart earrings for this past Valentine's Day. Before it was March I was already missing a diamond from one! (And they tried to CHARGE me for this repair b/c he did not buy the waranty...On a two week old pair of earrings, I was not paying the $38.00 for a repair! I'd rather have a refund!).
I also have the matching open heart necklace that I have had for about 3 years. I've sent that out for repairs for missing and offset diamonds twice. The chain is now broken and sitting in my jewlery box waiting to be sent out.
Needless to say, our wedding bands will be purchased from somewhere else!
[QUOTE]In defense of Kays, they do fill a market niche. Not everyone can afford Tiffany's. Most brides are happy to get a diamond engagement ring. Kays has financing programs that the average Joe can afford. Most people can't tell the difference between a lower grade diamond and a flawless one. Should they pay high prices for something that they can't afford? I don't think so. If you buy a diamond ring at Kays, you can be sure that it is, in fact, a genuine diamond ring. They will disclose the specifications for you if you are interested. Most of their customers just want something that looks nice and will make their FI happy. These new, busy designs are a way of marketing smaller diamonds to look like they are more. They make lots of ladies very happy. Unfortunately, they can be high maintenance. They haven't been around long enough for us to know for sure. If someone asked my advice, I<strong> would suggest buying a single, unmounted stone of good quality. Size of the stone is not important. Find a nice solitaire mount and have your local jeweler mount and size it for you. In 25 years or so, you can add more diamonds and have it reset in a fancier style.</strong> My son-in-law did ask me, and I helped him find a beautiful stone for dear daughter!
Posted by CMGr[/QUOTE]
I am 100% with this suggestion. I am extremely weary of box chain jewlery dealers. I find their prices are hiked above their actual worth and customer service is horrible.
Most of the settings are made in bulk overseas. They are also designed to take a stone of varying sizes. A local or custom design shop will make a setting that is designed for the stone you bring them which makes it more secure.
We sourced a sapphire and sent it to be set. Though I like halo settings I knew I'd kill a pave setting. We chose a setting with side diamonds that were well secured within the setting by a good jeweler.
I think sourcing your stone can save you money. Knowing your lifestyle is crutial too as it helps determine the best setting option for that stone.
[QUOTE]My Fiance is a diamond wholesaler and he always tells me chain stores is the last place you want to purchase diamonds from. They sell lowest end diamonds.
Posted by kika787[/QUOTE]
If that's the case, then where should one look for a diamond?
[QUOTE]My Fiance is a diamond wholesaler and he always tells me chain stores is the last place you want to purchase diamonds from. They sell lowest end diamonds.
Posted by kika787[/QUOTE]
<div>Stats and paperwork don't lie. The biggest mistake that people make is not realizing that "cut" isn't the SHAPE of diamond but the cut QUALITY. (For example Tiffany's and Costco diamonds ONLY buy Excellent cuts. Most other stores get "fair " or "good" cuts). The cut can make a HUGE difference in the sparkle of the ring, even one with many inclusions. This is why one might say such chains sell "lowest end" diamonds, but I still don't think that's true. I'm sure if you demanded Kays to give you a diamond with no inclusions, they could find one to sell you. </div>
My e-ring and our bands are from there. I have a solitaire set in a princess cut setting, it's very good as far as the quality of diamond and sparkle I get from it. I teach and waitress and it's been almost 17 months and it still looks like it did when FI opened the little box.
The only problem I've ever had was with the first piece of jewelrty FI got me when we were dating. And even with that, it was the chain in the necklace that broke. After fixing it, the chain was weaker and broke a second time. The store replaced it at no cost, even though FI didn't get a warranty when he bought the necklace.
We always have great customer service and Karen has been working with my family for years. She knows both my dad and grandfather by name and remembers what both I and FI like so when we come in for each other, she can help us. She even pre-sized my finger because we had been talking about getting engaged, so my ring was a perfect fit. When we sent our weddings bands out for sizing, they were back in less than a week, including FI's who got a titanium band.
I think it may depend on the store itself. I live near 2 Kay's, one in a very large mall and one in a smaller mall. We go to the store in the smaller mall because the service is far better. Our saleswoman, Karen transferred there from the large mall so we just went with her! LOL The other associates know us by name and wave whenever we are shopping in the mall, and we don't hit the jewelry store that often. My sister has similar problems to those above with Freeman's. I think that when you work with a chain, there are going to be problems.