When we leave a piece of jewelry to be repaired, or purchase a special ring or bracelet from a jeweler, we are putting a great deal of trust into that professional. So, think twice about who you can trust by following these steps below.
Difficulty Level: easy Time Required: 1-2 hours
Here's How:
- Just as you would when looking for a good doctor, ask friends and family members for recommendations. Specifically find out their experiences. Were they positive and, if so, why?
- Find out how long the jewelry store has been in business and if they are affiliated with any local organizations such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
- Call the BBB and ask if there have been any complaints.
- Talk to the jeweler and ask him about his background and how he runs his business. Where did he study? How long has he been a jeweler? Does he send out his work or is it done there? Does he do any of the work or does he have someone there doing it?
- Ask about the jeweler’s return policy and see if he has this in writing.
- Ask if they offer any certification to accompany pieces with stones such as diamond rings.
- Find out how he prices his jewelry. Does he sell the gold by the weight or is everything pre-priced? If he sells it by the weight, find out how much he charges per gram.
- Don’t feel weird about asking all these questions. If you’re going to spend a lot of money, then it’s worth it.
- If the jeweler doesn’t want to answer your questions, then you don’t want to do business with him.
- If you do purchase an expensive piece, then it’s worth the extra money to have it appraised.
