Post # 1
Member
1056 posts
Bumble bee
Reason…All Zales stores are closing by the end of the year!
Also, if you want a cheap diamond that isn’t properly checked then go for it!
Here is my story. We went to Zales to look a rings a few months ago and I found a ring that I fell in love with. Problem was I didn’t pay attention to the fact that there weren’t any of the Microscopes there in the store to look at the stones. Well being in love with the ring as well, my fiancée went ahead and started making payments. The ring is a princess cut past present future ring with 5 diamonds on the sides and we were going to get the center stone to be a heart shaped pink sapphire.
On Jan. 4th Monday he proposed and I loved it…until I kept looking at the center princess cut stone more and kept seeing this HUGE mark that looked like a scratch. Finally, on Friday we went to Jared to get a second opinion. When we got the lady to look at the stone we found out that there was a HUGE inclusion in the princess cut center stone. Just what I thought…HUGE problems. So I was devastated, fiancée was ticked off! So basically after spending time in the store, Jared sold us a larger Heart diamond to be put in the custom made ring that will mimick the one I just got.
So that Saturday we went back to Zales to return the ring and demand our money back. They were surprised to see us and kept asking why were were mad. We told them we didn’t want a ring from there had a huge inclusion and we didn’t want anything from them again.
The sales lady then proceeded to inform me “We weren’t really that concerned about it anyways as we were going to replace it with a Heart shaped pink sapphire.” I said, “NO someone here (the manager) had talked my fianace out of getting the stone stating that it was going to cost another $2000.” Needless to say the lady was a little taken back and then the manger ahd the nerce to say to me, “You just didnt’ want the ring.” I said, “your right I don’t want a ring from here!”
So after being engaged for 4 days I became ring-less and now have to wait until mid March to get my new ring from Jared. When we went back on Sunday to Jared that’s when the General Manager informed us that all the Zales are closing. I hope you take my experience and stay away from the store and use a reputable jeweler. It was definitely something I wish we paid closer attention to the first time. But I know that it was the best thing to happen to get more of what I wanted.
Post # 3
Member
3373 posts
Sugar bee
Didn’t your Fiance know what the clarity was when he bought it?
No I hate the way they try to make a sale instead of showing you quality. I hate mall jewelry stores.
Post # 4
Member
10282 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
I’m sorry that you had a bad experience but I don’t think anyone needs to “avoid Zales at all costs”. My ring is from there and we didn’t have any problems. Infact, we had a great experience. When we initially went in there looking, everyone we spoke to were very nice and professional. Since buying the ring and taking it in a few times for the semi-annual checkup and cleanings, their customer service has seemed to only get better.
I’m sure there are a ton of people out there who have negative things to say about every jewelry store but there are still those who had great experiences and would recommend them (like me).
Post # 5
Member
1398 posts
Bumble bee
I’m risking your wrath here, but why didn’t you go back to Zales, to see if they would replace the stone, instead of going to a whole other jeweler first? As someone who worked in retail for years, I can tell you that most retailers will do what they can to make it right, rather than loose a sale completely. But since you already went to Jared and decided to get a second ring there, the Zales people really don’t need to go out of their way to help you at this point. It sounds like you guys were shopping on a budget and they did what they could to give you a ring you could afford, which unfortunately meant an imperfect stone. I am sure that the Jared people leaped on this imperfection when they saw it, seeing the opportunity for a sale (as a sales person, I would have done exactly the same thing) and that tactic worked. They actually could have just sold you the one stone and the mounting at a much lower cost than a whole new ring. I really am sorry that the whole ring thing was spoiled for you, but I feel you should have given Zales the chance to make this right, before you went to a different jeweler.
Post # 6
Member
3373 posts
Sugar bee
I actually have had problems with a lot of my jewelry from Jareds. The stone from my earring just fell out and my right hand ring loses stones a lot! When they fixed my pave right hand ring, it just doesn’t look right anymore, their repairmen aren’t the best.
Post # 7
Member
209 posts
Helper bee
I don’t know why you’re blaming Zales? You should know what you’re buying before you buy it. You or your Fiance or whomever purchased the ring should’ve looked at the diamond(s) and asked about inclusions, etc. and been well aware of what you were purchasing before buying it.
If the store didn’t have a microscope, they should’ve had a loupe. If they didn’t have the loupe and couldn’t tell you about any inclusions, you shouldn’t have bought the ring until you could see the diamond and any inclusions for yourself. If the inclusion was visible to the bare eye, why didn’t your Fiance spot it when he purchased the stone and the ring? Honestly, if I were buying something that expensive, I’m going to look it over inside out, upside down and backwards.
While I’ve never bought jewelry at Zales, I think it’s wrong to blame Zales for what you/your Fiance didn’t do in regard to purchasing that ring.
Post # 8
Member
3176 posts
Sugar bee
One of my BM’s has an e-ring from Jared. The second day she had it the center stone came out of the setting, my moms first wedding ring came from a well-established jeweler that had been in business 80 years. The day my parents got married the store closed. The point is you can have problems no matter where you go. Really though the main thing I see is that you and your fiance failed to inspect what you were buying. Did you ask what the specifics were? If they lied and forged a certificate you have every right to be pissed, but if you are demanding a perfect diamond for the price of a non-perfect one you really have no case.
Post # 9
Member
209 posts
Helper bee
There is NO information on-line or on the US local news regarding Zales closing. Where are you getting that information from?
Post # 10
Member
1805 posts
Buzzing bee
I also don’t understand how it’s Zales fault you purchased a diamond with such a large inclusion. Seem’s to me like you guys didn’t take your time/or do you research, and now you’re trying to pass the blame.
I hope it works out for you, but I don’t think ‘avoiding all zales at all costs’ is really fair.
Post # 11
Member
1726 posts
Bumble bee
Sorry but Jared’s doesn’t exactly have a spotless reputation, either… :-/
Post # 12
Member
5147 posts
Bee Keeper
Jared is still a “mall jewelry store”. They are a branch of Kay.
Post # 13
Member
5887 posts
Bee Keeper
@SandyThePoet: “i’m risking your wrath” ahahahha
Post # 14
Member
4122 posts
Honey bee
We had a lot of issues with DH’s wedding band from Kay. They were the only ones who had one he liked… but we will never go there again.
My rings are from, and Helzberg’s and we have had amazing service from them!
Post # 15
Member
181 posts
Blushing bee
We got my ring at Zales and had a great experience.
If there weren’t any microscopes why did that prevent you from seeing something that you later saw with your naked eye? Sounds like you just have buyers remorse…
Post # 16
Member
3373 posts
Sugar bee
The appraisal on my diamond highlights where inclusions are. So you would know immediately when you bought it where inclusions are how big/many.