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Beginner Planner
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 3:15:19 PM
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| I was wondering if anyone else had had any trouble with Birks? FH got me exactly what I wanted from there, an Amorique ering that is absolutely perfect. For insurance purposes we had to get it independently appraised so we did, and the price came up $4,000 less then he paid! We called the store and they were very nice, both the saleslady and manager said to go get it appraised at another store and if that number was still lower, they would reimburse us the $4,000 difference. We went to a second place, that Birks recommended, and the appraisal was again $4,000 less then paid. FH went to Birks today and spoke to the manager and now she is saying that she meant she'd pay him the $50 for the second appraisal, nothing to do with the huge markup. When we originally talked to them they said they sell at appraisal prices, not higher. Now the manger is going to take this farther up the chain. If they are not willing to give us back the difference we are going to ask for the wedding band for free, it costs about the same as the current difference in price, and if that won't happen then I will be returning my perfect ring. $4,000 is too much to be ripped off on something from a company like that! I was wondering if anyone else had any similar problems and how they were resolved? Thanks.
I' m no angel, but I've spread my wings a bit
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Planning Guru
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/13/2008 2:12:51 AM
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WOW!! thats crazy!! Thats almost like they're stealing from you..
When your FH bought it, did he sign any papers or anything?
I just looked over the entire birks website and they have a diamond guarentee that says if you're unhappy, you can return within 90 days ..but thats all I can find in regards to their policy on the diamond!
Goodluck.. keep us updated!
~~Soon to be Marie Ikonen~~ The Big Day:
August 23, 2008
http://marieandmarkus.weddingannouncer.com/
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Master Planner
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 12:45:36 PM
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no sorry...i havent heard anything like that..i do know that about 10 years ago my mom lost her diamond from her engagement ring so she took it there..so they replaced it.....she noticed the ring looked a little loose again so i took it to peoples with me...they were AMAZING the stone hadnt fallen out..they said the prong setting was terrible(even to the nake eye it looked strange) and couldnt believe it had been set that way...they sent it away to be fixed and when she got it back she was stunned and said it didnt even look that good when she got from birks originally and LOVED it..
Chulie~Countdown to November 1,st 2008~
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Loving Planning!
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Last Login: 4/26/2008 11:16:54 PM
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My ering and our bands were purchased through a Birks wholesaler, or one of them, obviously they have many. I know their prices are extremely marked up though b/c my wedding band on their site is $16,800, and i paid about 8% of that price! Thank God SIL was dating the wholesaler's nephew when DH wanted to propose!!  wholesaler did tell us most of the stores (good ones like Birks) have about a 200% markup on their stones, so your story doesn't suprise me....
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Loving Planning!
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 2:26:16 PM
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So sorry that this happened! That is a huge mark-up!!!
I know you love your ring, but maybe you and your FH can get in touch with a diamond wholesaler and buy the diamond from them and go to a jeweler and "make" your ring.
That way you'll get what you want but you're ring will actually be appraised properly and you won't get ripped off.
Good Luck!
http://amyandjon2009.weddingannouncer.com/
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Beginner Planner
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/28/2008 10:31:13 PM
Posts: 166,
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| That's really unfortunate, hopefully they will be able to work something out with you. I'd be inclined to use the wedding ring as the bait, and also mention that - if you're buying such a gorgeous ring from Birk's now, imagine what future jewellery purchases that they could possibly be losing by screwing you like this. I'd also be inclined to mention that you have many choices, including places like Blue Nile that provide jewellery that is equivalent to their product at FAR less prices (my ring was $10,000 less for a similar ring on Blue Nile, with a quality of diamond that Birk's could guarantee they could get). (FYI - they hate Blue Nile!) They'll give you the song and dance about paying for the "experience" and the "service" of having an in-store experience, yada yada .. so turn that back on them and say that the "experience" is not what you expected, and look forward to whatever they can do to remedy that feeling. You could even play up how disappointed you are that this has put a "black cloud over your engagement" .. And if all else fails, let them know you're a CB member and have thousands of Canadian Brides at your fingertips to try to discourage against going to Birks. Ask them if $4000 is worth all of the bad press they will get (this should do the trick) Good luck!! Let us know how it goes ..
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Beginner Planner
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 3:15:19 PM
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| Thanks everyone. As of right now the store manager is contacting her management and she'll get back to us by the end of the week. We knew we'd be paying top dollar for the name, but we never thougth that we'd be paying more! We are really just hoping this was an honest mistake and things will work out in the best way possible. I'm not one to make a big deal over things but this is too much. We are definitely going to use the wedding band as a bargining point, if they won't give the money back, and then after that we'll see. But on that note, does anyone on here recommend a certain jewelery maker? I'll return this ring but I want someone to replicate it for me lol I don't care about where it comes from as long as its still a perfect diamond and looks the same! Go figure, I went from loving a Tiffanys ring to this one and thought that at Birks we'd for sure get a better deal. And to think, all of my friends are the same age as me and going to be getting engaged soon....CB and my entire peer group hearing bad press....can't be good.
I' m no angel, but I've spread my wings a bit
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New CB Member
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 9:31:03 PM
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| Can I ask....which Birks was this? Are you located in Toronto/GTA area?
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