Don't Get Scammed When Buying Diamonds Online (Les Scammell)
Mar 8, 2010
With all of the potential for scams concerning diamonds, buying diamonds online almost seems unthinkable! However, you actually can purchase diamonds online, without any problems - as long as you are careful.
Begin by thinking about why you are not going to a local retailer first and would prefer using the internet. Is price your only motivation? Online jewelers can offer lower prices due to low overheads. You do have to be careful and remember that a price that is too good may be indicitive of a scam.
Of course, buying online brings with it the advantage of a huge selection to chose from. When shopping offline, you are limited to the selection in the stores in your general area. Across the internet, the range is unlimited. Trust is a big factor when shopping online so take care and ensure the seller is at least reputable.
Learn as much about diamonds as possible especially the terms carat, color, cut and clarity. Being an expert on diamonds makes it much harder for a fraudster to con you. Once you know more about diamonds, you will be ready to start shopping.
Take your time. Never buy the first diamond that comes along no matter how good it looks. Look at other diamonds and other sellers first. Take the time to do some comparison checking first. Once you have found the lowest price, start doing your investigation. Although you may have found what you think is the ideal diamond, the time to buy is still a little way off yet.
Ask the seller for some proof of their professional status such as associations they are a member of, Make a note of the sellers policies particularly those related to refunds and returns. Also inquire about additional services, such as settings and mountings, sizing, and free shipping. Don't forget your favorite search engine where you can do a search on the seller to see if there are any negative reviews or comments. Also check with the BBB Online to see if there have been any complaints.
Ask for a diamond grading report from an independent laboratory such as GIA, HRD, EGL or AGS. You should one of these reports before making a final decision. Finally, use a reputable escrow service for high dollar diamonds - preferably one that will have the diamond appraised while it is in their possession. Escrow services act as middlemen whereby the seller sends them the diamond and you send them the money. Once the escrow service has had the diamond appraised and everything is as per sales contract, they will ship the diamond to you and forward the payment to the seller. Using a reputable escrow service will ensure you receive a quality diamond and that you are not the victim of a scam.
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