About Discounts & Bargains
Jewelry bargains & discounts Jewelry is the gift of lasting beauty,
but if you are susceptible to the mail-order and discount promotions,
TV commercials, street peddlers, and even some friend offering glittery
bargains that sound tempting, your enjoyment and the jewelry may
tarnish sooner than you expected. Here are some typical promotions
which should make you wary.
40% off ...60% off
The public is being bombarded by all kinds of outlets-even
well-known merchants-offering jewelry and related items through ads and
promotions claiming so-called discounts which are so exaggerated that
you should question whether they are true discounts:
Was the merchandise ever sold at the regular price?
If so, for how long?
Was the "retail"..."former"..."reference" price purposely inflated and
then lowered to lure you into thinking you're saving money?
There is nothing wrong with legitimate discounts...but, deceptive
pricing offers you no bargain. To avoid being ripped off, shop
around... compare quality and service as well as price...and ask
questions!
Always look for the karat mark:
14K or 18K When buying gold jewelry, always look for a karat mark such
as 14K or 18K, with the manufacturer's trademark. Make sure the mark
appears on a part of the chain besides the clasp. Sometimes, if only
the clasp is marked 14K, the chain may not be real gold. Anything less
than 10K gold cannot be legally marked or sold as real gold.
Genuine & counterfeit watches for low $$$ Be wary of promotions for
genuine name-brand or counterfeit watches for as low as $10.00 or,
familiar brands that normally sell for $2,000-$5,000 offered at
unbelievable prices as low as $50.00. These watches are not genuine,
carry no manufacturer's warranty, and have little value. Usually,
certain brand names are stamped on the dials of the counterfeits by
promoters.
To avoid this scam:
Be wary of extremely low-priced items
Look for correct spelling of brand-names and karat gold mark
Ask for a warranty
Check with your local jeweler
Mail-order bargains Anyone considering a mail-order bargain should
check beforehand with the Better Business Bureau in the postal area of
the promoter. Because most promoters are reached only at a post office
box number rather than a street address, it is very difficult to
contact the firm directly in the event of non-receipt or
dissatisfaction. The Better Business Bureau could provide useful
information before any monetary commitment is made.
Summing up... Compare quality and service, and ask questions! A
Jewelers of America member is a professional jeweler whose reputation
is based on his integrity and service in the community and is someone
who will be around after you've made your purchase. He is available to
answer your questions about real jewelry and can offer you a selection
of the newest styles in all price ranges.
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