6 replies to this topic

[barry]

Not really.

On-line sellers are working on single-digit profit margins.

You also need to make a distinction between on-line vendors that do not own the goods but are drop shippers for wholesalers and on-line vendors that do stock every diamond that they list on their website.

Most of the same diamonds listed on pricescope are shown on the diamond inventory of
several on-line websites. The sites do not own these stones, merely list them. from a wholesale database. You'll have a tough time getting additional data on the diamond(s) because the vendor does not have it in-house.

[denverappraiser]

The dealers that list here and on similar database driven sites are, as barry points out, a pretty competitive bunch. When I do a google search for 'discount diamonds' I now get over 2.5 million hits. Most are for online dealers and each of these dealers sets their own prices on whatever criteria they wish. You may or may notnbe able to drive a better bargain. It doesn't hurt to ask, just don't take it as evidence that you are being treated badly if they decline. The databases are a very good way of getting a benchmark price to decide if you're in the ballpark and how much room is really there.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ISA NAJA

[Princess Tess]

I know enough about diamonds and margins to echo Barry's thoughts. Really, I've said it before and I'll say it again, the more willing a dealer seems to wheel and deal, the more skeptical I am of his overall mark up. I assume online jewelers operate on the same slim margins that local jewelers do.

When I choose a jeweler I want someone who's already taken their price down as low as it can go, but more importantly, who knows what the "hell" they're taking about when it comes to diamonds. Too few do.

Okay I'm all over my profanity "thing." Back to being a lady.

-Princess Tess

[jan]

Do your research on what makes a diamond a certain price. Start out by learning about the 4 C's. That way you should know when you have a good price. Trying to negotiate something that is already at a great price will seem like you are uneducated about diamonds.

Example, I had a guy in the store the other day trying to tell me he knew that jewelry stores mark everything up 300 times, and so he was going to offer us about 1/2 of the selling price of a 2.00 ct. ideal cut diamond. I told him if he could find one for that price, I'll buy 100 of them. He showed he didn't know anything about diamonds or cut grades or current market values.

[iceman]

Never hurts to ask


The Iceman

[barry]

Hey, Ice; How ya been? Long time.