A Simple Guide For Purchasing Jewelry Online

Many people find buying on the internet quick, easy, and convenient. You don’t have to drive to the mall, park your car, or stand in line.  You are in the comfort of your own home or office with millions of stores at your fingertips.  Now you maybe thinking with online shopping, you can't physically inspect the product before you buy.  The solution to this is simple. Make sure the company you do business has the customer’s best interest.   At Stacie’s Gifts we don’t just sell fine jewelry at good deals, we also offer advice on how to purchase it. Here are five things you need to know when purchasing jewelry online.

The Merchant's Reputation

The most reputable online jewelers have links on their sites with customer ratings and reviews.  It will either be published on the front page or linked to a separate page on the website.  Merchant reviews can also show up on other websites such as shopwiki.com and resellerratings.com.   These sites serve primarily as a forum for product and website reviews.

Beware of unverifiable testimonials.  This includes reviews that don't link back to the actual source of review.  If there are no reviews published or linked to the website, the search engines may have additional information.  If you type in the website address in Google or any of the major search engines, you will find a wealth of information on that site.  If large numbers of consumers have had good or bad experiences with a merchant, the odds are it published somewhere online.

Merchant-Customer Communication

The best way to converse with an online merchant is through email.  More often than not, this is found on the "Customer Service" page.  Some websites have a "Contact Us" link at the header or footer of the page.  Be sure there is an actual email address published somewhere on the site.  Avoid contact links with pop-up windows that prompt you to type in a message unless you can verify the destination. If you have to communicate with an online merchant by email, the turn around time for a response should be within 24 business hours.  If you are shopping around, send an email to the merchant about any of their promotions or products.  Check to see how long it takes for them to respond, and the content of their response.

Website's Return Policy

So you receive your jewelry, and you are not satisfied with the purchase.  What do you do?  The answer should be clearly outlined in the store's return policy.  Use caution when doing business with online merchants that have vague or no return policy.  Also beware of a return policy that reads like a legal contract, or is not easily accessible. This information should be easy to find, and written to be understood by the average consumer.  At a minimum, it should include the time frame in which the item can be returned, who is responsible for the shipping costs, a return mailing address, applicable restocking fees, and an approximate time frame on the refund.  To avoid surprises, you should read the policy prior to the purchase.

Clear Product Descriptions

Clear and detailed product descriptions are important.  It should contain details such as ring size, necklace length,  material composition (i.e. sterling silver, gold, titanium), and other relevant dimensions.   When shopping for gold or silver, the product description should clearly indicate the number of karats or silver content percentage.  If you have any questions, contact the merchant prior to the purchase.

Once your jewelry arrives, inspect it thoroughly.  If your purchase includes sterling silver or gold, there should be a small stamp visible on the item.  Sterling silver jewelry will have the "925"  generally located on the bracelet clasp, the inside band of a ring, or on the post of an earring.  Gold will bare a small stamp indicating the number of karats (i.e. 14k) in the same general locations as sterling silver stamps.

Trust Your Instincts

Once you have selected your item(s) and proceeded to checkout, take note on how you feel about the transaction.  If you are comfortable, chances are the transaction will flow smoothly.  However, if your stomach is turning somersaults, something is triggering this feeling.  Consider postponing the purchase, or shopping at a website where you feel more at ease.