We get it. Online shopping has revolutionized the world. But how do you know which online vendors you can trust?
Shopping at a physical location can also be daunting, especially if met with a salesperson whose sole mission is upselling products. If you’ve been wondering, “How do I get an inexpensive ring online?” then this article is for you.
AaLAND Diamond Jewelers wants to make sure you have the knowledge to verify what’s a great deal, whether you’re shopping online or in stores. You can find fantastic quality jewelry from both options, but there are a few things you’ll want to remember.
The Benefits of Online Shopping
Shopping online is easy. You have a massive selection at your fingertips, and you can easily compare between merchants. And if you’re an introvert, you don’t have to worry about avoiding a salesperson following you around the store as your peruse.
Better yet, you can typically score better pricing since online merchants don’t have to worry about overhead costs. Here’s a tip for you too: before you click ‘buy now,’ be sure to check that the store will give you a full refund if needed!
The Issues With Online Shopping
While the internet is fantastic, should you buy jewelry online? It’s massively unregulated, which means there can be merchants out there selling low-quality jewels.
It is easy for anyone to make a regrettable and costly choice when shopping online if you don’t have access to an expert who can help you. Even if an online merchant is reputable, most just list their wholesalers’ inventory in the form of an enormous electronic download. On top of that, the store rarely even sees the stones, let alone take physical possession of them.
The Biggest Disadvantage of Online Shopping
For all the advantages of online shopping, it still removes a vital part of jewelry buying: seeing your stones in person.
Even if a merchant has fantastic photos, you still won’t be able to compare and contrast how different shapes or colors catch the light, and what looks better on you.
For example, quite a few diamonds when cut into elegant designs send off what’s known as a “bow-tie reflection.” The only way you can only decide if you like this reflection or not is to see it with your own eyes.
Make Online Merchants Work for You
At this point, you may be feeling overwhelmed by the thought of online shopping, especially for something as important as an engagement ring, but don’t write it off just yet.
If you’re wondering, “How do I get an inexpensive ring online?” you’ll want to follow these steps.
First, visit a retail shop so you can actually see different aspects of stones like their clarity, size, and color. After that, you can go online to compare similar grade stones to find the perfect price. Next, is to be sure that the online merchant you’re interested in offers a refund policy, not just a restocking fee, and verify that you’ve seen a reputable grading report.
The Benefits of Shopping Retail
Nothing beats gazing at a stone, like a diamond, in person.
Great stores can provide you with many options that fit your budget, and an excellent salesperson will let you know about the pros and cons of each option. In-store shopping will also open up opportunities for better rates if you need a long-term financing option. You could even discover shops that provide buy-back policies if needed.
In addition to those benefits, you’ll have the immense thrill of leaving the store with your purchase in hand.
The Problems with Retail Shopping
Unfortunately, sometimes the ultimate goal of a jewelry salesperson isn’t to provide helpful information to a customer if they’re searching for a great diamond or engagement ring but to push merchandise.
Make sure you don’t confuse a “jewelry salesperson” with a “jewelry expert” when you’re shopping. Some salespeople may not have all the answers to your questions and may even mislead you, either on purpose or by accident. A classic problem shopping retail is feeling the effects of a business’ overhead. A store’s overhead fees result in higher-priced pieces. And it can be easy to be enthralled by big-name brands, but sometimes even the biggest brands won’t have the right piece for you.
Make Retail Shopping Work for You
One of the best things you can do to find the right retailer is to talk to people!
Reach out to individuals who have purchased jewelry recently and pick their brains about their experience. Next, you’ll want to visit the best stores of each tier; these tiers include large chain stores like Jared, department stores, mall-based chain stores, and family-owned jewelry stores. Once you find your store of choice, you can browse online for similar pieces to negotiate pricing with the store. To be successful in this maneuver, you must have a good grading report handy.
There are a variety of disadvantages and advantages to both retail and online shopping if you’re looking for essential pieces like wedding or engagement rings. When shopping online, you’ll have diamonds galore at your fingertips, but always remember to examine settings and designs in a brick-and-mortar store before you make your purchase. If you’re choosing to shop retail, use the internet to compare your diamond choice between vendors, and even help negotiate a better price. Have more questions about shopping for jewelry? Contact us anytime to get the answers you need!
