Tuesday, December 2, 2008

The Beginner's Guide to Buying Jewelry on the Internet

By Megge Enots

Researching before you make a purchase online doesn't have to be difficult. Just head on over to Google and search for the company name and include words like "problems" or "scam" after the company name and you will see many folks just like you who were hoping for a positive experience and got the exact opposite. Take your time and read through some of what you find and ask yourself if you still feel comfortable doing business with this company. You might also try asking your friends and family if they have ever ordered jewelry online before and find out who they used. Ask them if they were satisfied with the company's customer service and delivery.

To make sure that you are buying your jewelry as safely as possible when you are looking at an online vendor, there are a few things that you want to look for.

Return policy Are they willing to take things back, and for how long? Beware of "re-stocking fees" which can come with a hefty price tag. For the most part, reputable sites will offer 30 day return policy, and if a site has no policy posted, you will want to give that vendor a pass.

Certification When you are buying diamonds, remember that you want to make sure that you are going to get a certificate along with it. You will find that GIA and AGS are two of the top services in the world, although some stores offer certification from other labs or an in house lab. Certification will not add to the value of the piece that you are buying, but it can reassure you that you are getting the piece that you have been promised.

Before ordering anything online, where it be a $20,000 gemstone or a $.99 music download from iTunes, it is very important that you determine whether or not the site you are about to give your personal information to is safe and secure. To do this, simply look for one of two things. First look for the url display to show "https:" versus "http:" this signifies a safe place on the internet. Secondly, you should look for the little closed padlock at the bottom of the screen. This too signifies security.

If the jewelry item you are purchasing is an extremely expensive item then you might consider taking advantage of the insured shipping option. While most packages do arrive at their destinations safely, there are a few that don't quite make it. This is not a necessity however it will help you sleep well at night.

Ordering jewelry on the internet is fast, easy and very convenient. If you follow the rules above, you can be assured of having a rewarding experience without any risk.

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