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Diamonds International Material Misrepresentation at it's worst! Puerto Vallarta, Nationwide
Foolishly I decided to make a major purchase at Diamonds International. It was our 10 year anniversary and we were on a Carnival Mexican Rivera cruise. We looked around in Cabo San Lucas and found nothing that we liked so continued on shopping.
Once we arrived in Puerto Vallarta the sales person at DI pulled out a couple diamonds for me to see. Of course they really weren't what I was looking for and the selection was pitiful since the diamonds were "still in Alaska" We were shown an EGL (USA) certificate for a stone which had many aspects of the stone listed, Color, clarity, florescence, table measurements, girdle, culet, symmetry, the whole 9 yards. Since we hadn't looked at diamonds in a few years we weren't polished on all the in's and out's. We talked to Jose and Nate (Nate is the manager) and they explained all these aspects to us. I mentioned a few times that the "Crown of Light" cut didn't seem like what I was looking for and Nate dismissed that as being OK, because it can be taken back, traded, or whatever we needed to do if I didn't love it later.
We took the diamond to an AGS, GIA graduate appraiser and the diamond didn't match their appraisal. The color was right, and that was about it. The clarity was 1 grade off, florescence strong, girdle was very thick, which means they didn't care about light preservation, but more carat preservation, and even so far as plain measurements were way off. I decided with all these differences I would not have purchased the stone, especially at the amount I paid, who would? I mean they sold me a Ferrari and I got a lawnmower engine under the hood. It looks ok, but underneath the flaws are so much they would greatly affect the price and my willingness to purchase all together.
DI offered to exchange it. I found a diamond through their website assistant which is nearly 1/3 less carat with the same color and clarity as I purchased and the cost was quoted at $3k more. I can select that or I have to wait to go to a store again, all their stores are thousands of miles away, to make a new purchase. I have no interest in doing this all over again with the same company. I don't trust them now. They lied to me prior to purchase and have been unwilling to work with me regarding a refund.
This is a case of material misrepresentation which is illegal, EVEN IN MEXICO!!
I am posting this everywhere because I wan't to save other people. The cruise lines dismiss themselves and PPI, the promotional agency who employs the on board shopper, does nothing for you. I wish I had more money, I would blow this open and expose the whole thing, but for now, if I save one person, even if it's just one, from buying at Diamonds International and getting jacked, it will make me feel better. I wish I had read this forum before I left for my trip.
I am currently working with the BBB in NY, Attorney Genereal of NY, AG of South Dakota, PPI (who is worthless), PROFECO in Mexico, my credit card company, US consulate in Mexico, and lastly an attorney in NY and one in Jalisco Mexico. Yes this purchase was very large, essentially 2 years salary for me. Just keep in mind Carnival Cruise Lines won't help you, even though they make it look as if they are endorsing this store, they aren't. They make profit on your purchases, which is why they hire a worthless 3rd party to promote the store, and then they wash their hands of any wrongdoing. Please please please, don't buy from DI unless you want to end up like me. This is the first of many posts I will be making regarding my experience with DI. These are the facts.
BUYER BEWARE!
8 Updates & Rebuttals
Tenorman
New Jersey,Happy Shopper of Diamonds International
#9Consumer Comment
Mon, July 15, 2013
I see that there are many negative comments on here about Diamonds International. i think it goes without saying, that any business as big s they are will end up with negative comments and the other millions of happy people dont go online because they just buy and remain happy.
I wanted to share my GREAT experience with Diamonds International. I too went to the shopping talk on my cruise line and ended up buying some pieces. I bought tanzanite and a crown of light diamond ring. I took both to GIA gemologist here at home to be appraised and the value on each was far more than I paid. I didnt tell the appraiser that they were from a cruise. I only told him what I paid after I got his opinions and appraisals. Essentially he told me I paid $7400 less than my 2 pieces were worth. I couldnt be happier and will save as much as I can and start buying for investment while on cruises and will shop with Diamonds International specifically again.
They are clearly the biggest stores out there(Ive been almost everywhere in the caribbean) so the fact that there are only a dozen or so bad comments on a sote that must have MILLIONS of transctions a year speaks louder than these couple bad things I would say.
Jennifer
RAPID CITY,South Dakota,
I did get my money back!
#9Author of original report
Mon, March 18, 2013
I wish there was a way to let people get in touch with me easily about this matter, as it is nearly impossible to give proper advice on a forum such as this. But I can tell you....you can win. There are a few people who have found my posts in other websites similar to this which include my email addy and I have helped them get a refund too. Don't give up hope!!! If you are resourceful you can always get a hold of jhix and ask anything you would like if you use rap midco net and add some dots.
Good luck to you all and I hope you get your money back too! I can tell you I fought from Nov 2011 until June 2012. It was a hard dirty fight. Use whatever you have to get what you want.
aqua14
United States of AmericaLet's get media attention!
#9Consumer Comment
Sun, February 17, 2013
I am in the similar situation and I have been communicating with DI for the last 7 weeks with no resolution. DI is unethical and can not be trusted. I just filed a report on (((link redacted))) and I'm searching for any news channels that would do a story to expose their scam. Please join me by sending complaints to news channels. Thank you and good luck!
CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.
ALEXANDER
PORT ST LUCIE,Florida,
United States of America
solution maybe
#9Consumer Suggestion
Tue, September 25, 2012
For people who have a problem with Diamonds International may I suggest you send your "problem" to
Jo-Ann and she will take up your case for a fee of $100 YES $100!!
She took my case on with DI after a $10,000 "Crown of Light" diamond just fell out of its setting as it was poorly set.
She won a full refund and the cost of a specialist expert to review the setting for $400. I would suggest that you contact her right away if you have problems with Diamonds Internation.
Jo-Ann Sperano
Mediation Specialist/Paralegal
Jewelers Vigilance Committee
25 W. 45th Street Suite 1406
New York, NY 10036
212 997 2002
F: 212 997 9148
Good luck, Alexander
ALEXANDER
PORT ST LUCIE,Florida,
United States of America
Diamonds International possible help from JVC
#9Consumer Suggestion
Tue, September 25, 2012
For people who have a problem with Diamonds International may I suggest you send your "problem" to Jo-Ann and she will take up your case for a fee of $100 YES $100!!
She took my case on with DI after a $10,000 "Crown of Light" diamond just fell out of its setting as it was poorly set.
She won a full refund and the cost of a specialist expert to review the setting for $400. I would suggest that you contact her right away if you have problems with Diamonds Internation.
Jo-Ann Sperano
Mediation Specialist/Paralegal
Jewelers Vigilance Committee
25 W. 45th Street Suite 1406
New York, NY 10036
212 997 2002
F: 212 997 9148
Good luck, Alexander
Jennifer
RAPID CITY,South Dakota,
United States of America
Still in Progress
#9Author of original report
Thu, January 19, 2012
I am still in the process of fighting DI. It is a long hard battle but I will not give up. I will be happy to share my info with you if you would like to send me contact info at jhix(at)rap(dot)midco(dot)net. I want to share any potentially helpful information.
Jennifer
RAPID CITY,South Dakota,
United States of America
Still in Progress
#9Author of original report
Thu, January 19, 2012
I am still in the process of fighting DI. I would be happy to discuss it further, you can send me your contact information at jhix@rap.midco.net and I will discuss it with you or anyone else who wants to discuss it. I know through hours and days and weeks of research I have information that may be valuable to you. I hope all goes well, we are dealing with the devil, I can say that!
Jimmy
United States of AmericaI was scammed too.
#9Consumer Comment
Thu, January 19, 2012
Hi Jennifer,
I was on-board the Norwegian Sky and I attended a shopping presentation and the presenter sold us the idea that tanzanites are so rare and the deals from Diamonds International is so great and if I were to buy a tanzanite from them, it would easily appraised double. He also promised me on more than one occasion that if the appraised value turns out to be lower and as long as I fill in a "shopper's guarantee" form, I would be able to return my item for a full refund or the ship will buy it back.
I ended up spending USD $18,804 on a tanzanite that is supposed to be perfect in every way, but when I brought it back home and appraised it, 3 ratings were lower, at the same time, I noticed that the "cut" rating is missing all together on the certificate DI gave me. My appraiser from Chicago appraise the stone for $17000 but he told me if I were to sell the stone to a jeweler here in town, they would likely only pay me only $3000 because a jeweler can easily buy the same stone at wholesale for $11,000 and there is no reason to buy from a someone off the street.
I believe I am a victim of a "jewelry investment scam", misrepresentation, and fraud, perpetrated by both PPI Group and Diamonds International. PPI Group sends "sale experts' to cruise lines and lie to new cruise goer to give them a false sense of security when shopping on ports, then recommends them companies like DI who is willing to sell inferior product at high prices by misrepresenting their values.
I have tried to work with PPI and DI and they obviously will not take the stone back, I tried to work with MasterCard but they said that in all likelihood my chargeback attempt will fail. I really don't know what to do, were you able to get your money back?
Thanks,
James