H&S Jewelers, DO NOT BUY FROM H&S JEWELERS in ST. THOMAS St. Thomas US Virgin Islands
We bought two pieces of diamond jewelry from H&S Jewelers in St. Thomas for a total of $2,000. We are partially at fault since we did not do our research, but they flat out lied to us about the quality and specifications of the diamonds. They duped us into believing we were getting some great deal since the price they sold the items to us for were significantly less than their price tags and they 'dropped' the price several times before we decided to buy the pieces.
They wrote an appraisal for $6,500 with details of the color, cut and clarity of the diamonds and said that we should get an independent appraisal when we get back to the U.S. for insurance purposes and that if the appraisal wasn't at least $5,100, they have a 30-day money back guarantee. We got an appraisal when we got home which showed that the total value of both pieces was only $1,100 and the quality of the diamonds was extremely poorer than what they represented to us and what was listed on the appraisal form.
We faxed them the appraisal report, however, they are not returning our phone calls. I've found a couple of other reports by people in similar situations who have not been able to return their jewelry and they have refused delivery. We are disputing the charge with our credit card company and we hope to recover a full refund, but I at least want to warn others to not fall into this trap.
During our vacation, we kept hearing other people's stories about the great deals they have gotten in St. Thomas on jewelry, so I guess we just bought into this store's lies about "what a great deal" we were getting and it was also a non-cruise ship day so there were very few people in the stores. In retrospect, we should have known better since the salesman Joe from Philly was a complete SLEEZ! Watch out! Oh well, we live and learn.
Anonymous
Ellicott City, Maryland
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Angry Consumer
Baxter,Minnesota,
U.S.A.
You are out you're money!
#3Consumer Comment
Wed, June 24, 2009
We had the same thing happen to us for the tune of $8800 and the credit card company sided with the Jeweler and we're now out that money! These are horrible people!
I'm sorry this happened to you and to me.
Cory
San Antonio,Texas,
U.S.A.
Why Oh Why
#3Consumer Suggestion
Mon, June 01, 2009
Do you people keep going down there and getting screwed? Been in the business 25+ years and see it all the time. Had one customer buy a ring that the jeweler told her AND give a receipt that the ring was 3+ carats total weight. She came in to me to get it appraised. IF I pushed it, MAYBE it had 1.25 cts T.W. The diamonds WERE nice VS/F and it was 18kt W/G, so I appraised it at $1,900. Since she had paid $3,000, a/e refunded her $1,100 and she was mad at me for not under appraising it. Ungracious witch. I got her $1,100 back. The funny part was she said that when she bought it she didn't think it was 3 ct+ cause she had a 2+ ct ring and "it didn't look as large as the one she had" but she'd been drinking and wasn't thinking straight with all the alcohol they'd given her. How often have I heard that story? The problem with buying "down there" is that you have little, if any recourse if you DO have a problem. Depending on your method of payment. Last cruise I took, the couple at our table was offered a ring starting at $15,000, down to $3,700 which I would sell for around $2,000.