Complaint Review: Dahl Jewelers - Woodbridge Virginia

I am The Woman that reported this jeweler, and yes after two days of protesting out-side of his store,his wife came out and made full restution to me. It was faster and cheaper to protest,and I Didn't spend a dime of the taxpayers money to do it! Thanks rip-off report.com!

In response to Ms. Goodrichs complaint I provide the following explanation In December 2000, Laura Goodrich and James Brown came to me and requested that I make a custom designed ring for them. They wanted a ring with a diamond center stone and tanzanite side stones. I advised them that tanzanite was not a good choice for the design because of its inherent properties it would be at risk of scratching and/or breaking due to normal wear and tear. In spite of my warning, they insisted that they wanted the design as they had originally conceived with the tanzanite side stones. I collected approximately half the ticket amount at the time of order and the balance when the ring was completed to their satisfaction. When they picked up the finished ring they were pleased with it and paid the balance due. In January 2001, Ms. Goodrich brought the ring back two times for sizing. One time I charged her for the sizing and one I did at no charge. At that time she did not express any dissatisfaction with the workmanship of the ring. Over a year and a half later, on August 17, 2002, Laura Goodrich came to my shop and said one of the tanzanite stones in her ring was broken, and blamed me for having broken it. She said she had taken it to another jeweler for cleaning and discovered the cracked stone at that time. She also stated that she had not worn the ring ever. (I wondered why she would have it cleaned if she had never worn it; also why she had needed to have it sized twice if she never wore it.) At this time, she tried to point out things about the workmanship of the ring that she was unhappy about, but even examination under a microscope did not reveal what she was describing. Even when Mr. Brown examined the ring under magnification he was also unable to see the problem Ms. Goodrich was complaining about. The ring was of good quality workmanship. During this visit she was quite emotional and though I tried over and over again to get her to tell me what she wanted from me, she was unclear. She never said she wanted a refund for the ring. She said the other jeweler she had seen could remake the ring for a sum of several hundred dollars and I gathered that she wanted me to pay her that amount so she could take the ring to the other jeweler. When, after making every effort to satisfy her, I concluded the conversation suggesting she come back so we could discuss the matter further when she wasnt so upset, she left in an angry huff. The next business day (Monday, August 19, 2002) she was picketing outside my store with a sign saying things that amounted to defamation of character. She also had libelous remarks painted on her car windows as she drove through the community. When approached to see what she wanted, she said she wanted a refund of the full amount she had paid for the ring that she was no longer willing to settle for less. I was advised (without solicitation) by two separate lawyers and a law enforcement official that I had grounds to charge her with criminal extortion. However, in an effort to end the damage being caused to my business, I chose to refund the entire $4,108 purchase price (19 months after purchase). Miss Goodrich signed a release saying she would defame my character no further. I have been in business for twenty-two years without ever having a claim against me. My good reputation is very valuable to me and this incident was very difficult to deal with. I have thousands of satisfied customers, and had offers from some of them to counter-demonstrate on behalf of my good name and reputation. I reiterate, my decision to settle this dispute was made only to lessen the damage being done to my business by this customer who seemed to be behaving irrationally. I stand by my workmanship and the quality of the product 100%. Regards, Dahl Jewelers