A Chain Reaction

Ever experience someone pulling a “Mickey the Dunce” kind of moment? That's where one dumbs down when caught red handed and claims innocence due to instant ignorance – “I honestly can’t believe I was going that fast officer!” For example:

In only the past couple of years I have become aware that some folks have been using the “Dunce Card” more often than usual in my line of business. It has become more than just annoying because in my business, if I’m not careful, it can cost me unnecessary confusion, embarrassment and even my money. It has become a routine for me and my staff to leave no stone unturned when accepting even the simplest repair… a gold or silver chain.

What used to be a simple sixty second process is now a Federal procedure. First and foremost my staff or I must identify it; is it gold, platinum or silver as the customer claims or is it costume or junk? Many chains have come across my bench over the decades for repair that were not made from the precious metals the customer claimed it was. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t inform. When they are informed about the truth it sometimes gets ugly. “What do you mean it's not gold? I paid good money in Mexico for that chain and how would you know that? You must have switched it!” That’s a good one “How would I know? I’m 50- year practicing goldsmith with gold dust under my fingernails on a daily basis - I’m quite sure I know the difference between gold and brass.

Gee Whiz Sir! I can’t believe a tourist buying gold from a street vendor in Mexico got swindled! Absolutely sir, I just happened to have a brass chain and cross just like yours in stock to switch it with!

In a perfect world the customer should know what they purchased before they broke it. We are told many times the broken chain presented for repair is white gold when the quality tag clearly states it is sterling silver (stamped .925) and noted during its acceptance on the repair envelope and that fact was on their receipt (There is a huge difference in the purchase price between a white gold and a silver chain!). Some accept the fact, others will pull a nutty! I won’t write gold on the envelope that is now in my possession if it is sterling silver. Apparently, I’m Midas and can turn silver to gold and vice versa.

Beside those accusations, we have to measure the length of every chain. In the past I have been blamed for giving them back a shorter chain, when it was presented to me in many pieces, not realizing they could have lost a section during a “indoor sport” episode. Then there are those who accuse us of breaking their broken clasp on the broken chain. Or my favorite…being told “that’s not my chain!”  

The reason for this problem is I do too good of a job on any jewelry repair that enters my shop. It gets a complete cleaning, then repaired and is polished to brand new condition. I have had some people swear it was not their article because it is shiny and clean.

I once had a Karen claim the chain I repaired was not hers. She threatened to sue, even though there was a full description of the chain on the repair envelope. I was adamant it was her chain, no amount of crying and ranting was going to change that fact. I asked the husband if there was a photo of her wearing this chain. The next day he came in with a 10 x 8 anniversary photo from their mantle. With the help of a magnifying glass he agreed there was no question it was the same chain. Even to this day she never apologized and refuses to believe either him or I that is her chain.

So you probably get the picture of what the average jewelry shop has to go through with a simple chain repair. Just imagine the process with precious diamond or colored stone pieces. What do you mean it’s not a real diamond!

Lord help the giver of the “not a diamond” when the truth is told to many unhappy ladies. No jewelry store is going to write the word diamond without knowing 100 % that it is, in fact, a diamond. So don’t be alarmed or upset if the word “white stone white ring” is used to describe your jewelry. This is common in the biz to avoid an incorrect I.D. by writing down one ladies white gold diamond ring a diamond ring when it is a fake can get a store in legal problems when dealing with a dishonest client. Here is a bit of reality information… Not every salesperson behind a jewelry counter can tell the difference between precious metal and what is not, nor can many tell the difference between a real diamond and a fake or a substitute for one and now with the popularity of “lab created diamonds” it is near impossible. Sadly, many can only inform you about a piece of jewelry by what is written on the price tag.

In just one day if I had to spend my time at the sales counter verifying every detail on every repair my daughter and the sales ladies accepted, I would never get a darn thing done in the shop. Years ago most people were upfront and honest, today they will outright lie to my face about almost anything. Only recently an irate customer causing a scene in the shop claimed the shop had just “repaired” her ring last month and one of her diamonds had fallen out. She demanded I replace it and repair it immediately for no charge. On examination, my son and I never saw that ring before, plus it was obvious the stone had been missing for a very long time due to the wear on the exposed prongs. When I asked for her name, she said “what for?”  For one, neither my son nor I recognize this ring and I save every repair envelope for at least five years; If you say you were here last month, I have a record of the repair.

Total silence…Gee, the ranting stopped dead right there. “On second thought it might have been a jeweler in Naples, an easy mistake to make,” NO! She tried to pull a Karen move and failed to a Richard Karen Slayer.

The same goes for dishonest folks who go to a jewelry store after slam dunking their watch on the tile floor, thinking all they need is a new watch battery to get it going again. Remember now the watch is not working. They broke it…period.

They always blame the store when they are told it’s not the battery. They know the watch is broken, they will now go to another jeweler and leave it for a “new battery” when they are told the same thing, they will now claim that store “broke it” and demand they repair it. Sadly I have experienced it on many occasions here on the island - decent people will accept it's time for a new watch or get it repaired; then there are those who have no morals or conscience. I’m grateful they are far and few between.