Butterflies are Free…That’s About It!

Remember when a glass of water was free; today a bottle of designer water from the Fiji Islands can cost two bucks or more and you even pay for the air at the vending pump at what is not exactly a full-service gas station!

I get a surprised look when I sometimes offer my services or a needed part for free. It could be a watch pin, even a watch battery for an elderly Vet or an inexpensive earring back or ear wire, tighten a loose diamond, straighten out a bent ring or remove tarnish from a silver piece. You know, simple insignificant easy peasy stuff not costing me much time or money to do. Being a God-fearing man, I’m a firm believer in practicing random acts of kindness. Unfortunately, these days it doesn’t take much for some wandering nimrod to chase away the butterflies and rainbows thus ruining my day and causing me to take a major mood swing.

Back in the good old day’s gold and all other precious metals didn’t cost what they do today, then again what does? Here’s where I show my age: when I was a young apprentice gold was only $35 an ounce and it was that way for like a hundred years. Today it hovers around $1,800!!! A hugely large mucho big difference. 

Nowadays even the smallest most insignificant solid gold item like a simple spring ring catch for a chain seems pretty expensive to most folk. You should see their faces when they see the cost of medium to heavy earring backs! I admit when gold was around $200 an ounce, they were dirt cheap, I rarely charged anyone for one or a pair of them, today they cost from $30 to $75 a pair in gold, sorry I have to pay a lot for them too!

So, when customers pick out a nice pendant many assume the chain that should go with it is free right? Ah no… in many cases the chain can cost more than the pendant did. Then there are the after-the-sale-after-thoughts and that may include a larger gold ring or a gold bail (components that connect a pendant to a chain). Some come back wanting a longer gold chain deciding the one they purchased earlier was too short not expecting to pay extra? Larger and longer means more gold so more money; the key word here is gold…so expect you will have to give up a few shekels to possess it. 

There are certain services that most jewelers (I certainly don’t!) never charge for, if you buy the ring or watch from me the sizing and fitting of that article is “on the house;” enlarging or reducing a ring size costs every jeweler, namely me, both time and additional money. Sizing a watch band is rarely a simple procedure - it takes time and often requires special tools and some are a downright pain in the butt to do. That’s why I will most certainly charge if you bought the watch elsewhere.

I have lots of people who come in asking for “free appraisals.” I usually accommodate them if the timing is right (like if there is not a store full of “paying customers”!) and only if it is an easy eyeball thing, like it’s a piece of glass not a diamond or simple costume jewelry. If it is an important diamond or a piece with lots of diamonds and gems, that’s a horse of a different color or a whole different story…that is an appraisal where now the meter is running and you pay either by the hour or by the piece for the appraiser’s expertise, experience and knowledge. Written appraisals are not a free service anywhere. 

I love it when folks come in with full freezer bags full of stuff and expect me to drop everything to play show and tell and what’s this worth and that worth bingo???? This ain’t the Antique Road Show. An appointment is required and the meter’s a running folks - that’s for the time the appraiser is spending with you. 

I offer other freebies like complimentary inspection and simple cleaning services for everyone. If someone wants The Full Monty; that is a service that involves a deep cleaning by a boil out process and complete removal of dents and scratches followed by a full polishing resulting in the piece looking brand new again…yes there is a minimal charge for that. 

When I’m home here on the island, while not expecting a complimentary dessert or drinks to be “on the house” I always thank my restaurant owner friends and business people who actually return the favors I did for them. 

I have traveled to many countries and visited many states roaming this great country. There is life on the other side of the Marco Bridge, and no one but no one has ever offered me anything for free. It totally behooves me that some folks believe the opposite is to be expected of me when they wander into my retail jewelry store. That leaves me with the one unanswered question, the next time a perfect stranger expects something from me for nothing:

“So, what have you done free for me lately?”

Richard Alan is a designer /goldsmith and owner of the Harbor Goldsmith, Marco’s go-to jeweler since 1994, and celebrating their 25th year in business on Marco Island. He welcomes your questions and comments about “All That Glitters” at www.harborgoldsmith.com.