Dissapointed AGAIN!!!

[jewelfreak]

As much as I love JTV, I must tell you of my plight.
About 6 months ago, I bought my dream ring from them, a 2ct diamond ring. I had it less than a week when a stone fell out, so they repaired it. Three days after I got it back, 2 stones fell out!!! So I reluctantly returned it, convicing myself it was not meant to be.
I replaced that ring with two others from JTV. The first lost a diamond after a week, and the second had a big inclusion and a cracked stone. Yet again, I decided it wan't meant to be.
Two days ago, I ordered a gorgeous, fancy cut iolite ring. I had it overnight shipped so it would come in time for my birthday.
But guess what, JTV strikes again. It has three large black spots in the stone and is scratched on top.
Now, I ordered a champaign diamond pendant for my mom for Christmas and my best friend buys stuff from JTV all the time, and both of them are thrilled with their stuff.
Do I just have bad luck? Or has this kind of stuff happened to you guys too? I don't WANT to stop ordering from them, but all this returning and exchanging and dissapointment is getting out of control!!!! And it bugs me that they would so easily lose good customers. Have you all noticed that the invoices say your order has been personally inspected by such-and-such? What are these people doing? Smoking pot and getting drunk on the job? This is the worst quality control team in the history of the world. Unless "inspected" to them simply means to throw it in an envelope.

[amber]

that sucks

[francesca]

I feel your pain! My strategy is order 3 of something, odds are one of them will be a keeper. It puts a hit on the credit card, for sure, but they are very fast to process credits too.

In a couple of instances when I was sent REAL garbage
(NO RESEMBLANCE to the way the item was photographed and described)
I called my credit card company and disputed the charge. Then it comes right off the bill and they duke it out with JTV.

It's some fun shopping but very definietely "Buyer Beware!"

[pebbles]

If I had that many problems, I would stop ordering from them. Obviously the merchandise and workmanship are inferior. What if your ring fell apart after the return periond ended? This does not sound like a reliable source to me.

I do not get JTV but I have watched it on my computer. I am not impressed. They look like a cut rate operation to me. On the other hand, I saw some amazing buys on ShopNBC today. They had a big tanz with lots of diamonds for under $700. and some amazing diamond bands. One had big princess cut diamonds and the price was very reasonable, too. They have by far the best looking jewelry.

[Unregistered]

JTV sells jewelry and gemstones better than anyone!!! SHOPNBC, QVC, HSN, Shop@Home all order from the same vendors, JTV just gets the better deal AND passes it on to their customers!!! The others do NOT!!!

[francesca]

Welcome unregistered! Why don't you register so we have a name for you! :-)

I agree with you that all the channels use many of the same vendors. The only thing that sets Diamonique or Absolute cz apart from any other cz is the name the channels put on them. Many of the "Affinity" "exclusive" diamond styles on QVC are in JTV inventory. Lower quality diamond jewelry at affordable prices. Much better than Q prices, that's for sure!

That being said, I'll comment on your statement---

"JTV just gets the better deal AND passes it on"---

JTV gets the better deal because they take the seconds, they take the lightweight 10K mountings and they take the remainders; lower quantities that larger retailers don't feel are worth the time to inventory then present and ship. As much as the bigger networks LOVE to put up the soldouts!, they also take GREAT care to have enough quantity on hand that soldout! doesn't happen too fast. ;' )

It is all an intricate ballet, really. So, whadd'yasay?? Register and yack with us!

[Garnet333]

Sorry about your problems with JTV Jewelfreak :(

I watch JTV but have never ordered from them. I agree with Pebbles, stop ordering from them. I would also make a phone call to their customer service to make them aware of all the problems you have had. What a hassle to have to keep returning items.

As for buying in 3s, that to me is something I would never consider. But I must admit that is very cleaver.

I dont care how low the cost is, if the quality is not there, it is a waste of time and money.

[jewelfreak]

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Garnet333:
Sorry about your problems with JTV Jewelfreak :(

I watch JTV but have never ordered from them. I agree with Pebbles, stop ordering from them. I would also make a phone call to their customer service to make them aware of all the problems you have had. What a hassle to have to keep returning items.

As for buying in 3s, that to me is something I would never consider. But I must admit that is very cleaver.

I dont care how low the cost is, if the quality is not there, it is a waste of time and money.
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I see what you are saying about not buying anymore, but I have also bought some items I am very pleased with - some of them extremely inexspensive items, like a $10 strand of purple pearls and a $30 pair of diamond accent earrings I wear and get compliments on all the time. It's a double edged sword - if you don't buy from them, you won't have to worry about the hassle but you also will miss out on some great things because you didn't try.
I sometimes wonder if JTV buys in such quantity that the suppliers throw in some crappy and flawed pieces thinking JTV will miss them in the mix. But even if that is the case, it is still JTV's fault for not properly checking the items they recieve. I mean, I can understand that they can't check and see if every single stone in every piece is tight or not, but they certainly should be checking to see if their stones have huge, noticeable inclusions, and if so, don't ship them! They should return them to the vendor, instead of us returning them to JTV, where thay could lose loyal cutomers.

[beekeeper]

I haven't had that problem with Jtv ... so sorry you are JF! I did have exactly this same problem with HSN, thus my not ordering from them anymore!

I have had very bad luck with the gem kits from Jtv ... and many loose single gemstones, having inclusions, chips, etc. But, for those that sucked ... I have also found many true "gems"!

Since they sell a lot of close-outs, etc ... you never really know what you're gonna get, unless it's a higer dollar item. I want to say stop ordering from them since you've had such bad luck ... but I'm such a sucker for sparklies ... I end up sticking on give them another chance! lol ...

It suchs having to ship stuff back ... but if/when you do find that piece that you just adore ... it may be worth it!

[pebbles]

First of all, you have to know that these parcels are not random. Someone went through them and removed anything of value. What's left are poor quality occluded stones, badly cut stones, stones with poor color, etc. This is a smart way for them to get rid of junk. You are essentially buying a grab bag or odd lot which is rarely worth the money.

[beekeeper]

I have concluded the same Pebbles. I'm done with the parcels. I get tempted when I hear people say "I found a fabulous tanzie or labradorite in mine" ...

Lies all lies! lol ...

[Garnet333]

Bee, forever looking for that honker Tanzie. LOL Bee, how many bundles do you have and how many have you sent back????

[beekeeper]

I've ordered probably ... 4 of them, maybe 5 ... and they all want back. Every time, I had crackes stones, chipped stones, very poorly cut stones, horrible colored stones, included stones ... and I'm talking the majority, not just one or two in a parcel ...

Like Pebbles said, they are grab bags of junk! Kudos to all who have been successful with them, but I'm done ...

[Garnet333]

Pebbles is right, they are grab bags of junk, from the sounds of it anyway. Are they expensive? I have only seen a few presented on JTV but changed the channel because it didnt interest me in the least. I guess I am focused on getting those loose tanzies in my bracelet.

[beekeeper]

The price depends on the carat weight. The ones I bought were the 100 carats, for about $150. Expensive for junk!

I've bought MANY loose single stones from JTV ... have been pretty lucky. Again, I've had to return many also ... but when I find the one I like, I'm happy!

[jewelfreak]

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beekeeper:
The price depends on the carat weight. The ones I bought were the 100 carats, for about $150. Expensive for junk!

I've bought MANY loose single stones from JTV ... have been pretty lucky. Again, I've had to return many also ... but when I find the one I like, I'm happy!
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I said this on another topic, but I'll say it again for those of you who haven't read it. If you buy the 15 or 20 ct parcels, you get good stuff. If you buy anything larger, they fill it with crap. I have had excellent luck with all of my small kits - maybe 1 bad stone - as opposed to 100 and 200 ct kits, which I have gotten 50 - 75% crap.

[pebbles]

Whatever floats your boat, LOL. I would rather put that money toward something I really want and know what I'm getting. Those kinds of surprises aren't for me. It has to be all good or I'm not buying. And some of it may look good to the naked eye but it's SI or worse.

[mystylady]

I was posting a reply to this thread and "hit something" buttonwise and lost my post! :-/
I wonder where it went? lol It's floating in hyperspace somewhere! So if you see a "Rogue Post" anywhere it's probably mine!

I was saying that after reading about all of the bad experiences with the MFGP's that I really feel lucky because I've ordered several and all have been keepers. The last one was ordered in June of 2004, 60 ctw w/ 2 tray twos for $99.98. Maybe because it was so long ago??? This was a "special parcel" because there were several gems that you were guaranteed to get, amongst them: an 8x6 mm Andalusite, an 8 mm square buff top Santa Maria Aquamarine, REALLY blue, a very large Marquise Chinese Peridot, A 6x4 mm Tanzanite (on the pale side), a 9x6 mm Spessartite Garnet (heartstopping!) a 6x4 mm Pink Sapphire, a really sweet Ruby (don't know the mm but it's quite large and translucent) an 8 mm Trillion Uraguan (sp) Amythyst (dark purple with a lot of pink and purple flashes! Wowza!) and more that I can't remember. I also got in the same parcel: A 9x6mm Emerald cut Indocolite Tourmaline, a Watermelon Tourmaline, an 8x10mm Rubellite, a gem quality 7x5 mm Iolite (stunning), an 8mm round Citrine, NO banding or zoning, A 9x6mm Emerald cut London Blue, and an assortment of other stones that were very nice but not as memorable. Oh yeah, a 6x4 mm Tsavorite and a 6x4 mm color change Garnet too! I've never seen them offer a kit like it again, with so many "guaranteed to get" higher end stones. Impressive to say the least!
I don't think I'm going to be ordering any more MFGP's tho because it seems that as time's gone by the quality of the parcels have taken a nose dive.
I've found that the gems are much better when you order the kits that come with gems and castings to put them into, for example a kit that had 3 6x4mm pear shaped Peridots and 3 14K yellow Gold Pear shaped Pendant Castings for $26.97! How can you go wrong??? Especially since the Peridots were rich in color, nicely cut and had no inclusions or "lilly pads" in them (typical in Peridot). It always seems that the stones are of a much higher quality when ordered that way than the "random mix" is. Top that off with the fact that the castings were 14K and very nicely made... Well how could I NOT order??? I was powerless to resist! I ordered that one back in March of 2004 so maybe that explains it??? I don't see many deals as good as that one nowadays, if at all.
It's a shame, really. I suppose that in order to accomodate the masses of people ordering now that they have to buy in much larger lots and perhaps can't be as picky as they used to be. Too bad. I'm grateful that I lucked out but I so wish you all had too :(

[beekeeper]

Mysty, I have bought a couple of those kits (gems with the castings) ... mine were all in silver. I really only bought them for the gems, the castings are in a box somewhere, probably never to be used.

One kit I bought had 5 pairs of stones for earrings (garnet, aqua, citrine, peridot and amethyst). Then I also bought the pendant set (same stones, but only one plus the chain). They were not expensive at all, and the aqua, garnet and peridot were FABulous! My only beef was with the citrine and amethyst ... very light.

Then I bought a kit that was moldavite with a pendant casting and chain (bought 2). Very pretty stones!

I have to admit that I do like these type of kits ... but they don't show them very often, and when they do thare are always yucky stones or that damn quantum cut! BLECK!

[mystylady]

I never liked the quantum cut either for some reason. I don't know why... it's nice enough, but yeah, blechhh.

[jewelfreak]

I like the quantum cut, but I'm looking for just the right piece, cuz sometimes they can look tacky. But the trillions look awesome in a quantum cut. If you notice, they usually only do inexpensive stones in that cut and the other fancy cuts, like the triple trillion, cuz I think they are too easy to screw up and lose the stone. I do have a quantum rose quartz that came in one of my mixed faceted parcels, and it is really beautiful - the cut makes a usually lifeless looking stone look great and exotic. It actually looks like it is glowing! Love it! I would really like a triple trillion and a snowflake cut too, but I think those odd shaped stones would be really expensive to have made into jewelry. Oh well, I can dream!!!

[mystylady]

I've noticed that too Jewel, about the inexpensive stones and the quantum cut. What's a "triple trillion"?
The Rose Quartz sounds sweet! I don't like how they're usually "milky" looking. I bet the quantum makes it sparkle!

[jewelfreak]

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mystylady:
I've noticed that too Jewel, about the inexpensive stones and the quantum cut. What's a "triple trillion"?
The Rose Quartz sounds sweet! I don't like how they're usually "milky" looking. I bet the quantum makes it sparkle!
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It really does make a rose quartz look awesome! I wish you could see it in real life - it is so hard to explain. It glows in this surreal way. If you see one for sale seperate on JTV, I highly recommend picking it up. They can't be more than a few bucks, I would guess.
As for the triple trillion, go on the JTV web site and plug it into the search. You will probably only see it lemon quartz and (blech!!) prasiolite, but the cut is truly amazing.

[jewelfreak]

Speaking of rose quartz, I don't know where you are all located, but do any of you have a TJ Maxx in your area? If you do, check out their jewelry counter. Their gold is okay, but their sterling silver jewelry is really unique and dirt cheap. I just bought from them a necklace made up of six strands of rose quartz beads with a huge, faceted rose quartz hanging from it set in sterling. The pendant alone has to be 100 cts and the necklace itself literally thousands of carats. It is REALLY impressive and was only $40. They really undersell. I also got a beautiful 48 inch necklace - simple silver links with nugget style turquoise all throughout for the same price. You can wear it as one strand, flapper style as I call it, or in two or three strands. I get so many compliments on it. I also got a pendant that is a large bone carving of two koi for $15. You guys need to check it out, even if you only get to see one out of town. Unfortunately, they don't sell off the internet - yet.

[mystylady]

Yes there's a TJMaxx in town... I've gotta check it out! Thanks! Sounds lovely! :-)