Expert Advice

What About Bargains & Discounts

 What About Bargains & Discounts
 40% - 60% off
 Always look for the karat mark
 Genuine & counterfeit watches for low $$$.
 Mail-order bargains
 Summing up

What About Bargains & Discounts

Jewelry is the gift of lasting beauty, but if you are susceptible to the mail-order and discount promotions, TV commercials, street peddlers, and even some friend offering glittery bargains that sound tempting, your enjoyment and the jewelry may tarnish sooner than you expected. Here are some typical promotions which should make you wary.

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40% to 60% off

The public is being bombarded by all kinds of outlets-even well-known merchants-offering jewelry and related items through ads and promotions claiming so-called discounts which are so exaggerated that you should question whether they are true discounts:

Was the merchandise ever sold at the regular price? For how long?

Was the "retail"..."former"..."reference" price purposely inflated and then lowered to lure you into thinking you're saving money?

There is nothing wrong with legitimate discounts...but deceptive pricing offers you no bargain. To avoid being ripped off, shop around. Compare quality and service as well as price...and ask questions!

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Always look for the karat mark

14K or 18K. When buying gold jewelry, always look for a karat mark such as 14K or 18K, with the manufacturer's trademark. Make sure the mark appears on a part of the chain besides the clasp. Sometimes, if only the clasp is marked 14K, the chain may not be real gold. Anything less than 10K gold cannot be legally marked or sold as real gold.

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Genuine & counterfeit watches for low $$$.

Be wary of promotions for genuine name-brand or counterfeit watches for as low as $10.00 or, familiar brands that normally sell for $2,000-$5,000 offered at unbelievable prices as low as $50.00. These watches are not genuine, carry no manufacturer's warranty, and have little value. Usually, certain brand names are stamped on the dials of the counterfeits by promoters.

To avoid this scam:

Be wary of extremely low-priced items
Look for correct spelling of brand-names and karat gold mark
Ask for a warranty
Check with your local jeweler

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Mail-order bargains

Anyone considering a mail-order bargain should check beforehand with the Better Business Bureau in the postal area of the promoter. Because most promoters are reached only at a post office box number rather than a street address, it is very difficult to contact the firm directly in the event of non-receipt or dissatisfaction. The Better Business Bureau could provide useful information before any monetary commitment is made.

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Summing up

Compare quality and service, and ask questions! A Jewelers of America member is a professional jeweler whose reputation is based on integrity and service in the community and is someone who will be around after you've made your purchase. Your jeweler is available to answer your questions about real jewelry and can offer you a selection of the newest styles in all price ranges.

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