jewelery/jems in Chaing Mai
May 26th, 2007, 10:34 AM
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jewelery/jems in Chaing Mai
I just took the sapphire pendant I bought in CM to have it appraised...they said ( preliminary) looks about 800 retail here in US...I paid 1200....yes it is a real stone and 18 karat so at least it is what they said...yes I wish I went to S and J but I didnt think I would have the time in Bangkok and the persons suggesting the large store were reputable and connected to the villa where I was staying....I have learned my lesson...I will wait for the final results and I will contact them and let them know...No deals just ripoffs again...beware
May 26th, 2007, 11:51 AM
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I waited awile to take it as I was worried about what they would say considering I had so many bad experiences in Thailand. I would not care if I had gottten retail US...it's just that I could have paid 1/3 less here...and that is not acceptable...
No, I dont really want people saying ,"oh well, you should have known not to go there"! It was in a shopping area that is recommended in a lot of web sites .
Nowhere on this site did I see anything but references to Bangkok that said not to go anywhere that doesnt have a reputable reference ...like the store I was steered into going to by the gardner..I knew not to buy there and prices were high...
I did some research before hand and was not really planning to buy anything {but you know how that goes}...I thought it was a bit high but I had the 18 karat chain and setting surrounded by small diamonds so I thought maybe that's why it seemed high...you know sometimes you cant find a exact comparable in the states....
I went to Chaing Mai first when I arrived from China, so yes I was not as wary then as well.
I am coming out here to warn people as I cannot do anything now but it makes me feel gullible and stupid. More importantly instead of reminding me of a wonderful time, it is a reminder of how greedy some are and I will feel that way everytime I wear it.
No, I dont really want people saying ,"oh well, you should have known not to go there"! It was in a shopping area that is recommended in a lot of web sites .
Nowhere on this site did I see anything but references to Bangkok that said not to go anywhere that doesnt have a reputable reference ...like the store I was steered into going to by the gardner..I knew not to buy there and prices were high...
I did some research before hand and was not really planning to buy anything {but you know how that goes}...I thought it was a bit high but I had the 18 karat chain and setting surrounded by small diamonds so I thought maybe that's why it seemed high...you know sometimes you cant find a exact comparable in the states....
I went to Chaing Mai first when I arrived from China, so yes I was not as wary then as well.
I am coming out here to warn people as I cannot do anything now but it makes me feel gullible and stupid. More importantly instead of reminding me of a wonderful time, it is a reminder of how greedy some are and I will feel that way everytime I wear it.
May 26th, 2007, 01:50 PM
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Who is doing your appraisals for you, Hypatia? Are they independant appraisers or connnected to a jewelry store?
Do you tell them when you first bring your items in for appraisal that you've purchased them in other countries?
Is it possible they have an agenda to appraise low perhaps because you've been buying your jewelry when traveling and not from them?
In any event you must really like the pendant if you bought it and its beauty is not diminished by what you paid for it. There is no reason to have any negative associations with this jewelry unless you choose to have them. Why not forget about the appaisal and the price, focus only on its beauty and let wearing it bring you joy. After all isn't that what jewelry is for?
Certainly you don't have to tell anyone anything about your pendant. Let it speak for itself.
Do you tell them when you first bring your items in for appraisal that you've purchased them in other countries?
Is it possible they have an agenda to appraise low perhaps because you've been buying your jewelry when traveling and not from them?
In any event you must really like the pendant if you bought it and its beauty is not diminished by what you paid for it. There is no reason to have any negative associations with this jewelry unless you choose to have them. Why not forget about the appaisal and the price, focus only on its beauty and let wearing it bring you joy. After all isn't that what jewelry is for?
Certainly you don't have to tell anyone anything about your pendant. Let it speak for itself.
May 26th, 2007, 02:51 PM
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hypatia, I wonder if you would be willing to give a bit more information about your expereince? I know it is painful for you as you feel you paid too much, but your experience may help someone else.
Who was it that recommended the store?
Did you bargain at all? If so, how much?
Did you give the salesperson an idea of what you wanted to spend or what you were looking for?
Any information you can give may be helpful to someone else who has never bargained for jewelry in an Asian country.
Again, if you are willing to supply the name of the store, it would be helpful.
As you noted, it is not that you were scammed, teh goods were as stated, you simply paid too much.
Who was it that recommended the store?
Did you bargain at all? If so, how much?
Did you give the salesperson an idea of what you wanted to spend or what you were looking for?
Any information you can give may be helpful to someone else who has never bargained for jewelry in an Asian country.
Again, if you are willing to supply the name of the store, it would be helpful.
As you noted, it is not that you were scammed, teh goods were as stated, you simply paid too much.
May 26th, 2007, 04:28 PM
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I am only am doing the appraisal for the insurance policy and I also had a piece my mother gave me as well.I did not say anything about the necklace to them so Im assuming they think it was a gift.They did ask if I wanted to sell and of course I said no.I would have to go out of town to another appraiser...
Yes becalm, I will try to think of it as a thing of beauty!
Kathie , it was like the experience you had with the Yaang Come Village...you dont expect your hotel to be a part of a rip off for taxis or anything else.
I was ataying on the Four Seasons property.I was told where to be careful(ie night market etc)And I specifially asked to go to that shopping area. It was not like they steered us there.Also they did not overcharge us for anything else....
Ok Im going to wait for the full appraisal. I will go to another store as well and when I have a more accurate price I will find out the names and particulars and hopefully I will be able tell you..
Yes becalm, I will try to think of it as a thing of beauty!
Kathie , it was like the experience you had with the Yaang Come Village...you dont expect your hotel to be a part of a rip off for taxis or anything else.
I was ataying on the Four Seasons property.I was told where to be careful(ie night market etc)And I specifially asked to go to that shopping area. It was not like they steered us there.Also they did not overcharge us for anything else....
Ok Im going to wait for the full appraisal. I will go to another store as well and when I have a more accurate price I will find out the names and particulars and hopefully I will be able tell you..
May 26th, 2007, 05:57 PM
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First-- I stayed at the 4 Seasons in Chiang Mai and the stores the recommended I felt were all rip offs (I had been in CM many times so knew the score). They were places that sold the real thing but catered to the wealthy (i.e. 4 Seasons clients) and thus increased their prices accordingly.
That said-- my rule of thumb when buying anything on a vacation is that it is worth it to ME. Whether I could get it for less at home or elsewhere doesn't matter to much to me as the fact that I love it and it reminds me of my trip etc. But I also find I am much more willing to make purchases at places where I connect with the store owner, or the artist and that becomes part of the experience. in other words I don't shop for "bargains" just because I am in thailand. I buy what I love from people I connect with and respect and enjoy. Have there been things I wish I hadn't purchased? Sure. But they were all in earlier trips when I went to the stores suggested by hotels like the 4 Seasons.
That said-- my rule of thumb when buying anything on a vacation is that it is worth it to ME. Whether I could get it for less at home or elsewhere doesn't matter to much to me as the fact that I love it and it reminds me of my trip etc. But I also find I am much more willing to make purchases at places where I connect with the store owner, or the artist and that becomes part of the experience. in other words I don't shop for "bargains" just because I am in thailand. I buy what I love from people I connect with and respect and enjoy. Have there been things I wish I hadn't purchased? Sure. But they were all in earlier trips when I went to the stores suggested by hotels like the 4 Seasons.
May 26th, 2007, 08:40 PM
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HaHa my husband is my agent!!!
Gloria you are so right about that and I usually go by a similar philosophy but I was a little shocked today...
That's why I didnt want to tell this story..You had to be there...no red flags.
It really wasn't the Four Seasons people.We were staying in a private unit with butler. I asked to go to that famous shopping area myself.
Again I wasn't hoping for a deal just a fair price but your comments have made me feel a little better.Thank you
Yes we tried to bargain and at one point were going to walk away but it was a price fixed store like the ones we encountered in China.
And since the partner was getting an early BD/xmas/ and anniverary combo over with..haha...
I need to wait until I get the final but my husband says they usually go high on for insurance ...
Gloria you are so right about that and I usually go by a similar philosophy but I was a little shocked today...
That's why I didnt want to tell this story..You had to be there...no red flags.
It really wasn't the Four Seasons people.We were staying in a private unit with butler. I asked to go to that famous shopping area myself.
Again I wasn't hoping for a deal just a fair price but your comments have made me feel a little better.Thank you
Yes we tried to bargain and at one point were going to walk away but it was a price fixed store like the ones we encountered in China.
And since the partner was getting an early BD/xmas/ and anniverary combo over with..haha...
I need to wait until I get the final but my husband says they usually go high on for insurance ...
