jeweler debacle

[amezri]

I've been wearing a certain greenstone fishhook since I got it when I was in New Zealand in 2003. Since the first day, I've worn it on a waxed cord, replaced once a couple years ago. You'll probably see it on me in a lot of my costuming photos. Last month I decided it would be nice if it were on a bail and I could actually take the necklace off without as much fuss as the cord is.

My mother found a jeweler in the area that she'd used a few times to turn some earrings into pendants and stuff like that. I decided it couldn't hurt. So two weeks ago, I go to the jeweler and have a talk about what sort of bail I want put on -- that I wear the pendant every day and I want it to be something small, but sturdy. He shows me a bail in a catalog and it's exactly what I'm looking for. He says he can solder the back so it definitely won't come apart. I'm happy.

Not one peep after a week; they are called and asked what the deal is. He says the part isn't in yet. Fine, no big deal. I can wait for a part. A few days later, we get a call saying it's done. Last night my mother picks it up. They charged her $25 for the bail work and the snake chain I told her I didn't need anymore. At the original consultation, he said if I wanted a chain, we could take a measurement and he'd custom cut the length. Instead, he foisted a 16", badly soldered snake chain on my mom, who'd gone to pick it up.

The funny thing is, she knew as soon as she saw it that I wouldn't like it, but she paid for it anyway. If I were there, I'd have demanded he remove it immediately and not have paid him at all.

What I wanted:


What I got:


This morning I called to A) correct an error on a ticket for my mom's new order and B) chew him out for the error. He answered the phone and after I calmly had him correct the info on the ticket (the phone number and name were all wrong... wtf), there was a pretty quick burn to angry. I told him that what he ended up doing wasn't what I wanted at all and that he should have called me before he did it because it wasn't what I agreed to and in fact, I could have just done a wire bail myself. He tells me that the bail I wanted had been discontinued, to which I responded that he should have called to tell me that instead of just putting something else on there. He then says that if I wanted it, he could fabricate it in his shop -- WHY DIDN'T YOU DO THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE?!

I tell him that were it up to me, I wouldn't have do the wire bail and now I'm stuck with something I don't want and it's not like I can get a refund (as is stated on his sales receipt). He says, "Why not?" I pause and then ask if he's saying he would refund the bail. He says, "So, basically you want me to do the work for free."

Yeah. Read that again. I totally lost it at that point. I told him that he did work that I didn't agree to, which is why I'm mad and want a refund, so yeah. I'm not keeping the bail and he should have asked me before he went ahead and did it. So finally he says he'll refund it, minus sales tax. Well, fine. Then he says if I wanted to bring it in, he could take it off. Yeah, No. I tell him I can take it off myself, thanks and I will have the crap wire bail and necklace brought in and he can put the credit towards my mother's new order or whatever.

I feel like kind of a bitch and normally I'd never do that to any sort of artist, but seriously, wtf? He had the piece for two weeks, knew the bail I wanted and agreed to was discontinued, then threw on a shit wire bail. I could have done that or I could have found (and did find) for a lot cheaper and nicer looking on etsy.com

This morning, I did place an order for bails and oval jump rings. I should have just done it myself in the first place. And people wonder why I have control issues.

So there it is, my bitch moment of the week. Actually, this whole week has been about me not finding what I'm looking for and running around like a crazy person and blowing most of my tax refund money without really meaning to, so this whole debacle is right in line with that.

Comments

[katydidmischief.livejournal.com]

Now that is total crap - if you both sat down and you stated exactly what you wanted, then he shouldn't have even tried to pass that off as the finished product. The fact that he hadn't even called to say the bail you'd chosen was discontinued... I'd have called the BBB on him for failure to provide the service for which he paid if he hadn't offered the refund; hell, the fact that he's going to refund minus sales tax grates and it's not even my necklace.

[amezri.livejournal.com]

I KNOW! That is my whole problem. He pointed at a bail in the catalog, I said, "That's exactly what I want!" and he said, "Great, no problem," and I get back that wired bail bullshit.

[arysani.livejournal.com]

you are totally in the right. if it was discontinued, he should have called and said so, at that point offering to try and get something similiar or give it back - at which point you could've looked at other options.

the one he gave you isn't similar enough to warrant a "well i thought this would work" excuse.

and the sales tax? too damn bad. he should eat it because he did not provide the service he was paid for.

if you had been flippant about the whole ordeal, and not been so specific about what work and what piece you wanted, and had there NOT BEEN A DISCUSSION, then okay, whatever, no refund for lack of specificity. but because there was, that's not kosher.

i agree w/cassiejamie about the BBB - he didn't actually sell the product if he's giving you a refund and the parts are being returned, so i'm pretty sure he doesn't OWE any sales tax on the item, so he's probably committing tax fraud. as for his costs, if that's the sales tax he's griping about, that's his fault for not ordering the product the customer asked for, so again: he can eat it.

[tirgaya.livejournal.com]

Actually this sort of thing is why I think you are so awesome.

I often feel the same way.

In any case, I agree with you entirely. Jeweler is lucky he talked to you.... because I would have led off by tearing into him on the bail issue immediately. No part of what he did makes sense.

[fyrdrakken]

This reminds me of posts someone else on my friends list frequently makes -- she works as a jeweler and is taking courses to add skills so she can eventually set up her own shop, in large part because her boss afflicts her with frequent outbreaks of stupid. (And/or keeps using suppliers/subcontractors who are themselves prone to same.)