Comments on: Roundup: I Will Never Shop At Bailey Banks & Biddle

By: hector

hector — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:14:55 +0000

Jim, the reason they did’nt care is because they are in bankruptcy. They are most likely going to close up shop for good. I know many guys that work there who are good guys. They have all left because their future there is gone. I guess they did not care about getting fired , considering that their days there are number anyway.

By: Phil

Phil — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 02:19:20 +0000

They ignored you because first you were just playing around and second you are young. Baily Banks and Biddle is a fine store that sells pretty expensive jewelery and the sales staff who are on commission must make a decision to spend their time with kids who are fooling around or get rid of you in the hopes of finding a real customer.

Oh by the way, I am a Realtor, so please, while you and your boyfriend (who by the way is never going to marry you) are busy playing house please don’t waste any Realtors time either. See people on comission have to watse thousand of hours of their lives with game player like yourself. You are just out for fun but they are trying to pay their mortgages and put food on the table for their families.

So if you don’t every want to shop at Bailey Banks and Biddle again that is your loss. Maybe you will be happier at the jewelery counter a walmart.

By: roslyn

roslyn — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 07:16:05 +0000

I’ve been there before. I grew up shopping at Nordstroms but one time I went in with my fiancee instead of my mother and we got brushed off (only 21). However, the manager came down, recognized me, apologized and took care of us well.

On the other hand, I wouldn’t base a decision on buying a ring on customer serice. When you are dropping thousands on something, you want to make sure you get what you pay for. Definitely stay away from regular mall jewelery stores unless you know your diamonds very well. I recommend Shane Co. However, BB and B is known for their high-end jewelery and quality (especially if your looking for designers such as Tacori). My fiance went to BB and B (it’s the only store that sells Tacori in our area) and ended up buying a ring , 2 kt total, 1.5 center, that was appraised at 20 grand but he paid a little over 10. They couldn’t move the ring and it had been sitting for 3 years. It was an amazing deal; you can hardly find a loose diamond whole sale for that amount with the same c’s.

On another note, you can get wholesale jewelery that is amazing for what you pay. (My parents switched from Shane) However, most of the time you have to be a member and be invited in. And again, you have to know your information.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:23:20 +0000

I bought a beautiful engagement ring at BB&B, they were by far the most helpful. All the other places wanted me to fill out credit applications and was trying to get me to spend double or even triple the amount I had budgeted. The folks at BB&B answered all of my questions and showed me what I wanted to see, I think it’s just the salesperson that makes the experience good or bad, not the store as a whole.

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:34:39 +0000

BB&B use to be a good store in the 80s competing head on with Tiffany’s, but since then they’ve tanked. Most companies have learned that anyone could be a wealthy individual or an aspirational shopper, but some companies like BB&B have never and will never learn. Too bad for them.

By: Hawkmoon Nine

Hawkmoon Nine — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:18:21 +0000

I bought my wife’s ring at Jareds and would recommend them – pretty good price and good service.

By: ChristianPF

ChristianPF — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:15:55 +0000

I know not everyone is comfortable doing this – but I bought my wife’s engagement ring at Amazon and after recving it had it appraised by an independent jeweler in town. It appraised for almost double what I paid for it at Amazon. I know there are other discount jewelers as well, so something to think about… If interested, I wrote about the purchase on my site…

By: Rev

Rev — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:48:08 +0000

Noted. We are currently shopping too. We’ll just avoid that place completely. So far Jareds has been the most helpful to us. Even the independent shops were less helpful.

By: Aimee

Aimee — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:56:34 +0000

I have had similar experience in a furniture store. I went in prepared to purchase a sofa and not a single sales person spoke to me! And the place was empty. At least they didn’t blow me off all together, but I think that it’s interesting because when I have gone in the same shop with my mother, they are all over us.

Guess I don’t look grown up enough or look like I have any money!

By: Grace

Grace — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 23:54:13 +0000

I’ve experienced the same treatment at BB&B. Too bad for them, little do they know it’s those of us that dress in simple clothes and drive non-flashy cars that have more in our pockets than the average American.

By: Robert 'Groby' Blum

Robert 'Groby' Blum — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:43:45 +0000

I’d recommend checking a small, independent jeweler. All the chains simply have run-of-the-mill rings, nothing special, nothing individual. (Disclaimer: I’m married to a Jewelry designer, so I’m biased

Plus, many of the smaller stores will actually help you design your own wedding rings. Or, if you’re so inclined, there are even places that help you *make* your own rings.

By: Katie B.

Katie B. — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:40:22 +0000

Bluenile.com was started after the CEO experienced a similar jewelry store situation at Tiffany & Co. Stay away from mall jewelers- the mark up is the highest you will see in the jewelry industry. I highly recommend Blue Nile and Costco for jewelry. Costco doesn’t mark up their jewelry over 17%- you won’t find anything that low anywhere else. Blue Nile’s mark up is a bit higher than Costco’s, but they have a bigger selection and their mark up is signficantly less than mall jewelers.

By: Millionaire Money Habits

Millionaire Money Habits — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:23:41 +0000

I think it’s always interesting when you receive that kind of treatment because you are judged by the way you look on how much money you will/can spend.

I get this ALL the time. I look very young for my age, and happen to spend a lot of money entertaining for business. It’s amazing how quickly their attitude changes when they realize they were wrong in their judgments. I get a kick out of it.