I don’t usually write long reviews. Maybe you’re like me—you just want a good product at a fair price. But my search for a special gift taught me a hard lesson about how some jewelry stores treat their customers. Finding a great gift shouldn’t feel like a high-stakes negotiation.
Before I tell you about the beautiful necklace I ended up buying, let me share what I learned. You need a straightforward way to buy gifts that truly matter. Here’s what I was looking for:
Last fall, my wife received a well-deserved promotion at the hospital. She works long hours, and I wanted something special to celebrate this milestone. We had a trip planned, and while I considered practical items like a women’s warm beanie for travel, I knew she deserved something lasting and personal.
That’s when I settled on jewelry—and that’s when the trouble began.
I started by visiting some upscale stores—the kind with marble floors and velvet ropes. I explained I was looking for a special piece. The salesperson listened, then informed me the item I wanted was "extremely popular."
She said, "You can join a two-year waitlist. But if you purchase other watches or jewelry now, it could help move you up the list."
I was taken aback. They were essentially holding the brand hostage. It felt like they were saying, “Spend thousands on things you don’t want, and maybe we’ll let you buy what you actually came for.” That’s not how I do business. I believe in fair deals, not manipulative spending games.
Verdict: Steer clear of stores that require a "purchase history." It’s a waste of both money and time.
After that experience, I considered shopping online for custom gold. That turned out to be even worse. I came across horror stories from other buyers. People who sent jewelry in for simple repairs under a lifetime warranty only to have it returned shorter and lighter.
One buyer shared that he sent in a 28-inch chain weighing 21 grams. It came back measuring 26 7/8 inches and weighing just 20 grams. They had taken an inch and a full gram of gold! The same thing happened to his wife’s chain.
Another person canceled an order within days due to COVID-related uncertainty. The company confirmed the cancellation and assured them there would be no fees. Weeks later, they tried to charge a 15% “restocking fee,” citing an “internal policy.”
These stories drove home an important point: