Our lifestyle has changed drastically due to the Internet. Obviously, shopping on the Internet has become habitual and convenient. As a result, many of us started buying pearl jewelry online or, at least, thinking of this.
On the one hand, it is great that, often, there is no need to visit a store to buy what you need physically! Open your computer and purchase the piece you like within minutes. However, when it concerns jewelry, the situation changes. Many of my customers tell me that they don’t buy jewelry online. Instead, they still prefer to go to a store. What about you? Do you buy pearl jewelry online or like an old-fashioned way of buying jewelry – you go to a store?
There are many advantages and disadvantages of buying pearl jewelry online. What are our major concerns? What should we do to avoid unpleasant situations and loss of money?
I specialize in creating pearl jewelry, and, of course, I have a website from which I sell my custom pearl jewelry. As this helps reach people looking for unique pearl jewelry, I am trying to understand how to approach more potential customers and make their jewelry-buying experience flawless.
First of all, pearl jewelry is not cheap, if we speak about nice pearl jewelry.
Consequently, I will share some ideas or “tips” on how to buy pearl jewelry online based on my own experience. In fact, we may apply this knowledge to buying jewelry in general.
What are the advantages of buying pearl jewelry online?
The greatest advantage of buying jewelry online is its incredible choice. If you start browsing on Google phrases, like “pearl jewelry”, “modern pearl jewelry”, “mens pearl jewelry“, and similar ones, you will see a vast variety of pearl jewelry of differing prices, styles, and qualities.
I am sure you will see some pearl jewelry you will not find in the local jewelry boutiques. Fresh designs, beautiful, rare pearls – pieces like this are unusual and searched-for.
Buying jewelry online may be a great experience because:
- Online jewelry stores are open 24 hours
- You have access to these stores from any place. Enjoying a vacation in Mexico, you can buy unique pearl jewelry designed and created in Montreal, Canada, for instance.
- The majority of local jewelry stores carry similar merchandise. At the same time, you may find the latest contemporary collections of pearl jewelry created by talented jewelry designers from all over the world online.
- Prices for nice pearl jewelry offered online may be very appealing as a jewelry designer does not have overhead expenses incurred by jewelry boutiques.
Does this sound convincing?
In addition, online shopping saves a lot of time—sitting in a comfortable armchair, you can choose a nice jewelry gift.
Disadvantages of buying pearl jewelry online
However, a medal always has two sides. How to invest money in a piece of jewelry when you don’t see or touch it?! Sincerely speaking, I, myself, also prefer seeing a piece, touching it, and trying it on.
Many concerns arise when we start thinking about buying a pearl jewelry piece online. Because you are going to pay for something you have not seen.
Will the jewelry that you are purchasing online be the same as it is in the photo? Is the description of the pearl jewelry exact or the jewelry is misrepresented?
First of all, it is the jewelry quality. An amazing piece of pearl jewelry that you see in the photo online may turn out to be a pale copy of what was shown in the photo. The worst case scenario is to receive fake pearl jewelry – although, it was presented as real pearls.
Frequently people complain that the piece of pearl jewelry looked great in the photo accompanied by an eloquent description emphasizing the quality, durability, and craftsmanship.
Unfortunately, the piece of pearl jewelry received very little resembled that wonderful piece of jewelry. In reality, you end up getting a mediocre piece of pearl jewelry.
As you were not satisfied with the quality of the pearl jewelry that you purchased online, you want to return it. But you are unable to get the money back etc.
Thus, we see that multiple reasonable concerns arise when we stipulate whether to purchase jewelry online or not.
Meeting a jewelry designer
Of course, it’s great if you meet the jewelry designer once and see the jewelry yourself. Then, you will trust the person; moreover, you have seen the quality of the pearls and have an idea of what this jewelry designer creates.
For instance, some time ago, I got a customer from the States – they were visiting Montreal. The lady purchased a pair of nice pearl earrings for her daughter. While choosing the earrings, she was trying on different pieces and liked my creations. So, it was not a surprise for me that shortly after our meeting she purchased a pearl bracelet from my website.
In this event, I don’t think she had the concerns discussed earlier – she met me in person; she saw my numerous pearl collections and she noticed the high quality of my custom pearl jewelry. So, she knew exactly what she was paying for.
How to protect yourself if you purchase pearl jewelry online
To start with, you must do your research. Of course, it is great if the jewelry website is recommended by someone you know and trust. Or, you know the owner yourself. But this is an ideal situation that does not happen frequently.
First of all, check the website. Browse it. Read the information about the business. When did it start? Who is the founder? What are her or his credentials? What is the founder’s and business’s reputation?
Check the reviews and testimonials. Of course, you should check the Policies of the website – payments, delivery, and returns.
For instance, on my website, I give links to my articles in various magazines including the Canadian Jeweller. This proves that I have been in business for a long time and have an excellent business reputation.
And, of course, you check reviews and testimonials on Google. I think that, at present, it is possible to find a lot of information about the business. For instance, you type “Jewelry Olga” in Google Search and immediately find websites where our name is mentioned: the website, LinkedIn, Google, Facebook, etc. You need to browse these websites and, as a result, you will get an idea about the business, the owner, etc. If you find out that the owner, myself, is a professional gemologist and jewelry appraiser with a diploma from a reputable institution (the Gemmological Association of Great Britain), you have all the grounds to trust this business.
Check if the website gives contact information – a phone number. Then, you may call this number and ask your questions. Moreover, ask for more photos showing the pearl jewelry you are interested in from different angles. Actually, if someone contacts me asking about a piece of my jewelry I immediately offer to send more images. Otherwise, how do you know what this jewelry looks like?!
Conclusion: To buy pearl jewelry online or not?
To make the long story short, the question is: should we run the risk and purchase a piece of pearl jewelry that we liked browsing the Internet?
My response is: “Why no?!” However, before buying a piece of pearl jewelry online, you have to do your homework. You should take pertinent precautions to protect yourself and avoid unpleasant surprises or online fraud.
Jewelry Olga has been well-known for creating contemporary unique pearl jewelry in Montreal, Canada, since 2009.
