My experience at Jewelry Gallery today may not have been the typical customer service experience based on the fact that it is two weeks until Christmas, but it still was enough for me to not go back to the store, nor recommend it to others. The store was highly recommended to me by someone who had recently gotten her engagement ring appraised there. The ring had been purchased elsewhere, and she had a couple bad experiences with 'snooty' salespeople at other jewelry stores before stopping in at Jewelry Gallery. She talked up the customer service, estate jewelry collection (which I am into), and said that it was $35 for a 15 minute appraisal. I have had a couple bad experiences myself with other jewelry stores and was looking for a new one...my first needs were to get my engagement ring appraised and eventually get the setting changed (not an immediate need since I only wear my wedding band on a daily basis). Anyway, I live nearly an hour away, but figured it was worth the drive if the place was that great. There is one customer in the store when I get there, which the saleswoman is occupied with, so I start looking at the estate jewelry in the meantime. Soon after, a gentleman comes from the back to help me, and when I ask about getting my ring appraised, he informs me that he is too busy...it's their busiest month and that I should come back after Christmas. The saleswoman agreed that it was just couldn't be done. I was just shocked...and was still upset all the way home. I'm sure if I had been making a larger purchase that day, they would have been okay spending 15 minutes on me. Based on the owner's comment stating that their business has been increasing 30% a year for the last few years, they're already doing okay without me and I'd be better off giving my business to a store that will appreciate it...
more