This shop was recommended to me for consignment through a well known pawnshop in the Downtown Raleigh area. The rings were appraised by an outside Raleigh jeweler (in Cameron Village) ~ there were 2 platinum set diamond rings I took to JV for consignment, one of 4 carats with 3 stones. The other of 5 carats, a Solitaire. As I mentioned, I knew what they were worth since they had just been appraised by a jewelry shop lab in Cameron Village. \r
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Both rings were accepted for Consignment and a 1 year contract was signed which promised they would be held until they were sold, with conditions for pick up stating that if I got them early I could be charged a fee for doing so. \r
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However, within a month, ""Lee"" (half of the co-owner ship in the shop, with is wife ""Donna"") left a very impolite and abusive voicemail for me demanding I come get the jewelry immidiatly, no reason given. \r
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When I called him back, he continued his verbal attack on the phone, hanging up on me when I asked what his reasons were? \r
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Shocked by this, I contacted his wife ""Donna"" (the other half of the co-ownership) by email. She didnt explain or appologise~ I get the impression she is used to this bullying behavior and considers it ""normal"". \r
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Finally after another month or so, I realised that they were not showing my jewelry at all, so people were not able to even see it on the website or if they came into the shop. This was a deliberate tactic to continue the strategy of harrassment initiated by Lee on the phone. His attitude (and his words) said ""What are you going to do about it?""\r
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Instead of picking up the rings, I called Donna and asked what she thought of me listing them on Craigslist, along with photos that I had taken with my digital camera? After all, the rings are quite dazzling and the 5 carat solitaire was being listed at a very very very rock bottom bargain price. I was pretty sure that they could be sold easily through Craiglist and the ""misunderstanding"" would be put to rest. \r
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She consented on the phone and was very congenial. So I listed the rings with pics. Later I got another even more abusive voicemail from Lee denouncing me and vowing that no matter who came into the store ASKING to buy the rings, he woudnt remove them from the vault to be shown, come hell or high water, that he was in charge, that I had gone over his head, etc (??????) \r
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Evidently, due to his abusiveness, perhaps Donna neglected to mention our discussion and agreement in advance? That appeared to be the only possible explanation, which caused this irrational outburst. Further, he began making slanderous statements, such as that the rings were not worth their appraisal, made by one of his close freinds (!) a jeweler who had recently died, the summer before. \r
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Honestly, I couldnt fathom this behavior. How do they stay in business if they take consignments that they then refuse to sell? He also made other statements such as that the diamonds were ""too big"" which is non-sensical in itself. \r
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At that point, I began to have a very very very bad feeling that if I didnt go pick up the jewelry, I would never see it again. After all, they had it in their possession at the shop and who knows? With all the vitriol flying around, maybe they would find some way to keep the diamonds and make up a lie about what had happened? \r
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Only a few months of the 1 year contract had passed before I had to go and get the diamond rings, under the distinct impression that if I had not done so, I would never have seen them again. \r
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1. Lee Hankin broke a verbal and written contract\r
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2. Lee Hankin verbally abused me on a number of occasions\r
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3. This is an untrustworthy and unbusinesslike establishment, this incident has been REPORTED TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
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