Gemstone Purchase Online

I have heard that many people have had bad gemstone purchasing experiences, and some, in my opinion, were awful. The common themes in their interactions include:

*Didn't really "know" the seller’s reputation. *Color of gemstone in hand was different than what was seen online... *Seller charged a hefty amount when gemstone was returned.

And the list goes on and on... If you haven’t been through an experience like this, either you're a really web-savvy consumer or you have just been lucky.

Let's start with a common list of things to consider in the process of making a gemstone purchase successful. The "list" includes the following items that are to be considered before purchasing a gemstone.

From Whom and Where to purchase

Who you are considering doing business with and where are they located can tell you a lot about a gemstone retailer. Is the gemstone retailer headquartered domestically or they are a foreign company with an online presence? This fact is usually disclosed at the time you make payment, but not always. The whole foreign - domestic issue is worthy of another discussion altogether, but you need to decide what you're most comfortable with.

What they Offer

This question may be answered by simply taking a look at the overall quality range of gemstones the retailer is offering on their site. Does the gemstone retailer carry low-grade gemstones, high-grade, or a broad range of quality? This should give you a good indication about the retailer.

Why from this store

This question is really self- explanatory.... because you want to own a quality gemstone. And you probably want to try to understand why the company, whose gemstone you are viewing, is in the gemstone business.

When will I get the gemstone delivery?

And finally, this question deals with such inquiries as: When will my gemstone order ship and by what method? Are there any extra fees when shipping gemstones? When is the best time of year to purchase a quality gemstone? By asking these types of questions, you get to know your gemstone retailer better and can pave the way for a long-term, successful relationship with your gemstone dealer.

In summary, it is important to understand the company’s reputation from which you wish to make a gemstone purchase AND their quality and price in keeping with your overall expectations.