3 /5 Fran: My Wedding Rings were oxidized due to being placed in cleaning solution that was evidently discolored by age or another cause. Now being a widow, and the fact that my husband designed my engagement ring, I was very upset obviously! I took the 3 rings, 2 which were 14 kt gold, and not sure of the third ktw, to Diamonds by Dianne on Del Prado Blvd to see if they could be cleaned, and was told the first 2 processes were free of charge, and if those didn’t work she would have the jeweler see what he could do, perhaps Buffing them. Dianne asked if I needed them for an occasion to which I said yes for Saturday night. I received a call the next day (Friday)from an employee of the company stating my rings would cost $90.00 to clean! I stated, what???? That’s outrageous, don’t do anything to my rings I will come and pick them up. The employee put me on hold to speak to Dianne and said Diane said to tell you your rings are not here, the jeweler had them in his possession but the workshop was now closed, and I could not retrieve my rings until Tuesday! However when they thought I would just pay the $90.00 the rings were available??? So in my opinion, as stated to the employee, my rings are being held hostage because I was uninformed of the charge. That should have been my decision whether or not to proceed with the work! When I stated my displeasure and was very upset the lady told me to hold, let her go talk to Dianne; She got back on the phone stating she would go to the workshop and pick up my rings, that they were open until 5. I told her I knew it was not her fault, however I did want to speak to Dianne. Of course when I got there Dianne was in a meeting in the back and could not see me! WHAT??? Not only did she authorize the cleanings for me, she miraculously found a way to retrieve my “locked up rings in a warehouse shop” so that I could pick them up, not knowing the cleaning was finished! The whole event was extremely frustrating and unbelievable, Dianne did not have the courtesy to see me and at the very least offer an apology or a compromise! I phoned several other jewelry stores in the area and their price to clean, including buffing, was $25.00, $50.00, and the third said they would “have to see the rings and give me a price.” Far cry from assuming it was okay to proceed with a $95.85 charge for an unauthorized step! Plus an extra charge if $3.35 for using a debit card! It was very unprofessional, and seemed like it was misrepresentation of the whole “the rings are not here and won’t be ready…and the shop is closed until Tuesday and wow! A miracle, he will stay open for half an hour and we will pick up your rings! The rings do look beautiful I will say, but the way it was handled was very curious! I will not be patronizing Diamonds By Dianne, and will share my experience with my family and friends! And by the way, I am retired and $95.85 was an expense that created a big deficit in my meager income, so it is Peanut Butter for me for dinner!
~Fran Thompson
Cape Coral
