Bidz.com Buyer Beware.
Written: Oct 12 '08 (Updated Oct 17 '08)
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I have good and bad experiences with bidz.com.
I have ordered several items off bidz.com. I would like to state that I have gotten some good deals. I have also received some terrible stuff. Obvious store returns or damaged stock that the retail outlets can't sell. I have received two 10k rings with no 10k marking on them anywhere. I have also received another gold ring with a missing small side diamond.
I used to think knowing the 4 C's of diamonds would be enough when bidding on their merchandise. But that is not always the case. I have also read descriptions carefully to make sure items are 10k or 14k and not gold plated and not silver.
How they get you is they charge a large amount to ship the first item and then only $3 for each additional items on the invoice. You have 5 days to check out after your first win. So the next thing you know there are anywhere from 10 plus items on the invoice.
They don't refund shipping or ring sizing or appraisals. If you remove tags they will not issue a refund and if you don't get an RMA number they won't refund you either. I contacted live help about the ring missing the side diamond and was given an RMA number and would need to place that on the outside of the package or it would be refused. On this invoice I had 4 items. Shipping was 44.95. $35.95 for the first item as the invoice was over $300, if the invoice was under $300 it could be shipped through international mail at $10.95 for the first item and wait 4 to 6 weeks. So I also paid 53.20 customs and GST on the package that was $44.95 to ship plus a 3% transaction fee. Basically out $27 just to return the damaged item and that doesn't include shipping back. Live help stated the item would be inspected and if found to be missing a diamond a refund would be given. Return shipping could be refunded to a maximum of $8.95 on a case by case basis. No guarantee though. Also not guaranteed to even get a full refund. As return has to go through customs they charge a 25% restocking fee as opposed to the 15% if item does not go through customs.
Returning a damaged item is made difficult. By the time you pay all the shipping, customs, gst, transaction fee and a possible 25% restocking fee, they have more than made their money off of you and will just most likely put the damaged item back into the auction until someone else buys it and doesn't return it because it may be cheaper to keep it than return it.
I have gotten a nice aquaswiss watch and a nice moschino watch, both worth more than what I paid including all the other additional expenses. I have also received some junk watches that are so cheaply made that no store would sell them. They are poor quality compared to walmart. Don't buy watches that don't have a compare retail price they are worthless. Stay away from ice, ice extreme, MN, paritizan, marc naimer, basically anything generic or base metal. All described as base metal were like plastic coated in aluminum foil. I also bought a nice playboy watch and 2 jules jorgensen watches. One of the jules jorgensen watches had the second hand loose in the case. The other is ok.
The silver rings with the exception of one boma and one other are junk. Blue topaz described as sky blue in color on more than one purchase looked like clear glass with blue tinge in the corner. One scratched ruby and one emerald so included that it was obvious that it will crack and break. Titanium rings that were full of surface scratches the first day they were worn. Both titanium rings had a small diamond and only paid a dollar for one and three dollars for the other. Have also seen the same ring go for 55 dollars that I got for a dollar which brings me to my next point.
They will use the same photo over and over again to sell the same style of ring they will also use the same compare price whether the diamond is an SI2 or an I2. Always read the descriptions. I2 diamonds are cloudy and don't sparkle and look more like cloudy quartz stones. I have bought a .20ctw SI2 diamond solitare ring that looks like a clean diamond and does have sparkle and diamond was graded correctly and I have seen the same photo with a clean diamond used to sell the identical ring with an I2 diamond.
Some have stated that bidding 10% of their overinflated compare price is about right. I would say more like 5% on most items. They may usually go for 6 to 10% of the compare price. If you just place a max bid of 5% and stick to it, after you have bid on the item anywhere from 10 to 20 times you will most likely get it at some point for the 5%. It isn't as time consuming as it may sound just search for the item once in a while when near the computer and place your auto bid and walk away. A couple of minutes each time can end up saving a lot of money and stop the impulse buying that they rely on for those last 15 seconds of the auction. Avoid seeing any item you are bidding on in the last minute of the auction. This stops the impulse buying and the over inflated prices that some items go for.
Most items retail for about 15% of the compare prices. Provided the quality is there. Setting straight, no loose stones, no damaged or included stones etc. Everything I have purchased with a compare price between 2599 and 4760 have been good buys. The gold rings with a compare price of 419 to 1799 have been walmart quality. No ring at walmart sells for 1799, or even 419 for that matter. Use the watch list feature when bidding to keep track of what items sell for. I have been bidding on an item with a compare price of 1129 and have seen this item go for between 42 and 265. Same item same description. I got this item for 42, 53, and 56. Haven't received them yet but they have auctioned off a lot of these, item number bidz001155423. Had one of the rings with no 10k stamp tested at a pawn shop and ring tested positive for gold. Could be 9k though. Other ring was not tested. Rings without 10k stamp, yet described as 10k are bidz001168114 and bidz001167682. 10k ring missing side diamond is bidz001168931.
I have been luckier than some in my purchases off bidz. Not all are bad and the higher items are not damaged and not knock offs. But this doesn't seem to be the case for everyone. I won't buy any more from this company as I feel reading the descriptions isn't enough. I don't trust that I will get what I paid for. Too many missing or scratched and damaged or heavily included gem stones or poor color gem stones that obviously aren't as described. A blue sky is not clear.
A word on the customer service. When I contacted customer service they stated item would be inspected and return shipping was refunded on a case by case basis. They didn't confirm anything and just sent an email with instructions on returning your item. Responses were canned and sounded like a telephone solicitors script. They charged me 35.95 to ship one item yet on a case by case basis they will refund a maximum of 8.95. I should be charging them 35.95 for the inconvenience of having to send back a damaged item. Also, when contacted customer service to inform them of a ring with no 10k stamp their answer was some items needed a magnifying glass to see the 10k stamp. The magnifying glass also didn't see the stamp that wasn't on the ring.
Update: October 14th
I received my last order today and must say that there are no damaged items. I would like to give a break down of the different categories on quality and satisifaction.
10k and 14k rings with a compare price of 2500.00 to 5000.00. All items I received in this category surpassed my expectations and I ordered 7 items and give a 5 star rating in this category. I paid 8% of the compare price in this category which is around 40% retail.
10k and 14k rings with a compare price of 419.00 to 1799. I received approximately 35 items in this category and 2 damaged and 2 possibly not as described. I paid 5% of the compare price on 95% of the items in this category which is about 35% retail. I give this category 4 out of 5 stars.
Silver rings. I purchased approximately 35 silver rings. Most of the gem stones on these rings are of inferior quality. Approximately 40% of items in this category have poor quality stones. I paid less than 5% of the compare price in this category and I rate this category 1 out of 5 stars.
Brand name watches, aquaswiss, moschino, jules jorgensen, and playboy. With the exception of one jules jorgensen watch I am very pleased with the above purchases I paid 5% of retail prices listed and approximately 30 of the actual retail price. I give this category 4 out of 5 stars.
No retail compare price watches. I bought these along with silver jewelry to reduce shipping costs per item and honestly wish I hadn't. All are poor quality and I paid over 100% retail eventhough some cost as little as a dollar plus shipping. I give this category 0 out of 5 stars.
Metal jewelry. The titanium and stainless steel jewellry is a mixed bag. The stainless steel is passable and durable. The titanium finish scratches off easily. I give this category 2 out of 5 stars.
In closing I would like to say that to return the one item I received with a missing side diamond would cost me more to return than to keep. Therefore I have decided to keep the item and have it repaired if the cost is reasonable. Because it is such a hassle to return anything I have decided not to shop there anymore. Losing $25.00 is one thing, but taking the chance on something for $300.00 plus is not worth the risk. Anyway, I have enough Christmas and birthday gifts for the next 5 years.
Thank you bidz for the great deals I did receive and I hope this helps consumers make informed decisions on what to expect. The only reason I would not recommend this site to a friend or family member is if they received damaged or inferior merchandise I would feel somehow responsible. I would recommend this site to someone with a knowledge of the value of jewelry. I would just say stay away from the silver gem stone jewelry and the inferior brand watches with no retail compare price.
I would just like to add some information for Canadians considering doing some Christmas shopping on Bidz.com. Orders sent through FIMS ( FedEX internation mail service ) may not be received by Christmas if ordered after the beginning of November. They state that it takes 3 to 4 weeks after items arrive in Newark, NJ. It takes approximately one week after paying for your order for the items to be pulled and arrive in Newark. All packages I have received through FIMS are postmarked from Malmo, Sweden. I placed a couple of orders around the end of November last year and didn't get my orders until the beginning of January. If you place any orders after Nov 1st consider paying the Fedex Economy which is 35.95 for the first item and 3.00 for each additional that way your order is received 2 business days after it is picked up by Fedex. My items have generally arrived within a week of paying when sent through Fedex Economy. With delays in customs around Christmas time, packages my take the 8 weeks to arrive through FIMS.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
johnbnn
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Reviews written: 1
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