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Report: #1157560

Complaint Review: Diamonds International - New York New York

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  • Reported By: ly2014 — St. Paul Minnesota
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  • Diamonds International 38W 48TH STREET 4TH FLOOR New York, New York USA

Diamonds International Fraudulent, Misrepresentation, Ripped off New York New York

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June 24, 2014

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing about my experience with Diamonds International so that other buyers are aware of the scam that goes on with Diamonds International, the cruise lines (in this case Royal Caribbean), and their media partner Royal Media, who handles all the vendor advertising and recommendations on board the ship. 

On May 18th, my fiancée and I took our first cruise aboard the Freedom of the Seas ship with Royal Caribbean to celebrate our anniversary.  While on the ship, Diamonds International was highly endorsed and recommended by Royal Caribbean.  We were assured by Royal Caribbean and Royal Media Partners that if there is anything wrong with any purchases made at a cruise line guarantee store, they will take care of it and for us to shop with confidence that we would not be ripped off.

When we stopped at the port of St. Thomas on May 21, 2014, we ended up purchasing a few pieces of jewelry including a 2.5 c.w.t diamond “Crown of Light” ring in celebration of our anniversary totaling $20,000.  Although we were concerned about making such a large purchase outside the United States, we were made to feel confident because of all the endorsements and recommendations made by Royal Caribbean and Royal Media Partners.  In additional, we were told by the Diamonds International store in St. Thomas that we can return the products for refund or exchange if we are not completely satisfied with our purchase.  We were also told by the store that we were getting a great deal and that the jewelry purchased will be appraised at a minimum of 20-30% higher in the United States.  The Royal Caribbean port shopping guide from our ship, Rocky was there during our purchase and she assured us that we were getting a phenomenal deal.  No one at the store at ever went over the store’s terms and conditions or exchange/return policy with us.  We made the purchase believing that what we purchased was brand new, that we can return for refund or exchange if we were not completely satisfied, and that we have the protection of Royal Caribbean who stands behind their recommended store so that we would not be taken advantage of.  While on the ship, we completed a 30 Day Guarantee form for our port purchases.  We were told that by completing this form, if there was anything wrong with our port purchases, they are backed by the cruise line.  We asked the ship’s port shopping guide, Rocky regarding what if the jewelry purchased is valued less than what we paid for and she assured us that if the items appraised less than what we purchased for, they will take care of it (Diamonds International, Royal Caribbean, Royal Media Partners).  The 30 Day Guarantee form turned out to be useless. 

Once we got back to the States, I took the ring in to a reputable, independent appraiser (GIA) to get the ring appraised for insurance purposes on May 27, 2014.  The ring appraised at approximately $4,000 less than what we had paid for.  It gets worse.  The appraiser informed me that the ring is a refurbished/used ring.  He informed me that the Rhodium coating that covers the 14k gold on the bottom shank of the ring had already wear off.  He informed me that Rhodium is superficial (surface only) and it will over time wear away and that the Rhodium on the bottom shank of the ring can wear off by grasping, pushing to stand for balance, carrying a hand cart, in general folding a person’s arms and touching your skin with your palms.  It eventually wears off but over “time”.  It could not have wear off in the one week that I had the ring especially since the ring has been kept in the box the entire time.  He also informed me that the ring has been sized.  The ring was smaller and to make it bigger (for someone else), the original area was cut and pulled apart for the sizing stock to be inserted.  You can see the two lines of demarcation (metal color division) between the ring and the inserted metal.  He informed me that rings are not manufactured like this EVER.  I did not have the ring sized when I made the purchase because it fitted me.  My worst fears came true.  Not only was the ring valued less than what I paid for, the ring has been altered (used) and was sold to me as a brand new ring.  I was in disbelief. 

I contacted Diamonds International customer service and Royal Media Partners right away after the appraisal on May 27th. I was greatly concerned because I was told this was a brand new ring when I made the purchase.  I informed them of what I found out during the appraisal.  I thought that being such a large well-known company and being a cruise line guarantee store backed by Royal Caribbean, Diamonds International would be able to help me get this problem resolved.  I was in for a surprise.  Royal Caribbean will not accept responsibility and is pushing everything to their media partner, Royal Media.  Royal Media, who is supposed to work on behalf of the consumer, is siding with Diamonds International.  It has been nothing but a nightmare dealing with Diamonds International, Royal Caribbean, and Royal Media. 

I was assigned to Bella at Diamonds International and Ernesto at Royal Media. Bella requested a copy of the appraisal document, EGL certificate for the ring, and all the purchase paperwork.  On May 29th, I faxed the documents over to her and to Ernesto at Royal Media. I explained to Bella the problems I’m having with the ring and requested for a refund.  I was told not only by Bella but also by Ernesto at Royal Media that Diamonds International do not sell used rings and that the Rhodium wearing off on the ring was just a workmanship issue.  When I informed them that the ring was already altered/resized and not by me, I was told that the ring must have been manufactured that way.  At one point, Bella suggested that I must have made the appraiser write a false report so that I can return the ring. They tell me this without ever seeing the ring. I requested to have the ring shipped to their New York corporate office for evaluation.  My request was denied.  Diamonds International refused to give me my money back.  This is not the end.  I am in the process of hiring a lawyer to continue my fight and get my money back.  I am so disappointed at Royal Caribbean and Royal Media.  They highly recommended, promoted, and endorsed Diamonds International and now are refusing to help me.  Royal Caribbean and Royal Media misrepresented their claims about their cruise line guarantee stores.  They assured customers that if they shop at their cruise line guarantee stores, their customers would be protected by the cruise line and not be taken advantage of by the stores overseas and they did not stand behind their words.  I would like to warn all buyers and people going on cruises to not fall prey to Royal Caribbean or any other cruise line’s false advertisement on their guarantee stores and DO NOT shop at Diamond International.

Thank you for reading.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 06/25/2014 10:01 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/diamonds-international/new-york-new-york-10036/diamonds-international-fraudulent-misrepresentation-ripped-off-new-york-new-york-1157560. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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