Jewelers and Small Business People - Discount for a replacement?
October 7, 2013 9:56 AM Subscribe
How should one frame a request for a discount on a replacement ring?
A friend lost a diamond/gold ring that was purchased and engraved at a local jeweler within a month of purchase. The ring was lost for reasons medical and sad and pity inducing.
The friend learned that the local jeweler got the ring wholesale from a large New York supplier. She contacted the supplier about a potentially discounted replacement and they indicated that they don't do any direct sales and she would need to work with the local jeweler.
As a non-jeweler non-small-business-person, I would think it would be reasonable to ask the local jeweler if they would consider providing a replacement at their cost.
Note this isn't a general manners question.
Small business folk, is this the right approach or should she be asking for something else (wholesale or some other business word we don't even know)? She recognizes that she is asking for a big favor. She don't want her request to be offensive.
A friend lost a diamond/gold ring that was purchased and engraved at a local jeweler within a month of purchase. The ring was lost for reasons medical and sad and pity inducing.
The friend learned that the local jeweler got the ring wholesale from a large New York supplier. She contacted the supplier about a potentially discounted replacement and they indicated that they don't do any direct sales and she would need to work with the local jeweler.
As a non-jeweler non-small-business-person, I would think it would be reasonable to ask the local jeweler if they would consider providing a replacement at their cost.
Note this isn't a general manners question.
Small business folk, is this the right approach or should she be asking for something else (wholesale or some other business word we don't even know)? She recognizes that she is asking for a big favor. She don't want her request to be offensive.
Jeweler is under no obligation to give a new ring to your friend.
So your friend needs to convince the jeweler to give her this ring. I would approach it like a negotiation, where the only thing your friend has to trade on is 1) she originally spent money at the store 2) she has fallen on rough times
Stop by and ask if anyone has found & returned the ring. This starts the conversation. They'll say no, at which point friend can mention sad details of how the ring was lost, and the emotional significance of the ring. Is it possible to replace the ring at a reduced fee? If they still say no, ask to talk to the manager in case they'll offer a discount.
There's no harm in asking, the friend just needs to frame herself as willing to do her part (pay a small fee, express gratitude), where the payout for the company is that it will leave the manager feeling like they did a good thing for a sick woman, who just loves their company / jewelery. The request won't be offensive provided she never assumes she has a right to a replacement ring, but approaches it like the sad request that it is.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 10:49 AM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
So your friend needs to convince the jeweler to give her this ring. I would approach it like a negotiation, where the only thing your friend has to trade on is 1) she originally spent money at the store 2) she has fallen on rough times
Stop by and ask if anyone has found & returned the ring. This starts the conversation. They'll say no, at which point friend can mention sad details of how the ring was lost, and the emotional significance of the ring. Is it possible to replace the ring at a reduced fee? If they still say no, ask to talk to the manager in case they'll offer a discount.
There's no harm in asking, the friend just needs to frame herself as willing to do her part (pay a small fee, express gratitude), where the payout for the company is that it will leave the manager feeling like they did a good thing for a sick woman, who just loves their company / jewelery. The request won't be offensive provided she never assumes she has a right to a replacement ring, but approaches it like the sad request that it is.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 10:49 AM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think sm1tten and St. Peepsburg are right. Does your friend have renter's or homeowner's insurance that might cover the loss instead?
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 10:50 AM on October 7, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 10:50 AM on October 7, 2013 [7 favorites]
Was the loss due to something the jeweler did or didn't do? If not, no, this is not a reasonable request.
posted by sageleaf at 10:55 AM on October 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by sageleaf at 10:55 AM on October 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
She paid list price for jewelry? Really?
The jeweler made such a huge profit on that deal that it is possible she might be able to play the pity card and get a discount on a repeat order, especially considering that there is generally never a good reason to pay retail for non-custom jewelry in the first place. The jeweler can probably give her 25% off and still laugh all the way to the bank.
That said, she has no right to expect a discount. if she get it, it's a gift from the jeweler.
posted by COD at 10:56 AM on October 7, 2013
The jeweler made such a huge profit on that deal that it is possible she might be able to play the pity card and get a discount on a repeat order, especially considering that there is generally never a good reason to pay retail for non-custom jewelry in the first place. The jeweler can probably give her 25% off and still laugh all the way to the bank.
That said, she has no right to expect a discount. if she get it, it's a gift from the jeweler.
posted by COD at 10:56 AM on October 7, 2013
She can ask very nicely to buy at their cost, plus engraving fees, plus tax and cost of doing business charges (like shipping of the ring to the store, etc). She should also pay in cash or by check so that the jeweler doesn't have to pay credit card transaction fees (usually several percent of the sale amount).
This is option should only be pursued if she has no renters/homeowners insurance.
posted by quince at 11:23 AM on October 7, 2013
This is option should only be pursued if she has no renters/homeowners insurance.
posted by quince at 11:23 AM on October 7, 2013
Was a credit card used? In any case: Jeweler, this awful, sad thing happened to engagement ring. [Fiancee starts to cry, not tears of joy over beautiful ring, but tears of deeply sad broken heart and grief.] Look, I tapped out all my savings and supported your local business. Is there any way you can find it in your heart to get me the replacement at cost? I know it's a favor, but ...
The jeweler is a person who sells stuff. People ask for discounts all the time, for all sorts of reasons. You can always *ask* for a break. The jeweler is not obligated to give you a break, but it could happen.
posted by theora55 at 12:43 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
The jeweler is a person who sells stuff. People ask for discounts all the time, for all sorts of reasons. You can always *ask* for a break. The jeweler is not obligated to give you a break, but it could happen.
posted by theora55 at 12:43 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think it is reasonable for your friend to ask for a discount. She might be told "no", but I would think the jeweler would be willing to give her a discount for the good will it would generate. The markup on jewelry is generally high enough that there is some real wiggle room there. A friend of mine worked for a local jeweller who for years sold gold chains with a lifetime replacement guarantee no matter what happened to them; he advertised this on billboards proclaiming "My dog ate my chain!" So there is precedent for your friend's request.
posted by TedW at 1:56 PM on October 7, 2013
posted by TedW at 1:56 PM on October 7, 2013
Can you or someone else ask for it for her? Much more of a sweet, heart-warming story if a friend or family member comes in and explains that you want to help her replace it at a discount or "close to at-cost." Then you can really pull out all the stops on the sob story without it seeming weird and manipulative.
posted by amaire at 3:35 PM on October 7, 2013
posted by amaire at 3:35 PM on October 7, 2013
Former small business owner here. If the jeweler has been in business for any length of time, I can guarantee you they probably get requests All. The. Time. for discounts, for reasons sublime and ridiculous. It is annoying as hell to be put on the spot by someone who is looking to get a 'deal'.
However. Were it me, and someone came in and explained they needed a replacement for beautiful ring lost because of horrible reasons, I would most likely give them a very nice discount because I'm a thinking, caring, human being. If they ASKED for a discount, it would make me very grouchy, and less likely to help out in a significant way.
posted by PlantGoddess at 5:00 AM on October 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
However. Were it me, and someone came in and explained they needed a replacement for beautiful ring lost because of horrible reasons, I would most likely give them a very nice discount because I'm a thinking, caring, human being. If they ASKED for a discount, it would make me very grouchy, and less likely to help out in a significant way.
posted by PlantGoddess at 5:00 AM on October 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Follow up: Nicely explained the situation and the financial hardship. Was offered a significant discount on the identical replacement.
posted by elmonobonobo at 12:59 PM on December 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by elmonobonobo at 12:59 PM on December 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by sm1tten at 10:43 AM on October 7, 2013