I hope that the public never does business with Gem Shopping Network again. I know that's not realistic but you've been warned.
I was flipping through the channels one weekend night in October 2015 and stopped in my tracks when I saw a bracelet that looked exactly like one that had been taken in a robbery/break-in at my house sixteen years before. I had puchased the bracelet (from Italy) in New Jersey in 1984. I purchased it the day the jewelry store received it from a designer in Italy. I was very unique and was tri-color with a watchband style and thickness. It was my favorite bracelet and I didn't wear or own any other bracelet. The back-story (1999):
I was living in CA and four and a half months pregnant (after having lost a child in pregnancy at five months the previous year) when my mother, living in PA, who was my best friend in life, was taken ill suddenly and passed away within 48 hours. I was devastated and inconsolable. I returned to CA from the funeral with a few pieces of my mom's jewelry and had not been wearing most of mine because of swelling due to my pregnancy. Two weeks later, my husband and I took our vacation that had been planned long before we found out we were going to have a baby. It was the last trip my ob/gyn would let me take prior to the baby's birth but I was still early enough in my pregnancy that she gave us her blessing. While we were away, our house was broken into, all of my mom's jewelry (including her engagement ring and wedding band) and all of my jewelry was stolen; over $20,000 (worth much more today). Insurance din't cover most of my jewelry and it didn't cover my mom's jewelry. The robbers distributed all of the stolen jewelry to pawn shops, their friends and families and it ended up across the US, never to be recovered except for a few pieces; one was recoved in a pawn shop but the robbers had destroyed it so it was useless. There were four robbers and one served a year in jail.
The bracelet that I saw on GSN was identical to mine that was stolen and I was so sure it was mine that I waited until they showed it close up because I had paid to have two locking clasps soldered on, one on either side of the catch. Sure enough, it had the two locking clasps. I took pictures with my phone and called the 888-791-8805 number immediately. I told the customer service rep that I beleievd the bracelt was mine, stolen in a robbery sixteen years before. I spoke to someone named Christi and she said she would ask Sam (one of the hosts) to set the bracelet aside because it was his merchandise. She told me to call on Monday and gave me the telephone number for Patrick (Pat) Kelly, Customer Service Manager at (770) 662-5505, x 1102.
I continued to watch and someone placed the bracelet back up for sale. I immediately called back and asked them to please take it down. I was told someone named Catherine would would have it pulled so it was not for sale. In the meantime, the host Steve, starts asking questions about the bracelet and wants to know where it is. They told him and he starts QUESTIONING MY INTEGRITY AND THE VALIDITY OF MY STORY AND MOCKING ME ON AIR! WHAT A JERK!
I called Pat Kelly on Monday and walked him through the story of the robbery and my phone call to his customer service department the preceding weekend. Pat requested I get a copy of the police report and call him when I have it. In the meantime, I called my insurance agent to apprise him of the situation. He was kind enough to forward a copy of the police report to me from his files on the case 16 years before.
I sent Pat a copy of the police report and it's very specific in regard to the description of the bracelet. This was a VERY UNIQUE bracelet, quite possible one of a kind or very few. He led me to believe he was going to work with me to get my bracelet back to me. After I sent the police report, I had several conversations with Pat and he always stalled me for one reason or another. I initially thought he was going to work with me and certainly, they must have insurance to cover them and reimburse for situations like this, as rare as I'm sure these situations are.
No he has a copy of the police report with the details including the joint locking clasps (that I paid for for be put on the bracelet), the colors, the length, the design, it's tri-color gold, the primary color, 14k, tongue and box closure and Italian made. Pat tells me, IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. NOW, HE WANTED ME TO SEND HIM PICTURES OF ME WEARING THE BRACELET...
I told him I didn't have any pictures of me wearing the bracelet. The pictures would have been more than 16 years old and the police report was very specific in the description and should have been enough. I begged him to elevate this to a manager. He promised he would. I called Pat (770) 662-5505, 1102, the following week. Now it's November. HE DIDN'T RETURN MY CALL. I called him again and begged him in a to please elevate this as high up the chain of management as necessary. I just wanted my bracelet and the police report was so specific in the description and should have been enough and I couldn't understand, after I had been through such tragic circumstances with the sudden loss of my mom and then the robbery, why he was making this so hard for me.
I called Pat Kelly twice in December and left two voicemail messages begging him to please elevate this to a manager as high up the chain as necessary to please let me have my bracelet.
PAT KELLY HAS NEVER RETURNED MY PHONE CALLS! I would NEVER do business with them and I hope that after reading this, you agree. They don't care about the customer. I would have thought there would be some compassion and human element to try to make things right for someone who suffered so much pain and just wanted them to do the right thing.
I offer you my sincere sadness for their unprofessional and abominable treatment of you, your terribly difficult situations and complete disregard for your personal property. It makes me wonder what else on those trays has not been honestly acquired!! How disturbing.
I am also concerned because my husband sent a very expensive stone for repair by one of their Master cutters. It was NOT their gemstone to begin with. But, he "trusted" him.....well. I don't think the SAME gemstone was returned to me. I was in severe, extreme pain at the time, and couldn't even follow up on this event!! It's very likely my rare stone was exchanged for one of much lesser value and mine was stolen. The difference is triple or more in value. I am very upset about this!
I have heard very disturbing stories told to me by a former employee. I don't know if ANY of them are really honest. I hope there may be a few, but I obviously won't buy anything from them. Much of the merchandise is so obviously overpriced!! I really overpaid on several pieces, years ago.
Receiving stolen property is as illegal as stealing it. I recommend calling law enforcement. Also, I believe that Sam's merchandise is his own, so you should probably pursue the problem with him. I have had pretty good luck buying from GSN but have been very careful about the host who is demonstrating the material. I trust Ben, and perhaps Wes but the rest of them are loud and obnoxious buffoons whose knowledge of gemstones and jewelry is questionable. I stopped watching when they started pairing Ben with another salesperson, effectively silencing Ben, when Marvin came back and the two pearl people left.
Be very very careful of the slick talkers on the sale show especially the Indian guy the Indian guy is the most slick talker makes you think everything is the greatest and everything is the best when it's just blah blah words that they use your best off to turn the volume to zero and just look at the jewelry and look at the price and see if you're getting a good value in the end you'll find your not going to get a good value for example they always try to multiply by 10 the real price so for a one carat diamond instead of it being $1000 a character less they'll say it's $10,000 a carrot and then they'll offer you a price of maybe three or 4000 it's a complete complete psych and rip off be very very careful
They have people call in to bump up the prices on auctions making it look like people are actually bidding. In one case we happened to be the first to make a bid and no one else bid. Then when the time ran out they said we have to restart the auction. Then all of a sudden in less than 45 seconds 10 people bid the item up to 10,000$. It was so fraudulent it was incredible. Stay away. Do not buy from them.
ESTATE ITEMS ARE SOLD AS IS!!!!!!!!! I purchased thousands of dollars of jewelry over the past 10 years from this Network. I stopped buying and watching this Network September 2016. Prior to this date, I accepted and kept the majority of items I bought as I was satisfied with the item's quality and price that I paid for them. The few items, 5% or less over all the years, I did return were clearly misrepresented by the Network hosts and apparently not screened properly by their quality control section before being sent to me (if they were even checked by anyone) , ie., diamonds represented as without inclusions that were full of defects, gem stones like tanzanite and opal chipped/cracked, gold and platinum mountings clearly damaged with significant pitting and/or bent, etc.,. I did keep numerous damaged items that I paid my local jeweler to repair as the repair cost was not too much and he was able to take care of the problems the same day or within a couple days. However, my opinion and support of this Network all changed September 2016 when I called their customer support department to report/complain about an estate item I had purchased in order to have them repair the item as my jeweler told me his very high estimated cost of repair. I was told by three different Network customer service representatives that it was GEM Shopping Network's policy that "ALL ESTATE ITEMS ARE SOLD AS IS". I asked the representatives why the hosts do not state this policy on air or why this policy is not noted on the screen when estate item are being sold, and was told that the hosts know this policy, are reminded of this policy and choose NOT to disclose this NETWORK policy on air. So regarding my defective item purchase, I was refused corrective action by the representatives and returned the item only to be charged a restocking fee (because I had paid for the Network to size this ring portrayed as being "perfect" prior to purchase) and of course I paid the shipping charges too. You may wonder why I took so long to express my concerns regarding this Network......I actually watched this show last week a couple of times and noted that the hosts were still not disclosing the AS IS POLICY for estate items. Also, listening to the same Network hosts with the same old hyped-up presentations I had viewed over the years made me nauseous. I choose not to watch this Network as if I want to buy "as is estate items" with no guarantees, I will take my business to pawn shops in my local area that carry colored gem and diamond estate jewelry. At least then, I will be able to see the item for what it is, and pay the right price for a piece that I want, that I am ready to accept after personally viewing, and pay for knowing that the item is being sold as is with no guarantees. For any of you that do not believe what I have indicated on this post, pick up your phone and call the Network's customer service people and verify what I have presented. I choose not to discredit their operations, to include their hosts, but rather want to present the rest of the story provided to me by their own customer service people that is not made public by the hosts which I believe the consumer should know.........ESTATE ITEMS ARE SOLD AS IS!!!!!!!!
I have been collecting jewlry for over 30 years. Mostly I buy it on actions or shopping network.
On Gem Shopppping Network Mihe, a host there was bejond himself talking abouth the superb quality of this exceptional quality of Tahitian Pearls.
I ordered a strand and waited in excitement, I have NEVER been so dissapointed opening a jewelry box. We were all stunned by the terrible pearls, unshapely with big blisters and open holes in the pearls.Light in weight not much nacre there.
In addision there are appearenty no manager you can get a hold of, and I have to pay for shipping and insurance bouth ways even when the produck was defect.
I will not be buying anyting from this company again, and advice you all to do your homework before you buy anything you have not seen in person. Just glad I started off with smaller items to get a feeling for their q
Gem Shopping Network Reviews
I hope that the public never does business with Gem Shopping Network again. I know that's not realistic but you've been warned.
I was flipping through the channels one weekend night in October 2015 and stopped in my tracks when I saw a bracelet that looked exactly like one that had been taken in a robbery/break-in at my house sixteen years before. I had puchased the bracelet (from Italy) in New Jersey in 1984. I purchased it the day the jewelry store received it from a designer in Italy. I was very unique and was tri-color with a watchband style and thickness. It was my favorite bracelet and I didn't wear or own any other bracelet. The back-story (1999):
I was living in CA and four and a half months pregnant (after having lost a child in pregnancy at five months the previous year) when my mother, living in PA, who was my best friend in life, was taken ill suddenly and passed away within 48 hours. I was devastated and inconsolable. I returned to CA from the funeral with a few pieces of my mom's jewelry and had not been wearing most of mine because of swelling due to my pregnancy. Two weeks later, my husband and I took our vacation that had been planned long before we found out we were going to have a baby. It was the last trip my ob/gyn would let me take prior to the baby's birth but I was still early enough in my pregnancy that she gave us her blessing. While we were away, our house was broken into, all of my mom's jewelry (including her engagement ring and wedding band) and all of my jewelry was stolen; over $20,000 (worth much more today). Insurance din't cover most of my jewelry and it didn't cover my mom's jewelry. The robbers distributed all of the stolen jewelry to pawn shops, their friends and families and it ended up across the US, never to be recovered except for a few pieces; one was recoved in a pawn shop but the robbers had destroyed it so it was useless. There were four robbers and one served a year in jail.
The bracelet that I saw on GSN was identical to mine that was stolen and I was so sure it was mine that I waited until they showed it close up because I had paid to have two locking clasps soldered on, one on either side of the catch. Sure enough, it had the two locking clasps. I took pictures with my phone and called the 888-791-8805 number immediately. I told the customer service rep that I beleievd the bracelt was mine, stolen in a robbery sixteen years before. I spoke to someone named Christi and she said she would ask Sam (one of the hosts) to set the bracelet aside because it was his merchandise. She told me to call on Monday and gave me the telephone number for Patrick (Pat) Kelly, Customer Service Manager at (770) 662-5505, x 1102.
I continued to watch and someone placed the bracelet back up for sale. I immediately called back and asked them to please take it down. I was told someone named Catherine would would have it pulled so it was not for sale. In the meantime, the host Steve, starts asking questions about the bracelet and wants to know where it is. They told him and he starts QUESTIONING MY INTEGRITY AND THE VALIDITY OF MY STORY AND MOCKING ME ON AIR! WHAT A JERK!
I called Pat Kelly on Monday and walked him through the story of the robbery and my phone call to his customer service department the preceding weekend. Pat requested I get a copy of the police report and call him when I have it. In the meantime, I called my insurance agent to apprise him of the situation. He was kind enough to forward a copy of the police report to me from his files on the case 16 years before.
I sent Pat a copy of the police report and it's very specific in regard to the description of the bracelet. This was a VERY UNIQUE bracelet, quite possible one of a kind or very few. He led me to believe he was going to work with me to get my bracelet back to me. After I sent the police report, I had several conversations with Pat and he always stalled me for one reason or another. I initially thought he was going to work with me and certainly, they must have insurance to cover them and reimburse for situations like this, as rare as I'm sure these situations are.
No he has a copy of the police report with the details including the joint locking clasps (that I paid for for be put on the bracelet), the colors, the length, the design, it's tri-color gold, the primary color, 14k, tongue and box closure and Italian made. Pat tells me, IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. NOW, HE WANTED ME TO SEND HIM PICTURES OF ME WEARING THE BRACELET...
I told him I didn't have any pictures of me wearing the bracelet. The pictures would have been more than 16 years old and the police report was very specific in the description and should have been enough. I begged him to elevate this to a manager. He promised he would. I called Pat (770) 662-5505, 1102, the following week. Now it's November. HE DIDN'T RETURN MY CALL. I called him again and begged him in a to please elevate this as high up the chain of management as necessary. I just wanted my bracelet and the police report was so specific in the description and should have been enough and I couldn't understand, after I had been through such tragic circumstances with the sudden loss of my mom and then the robbery, why he was making this so hard for me.
I called Pat Kelly twice in December and left two voicemail messages begging him to please elevate this to a manager as high up the chain as necessary to please let me have my bracelet.
PAT KELLY HAS NEVER RETURNED MY PHONE CALLS! I would NEVER do business with them and I hope that after reading this, you agree. They don't care about the customer. I would have thought there would be some compassion and human element to try to make things right for someone who suffered so much pain and just wanted them to do the right thing.
frightening to hear this!!
I offer you my sincere sadness for their unprofessional and abominable treatment of you, your terribly difficult situations and complete disregard for your personal property. It makes me wonder what else on those trays has not been honestly acquired!! How disturbing.
I am also concerned because my husband sent a very expensive stone for repair by one of their Master cutters. It was NOT their gemstone to begin with. But, he "trusted" him.....well. I don't think the SAME gemstone was returned to me. I was in severe, extreme pain at the time, and couldn't even follow up on this event!! It's very likely my rare stone was exchanged for one of much lesser value and mine was stolen. The difference is triple or more in value. I am very upset about this!
I have heard very disturbing stories told to me by a former employee. I don't know if ANY of them are really honest. I hope there may be a few, but I obviously won't buy anything from them. Much of the merchandise is so obviously overpriced!! I really overpaid on several pieces, years ago.
receiving stolen property
Receiving stolen property is as illegal as stealing it. I recommend calling law enforcement. Also, I believe that Sam's merchandise is his own, so you should probably pursue the problem with him. I have had pretty good luck buying from GSN but have been very careful about the host who is demonstrating the material. I trust Ben, and perhaps Wes but the rest of them are loud and obnoxious buffoons whose knowledge of gemstones and jewelry is questionable. I stopped watching when they started pairing Ben with another salesperson, effectively silencing Ben, when Marvin came back and the two pearl people left.
Be very very careful of the slick talkers on the sale show especially the Indian guy the Indian guy is the most slick talker makes you think everything is the greatest and everything is the best when it's just blah blah words that they use your best off to turn the volume to zero and just look at the jewelry and look at the price and see if you're getting a good value in the end you'll find your not going to get a good value for example they always try to multiply by 10 the real price so for a one carat diamond instead of it being $1000 a character less they'll say it's $10,000 a carrot and then they'll offer you a price of maybe three or 4000 it's a complete complete psych and rip off be very very careful
They have people call in to bump up the prices on auctions making it look like people are actually bidding. In one case we happened to be the first to make a bid and no one else bid. Then when the time ran out they said we have to restart the auction. Then all of a sudden in less than 45 seconds 10 people bid the item up to 10,000$. It was so fraudulent it was incredible. Stay away. Do not buy from them.
Buyer Beware
ESTATE ITEMS ARE SOLD AS IS!!!!!!!!! I purchased thousands of dollars of jewelry over the past 10 years from this Network. I stopped buying and watching this Network September 2016. Prior to this date, I accepted and kept the majority of items I bought as I was satisfied with the item's quality and price that I paid for them. The few items, 5% or less over all the years, I did return were clearly misrepresented by the Network hosts and apparently not screened properly by their quality control section before being sent to me (if they were even checked by anyone) , ie., diamonds represented as without inclusions that were full of defects, gem stones like tanzanite and opal chipped/cracked, gold and platinum mountings clearly damaged with significant pitting and/or bent, etc.,. I did keep numerous damaged items that I paid my local jeweler to repair as the repair cost was not too much and he was able to take care of the problems the same day or within a couple days. However, my opinion and support of this Network all changed September 2016 when I called their customer support department to report/complain about an estate item I had purchased in order to have them repair the item as my jeweler told me his very high estimated cost of repair. I was told by three different Network customer service representatives that it was GEM Shopping Network's policy that "ALL ESTATE ITEMS ARE SOLD AS IS". I asked the representatives why the hosts do not state this policy on air or why this policy is not noted on the screen when estate item are being sold, and was told that the hosts know this policy, are reminded of this policy and choose NOT to disclose this NETWORK policy on air. So regarding my defective item purchase, I was refused corrective action by the representatives and returned the item only to be charged a restocking fee (because I had paid for the Network to size this ring portrayed as being "perfect" prior to purchase) and of course I paid the shipping charges too. You may wonder why I took so long to express my concerns regarding this Network......I actually watched this show last week a couple of times and noted that the hosts were still not disclosing the AS IS POLICY for estate items. Also, listening to the same Network hosts with the same old hyped-up presentations I had viewed over the years made me nauseous. I choose not to watch this Network as if I want to buy "as is estate items" with no guarantees, I will take my business to pawn shops in my local area that carry colored gem and diamond estate jewelry. At least then, I will be able to see the item for what it is, and pay the right price for a piece that I want, that I am ready to accept after personally viewing, and pay for knowing that the item is being sold as is with no guarantees. For any of you that do not believe what I have indicated on this post, pick up your phone and call the Network's customer service people and verify what I have presented. I choose not to discredit their operations, to include their hosts, but rather want to present the rest of the story provided to me by their own customer service people that is not made public by the hosts which I believe the consumer should know.........ESTATE ITEMS ARE SOLD AS IS!!!!!!!!
I have been collecting jewlry for over 30 years. Mostly I buy it on actions or shopping network.
On Gem Shopppping Network Mihe, a host there was bejond himself talking abouth the superb quality of this exceptional quality of Tahitian Pearls.
I ordered a strand and waited in excitement, I have NEVER been so dissapointed opening a jewelry box. We were all stunned by the terrible pearls, unshapely with big blisters and open holes in the pearls.Light in weight not much nacre there.
In addision there are appearenty no manager you can get a hold of, and I have to pay for shipping and insurance bouth ways even when the produck was defect.
I will not be buying anyting from this company again, and advice you all to do your homework before you buy anything you have not seen in person. Just glad I started off with smaller items to get a feeling for their q