4 Month Wait for Wedding Ring

Mrs_Natalie_King

Good Evening to you all
I hope that you might be able to offer me some advice, as i have read some other compensation / complaints problems and you have all been so helpful!

I ordered a handmade wedding ring in May last year from Leslie Davis Jewellers in Milton Keynes from their jewellery design service, as it had to be made to fit exactly around the square edges of my engagement ring. It was made by Downey Designs in Birmingham, who Leslie Davis use for all their handmade items.
We used Leslie Davis as so many other high street stores didnt do 'this type of thing' so we were thrilled to find someone who did!

The designer we met with was rude and had a 'couldnt care less attitude' we felt bullied into buying the ring by her as it was more than our budget, but we didnt know where else to go. The store assistant even apologised later and made a complaint to the design company about her behaviour.

We collected the ring in July and and were married in the September - i obviously didnt wear the wedding ring until the wedding, so this is when all the problems started.....

To cut a very long story short i have bullet pointed the problems;
- both rings were a size too large (my engagement ring had been sized up) and the wedding ring had been badly made and the piece taken out didn't accommodate my engagement ring adequately and they kept coming apart
- Took ring back to shop, they sent both back to the design company and i waited a month for them to be returned
- Went back wedding ring had been 'hacked' at and looked awful, shop staff agreed, both rings still too large, both sent back again, wedding ring to be remade from scratch, waited another month
- Went back again, wedding ring now correct size, engagement ring had not been resized, fitted together better but wedding ring had not been rhodium plated so was yellow! both rings sent back again, waited yet another month
- called the shop as hadnt heard anything from them, was told both rings came back and were now both the right size but no longer fitted together properly so sent back again

The last time the rings were sent back is was without any consultation from me and without my permission.
Cusotmer service from Leslie Davis has been hit and miss, the shop Manager only got involved in the last two weeks and has been completely unapologetic.
I have requested a full refund of the £700 for the wedding band and will take my business elsewhere as i think i have been more than patient and they have agreed to refund the full amount

I have been married for just over 4 months and havent had my wedding and engagement rings for the majority of this.
It has affected my honeymoon, not to mention the 460 miles i have clocked up driving to and from the Leslie Davis shop over the last 4 months.
I have written a 4 page complaint letter to the head office and although im pleased ive been given the refund, i havent been offered an apology or any other compensation at any point.

Friends say that i should expect something for the broken promise from the design company to make the ring ive paid for, the loss of trust in the company to make this ring and in Leslie Davis to help with this process and the fact that i now have to try and find someone who can make me another wedding ring which wont be the ring i married with.

Id love your thoughts - can i expect any more than the refund or should i just be happy with that?

Thank you all

Natalie

Nurseyjo_2

Gosh Natalie, what an awful experience for you. Even getting another ring, it wouldnt have been blessed for your marriage. I cant offer anything in the way of constructive advice, but I think I would be complaining to every organisation that would listen!! Perhaps a word with Consumer Direct or Trading Standards may be useful.

As far as a new wedding ring, there are a number of small independent jewellers I am sure who would do an amazing job for you. I do know of a couple in my area, but dont know how you would feel about the travel. I am referring to shops in the Hereford and Worcester Area. If you want details, send me a private message and I will send you some contact details.

I feel for you.

sarahg1969

I'm sure it's been a hassle, but... emotionally distraught? affecting your marriage?

Let's hope nothing serious ever happens to you.

You've got a refund. Now put it behind you and move on. It's a ring; buy a new one. The important part of being married is spending the rest of your life with your new spouse. Concentrate on the stuff that matters.

ETA: If you feel you need to vent, why not see if there's somewhere you can leave some reviews for them?

Nurseyjo_2

Thats somewhat harsh Sarah. We all react differently to different things. I never took my wedding ring off from the moment it was on my finger. It was my symbol to the world that I was in love, I was committed and that I was proud to display this. Can you imagine what it would be like to get married, and then not have your rings. What is the first thing that anyone says to a Bride once they have married -' Lets have a look at your wedding ring'. Imagine having to explain, time and again, why you didnt have it.

Its not just 'a' ring. It means so much more than that to people.

However, I appreciate your sentiments about the important part of being married and concentrating on the stuff that matters, but in Natalie's case, this obviously is something that does matter and it is not for us to tell her 'to move on'.

Mrs_Natalie_King

Thank you Sarahg for your comments. I know that being emotionally distraught about a ring sounds a bit daft and im amazed at how upset ive been (its not like me) about it all. I think im one of these silly woman who had a rose tinted view of weddings and marriage and didnt want anything to go wrong, especially at the beginning!
Im happy that i was given the refund - i just wondered if it was worth pursuing any further due to the bad service and lack of care and attention - it probably sounds greedy, but id be happy with a letter of apology just to finish it.

Thank you for taking time to read it all!