Jeweller wants to charge for a resize due to "wear and tear"

mt006

Hi

I ordered an Engagement Ring last October (received around late Oct/Early Nov).  I had to guess the size based on a previous ring I bought a few years ago.  We got engaged on Boxing Day - it was a complete surprise to my Girlfriend and she loved the ring.  However it was 2 sizes too big.

I contacted the seller (an online store I had use before) as they do offer a resize option and they advised I needed to send it back within 90 days of purchase.

I hastily bundled the ring into a box and duly sent it back.

At this point my girlfriend had had the ring for exactly 14 days and had worn it only around the house (mainly on the couch as she was laid down with a bad cough).

After an assessment the jewellers are now claiming the ring is scratched, dented and out of shape and want an additional £200 fee to resize it.

My gf loved this ring and if she had in any way damaged it would have been distraught and as far as we are concerned it was basically immaculate when we sent it back.

It feels like they have seen the purchase date was Oct - decided that a ring that old would have some wear and tear and are trying to get some extra cash out of us.  

Anybody got a similar experience or any advice?  Its very hard to prove the rings condition as we simply sent it back - who takes additional photos of items.  

DullGreyGuy

Do you have a link to the store? Have you had the ring engraved or anything?

At a guess, before seeing the site, the normal "resizing" is actually an exchange hence the ring needing to be in retail condition. If not in retail condition then it becomes an actual resizing job which they don't offer for free, but would need to check T&Cs. 

£200 is certainly expensive for a resize but that depends on the nature of the band and the material. 

mt006

Hi

https://www.thediamondstore.co.uk/

Its a platinum engagement ring - would have been custom made I think from their POV (Took 4 weeks delivery).  They can't simply substitute the ring as the diamond in the ring is linked to the order so they need to send the same one back.  

I did pay for engraving - however a resize if needed is supposed to be free.  

I have to reiterate that the ring has been worn for 2 weeks and only in around the house mainly.  Doesn't account for the amount of damage they claim

gwynlas

I think that they have you over a barrel and that there is little you can do. The wear and tear is just an excuse.  I would not be surprised that in the small print of your contract that resizing for free means that any custom work you had done negates the free option which is unfair

Arunmor

Does it need to be made bigger or smaller?  Making it bigger is an easy job, they will just stretch it a bit, making it smaller is a whole different kettle of fish made worse by an engraving so instead of one cut it will probably need two, it is delicate work.

DullGreyGuy

There is nothing in their terms about free resizing, it only appears in their FAQ. Their wording there isn't overly clear but I believe they are trying to say that ultimately it is at their sole discretion as to if they will give you one free resize but state in most cases they will. 

If you wanted to argue it then you could point to the fact their site state the resizing is subject to the design of the ring and makes no reference to exclusions for wear and tear.

Alternatively take a photo of the ring to a local jeweller and see how much they'll charge... mention the engraving as that will make life more complex

TELLIT01

If the band is entirely plain opposite the stones, i.e. the place they would normally remove metal when resizing, the price certainly seems high.  However, if there is any pattern, or the engraving is around that part of the ring it is not a simple resizing job.  I don't see why the jeweller would claim the ring was out of shape if it wasn't.

Emmia

Can you have the ring returned, you could then get the resize done at a jewellers (admittedly at extra cost).

I am surprised though that if the ring is 2 sizes too big, your fiancé was able to wear it and keep it on, even around the house.

mt006

Thanks for the replies
For Clarity the engraving was part of the order and carried out by them (its not a 3rd party job).

I have made the case that a ring of that price and supposed quality shouldn't be showing wear and tear as described after 14 days gentle usage so either the ring is substandard in the first place or the damage has been done in their care.

TELLIT01

Who did the engraving is irrelevant.  If it would be damaged by reducing the size of the ring somebody has to pay for the engraving to be redone.  The OP hasn't said what damage the jeweller claims has been done to the ring, but patterning on the outside of the shank could certainly be damaged in a couple of weeks if the wearer wasn't as gentle with is a the OP believes they were.