By John McQueen
Successful Tanzanite Purchasing on the Internet
(c)Copyright 2006 The Gem Zone, Inc.(*See Footnote)
So...you've been looking to purchase a quality tanzanite on the internet and you need some help determining what characteristics you should be looking for in a quality tanzanite. This articleis intended as a resource to help guide you through a successful tanzanite purchase by avoidingmany of the common pitfalls that some consumers become entangled. These pitfalls can oftenleave a sour taste in your mouth and make you a little head- shy about purchasing tanzaniteonline.
I am aware that several of our happy tanzanite clients have had bad previous tanzanitepurchasing experiences, and some, in my opinion, were downright awful. The common themes in their communications include:
*Didn't really "know" the seller as good as I should have before purchasing my tanzanite...
*Color in hand was significantly different than the tanzanite image shown online...
*Didn't read the "fine print" regarding my tanzanite purchase...
*Wanted to return the tanzanite and the seller charged a hefty re-stocking fee...
*Didn't understand the importance of clarity,tone, hue and saturation before making mytanzanite purchase...
And the list goes on and on... If you have notbeen through an experience like this, eitheryou're a really web-savvy consumer or you have just been plain lucky. Many tanzanite consumershave thrown a lot of their hard-earned dollars into tanzanites that are of significantly lessvalue than the money they have spent. This is unfortunate for them and quite disappointing tothe "good guys" within the tanzanite industry.
How many times have you wanted to know that you are making the correct assessment of apotential tanzanite that you intend to purchase online? I have been asked this questionfrequently and I am amazed that a large percentage of consumers simply do not do the necessary homework before making a buying decision. Certainly not due to the lack of credible resources that are available to the consumer, many people simply let the "want" of an immediate purchase get ahead of their good judgment.
Let's start with a generic list of things to consider in the process of making a tanzanitepurchase. The "generic list" includes such items as the "5 W's," namely, Who, What, Where, Why, When. If your inquiry covers several or even all of these questions, you have made a good start in obtaining the necessary information you need in making a wise purchasing decision on your next tanzanite.
The Tanzanite "Who" and "Where"
Who you are considering doing business with and where they are located can tell you much about a tanzanite retailer. Is the tanzanite retailer headquartered domestically or are they aforeign company with an online presence? This fact is generally known/disclosed at the time youmake payment, but not always. The whole foreign vs. domestic issue is another discussionaltogether, but you need to decide in your own mind what you're most comfortable with. Someforeign companies use a domestic mail drop to ship their tanzanites. On the surface, theyappear to be a domestic company, which would willingly submit to FTC rules and regulations,many of which protect you as the consumer, but some foreign companies couldn't care less about these guidelines. So, it never hurts to ask the question. This will help you to avoid thesmoke-and-mirrors game that many foreign sellers implement in their marketing strategy. I know of one company, in particular, marketing gemstones that has many concurrent reincarnations, as I like to call them, on the internet at the same time. They have many websites, all with different looks, and sell essentially from the same inventory. While this type of maskedmarketing is not in and of itself "bad" nor "dishonest," it sure makes it difficult to get the answer to these first couple of questions and creates confusion for many tanzanite buyers. Who am I considering doing business with and where are they located? You might want to cat aroundon google a bit to find available information and maybe even get some references. Testimonialsand referrals represent a major portion of our business and we willingly share our customerreferences/experiences on our site to make our reputation "real" for would-be clients. Goodstuff! So, understanding who you are about to do business with and where they are locatedprovides you with a foundation of knowledge from which to proceed in the process of obtainingyour first/next tanzanite.
The Tanzanite "What"
The What question may be answered by simply taking a look at the overall quality range oftanzanites the retailer is offering on their site. Does the tanzanite retailer carry low-gradetanzanites, high-grade, or a broad range of quality? This should speak volumes to you. Thereare many retailers that simply carry the lower grades of tanzanite for a cheap price and showout the best of these grades as top-quality stones. When you view the pictures of these stones,you may think you are looking at "AAA" color, relative to other tanzanites listed, when in factyou may still looking at run-of-the-mill tanzanites that may be slotted a bit higher in thecolor range than the others. And yes, there are a LOT of these types of stones available foraround $300/ct by a growing number of vendors. The statements regarding the quality of thismaterial are often exaggerated and the pictures on these stones may not even be close torepresenting the actual item. Caveat Emptor, which is a Latin phrase meaning: "Buyer Beware!"Good advice for us all. Other considerations related to What include a thorough understandingof the retailer's "fine print."
The Tanzanite "Why"
The Why question is really self- explanatory.... because you want to own a quality tanzanite.Right? In addition, you probably want to try to understand why the company, whose tanzanite youare viewing, is in the tanzanite business. What I mean by this is...other than the obviousreason, to sell a product for a profit, do they appear to have a good business interest intanzanite or does the seller just offer it as another line of gemstones on their site. Yourinterests would be best served by shopping with a retailer that has a good stake and largegeneral emphasis in tanzanite. This will provide you with your best chance at viewing a nicecollection of gems from which to choose and competitive pricing. Additionally, I recommend thatyou purchase from sellers that are more than happy to work with you on a custom order. If theyare hesitant to do this, it may mean that they are getting their tanzanite from other retailers(vs. a tanzanite sightholder or supplier) and don't want to mess with an order like yoursbecause they simply can't turn around a custom order quickly. It is then possible for you tofind yourself purchasing a stone which is only close to what you really desire. Why settle forsomething "close" when you are getting ready to drop a chunk of hard-earned change on atanzanite?
The Tanzanite "When"
And finally, the When question deals with such inquiries as: When will my tanzanite order shipand by what method (carrier)? Are there any extra fees when shipping gemstones? When do yourestock your tanzanite inventory? When is the best time of year to purchase a qualitytanzanite? You get the idea. By asking these types of questions, you get to know your tanzaniteretailer better and can pave the way for a long-term, successful relationship with yourtanzanite dealer.
In summary, it is important that you have a good understanding of the company from which youwish to make a gemstone purchase AND their quality and price are in keeping with your overallexpectations. In our company's experience, we have found it amazing how much repeat business wehave done with our valued clients over the years by simply providing answers to these basicquestions.
Hopefully, you will make many wise tanzanite purchases in the days, months and years to come.Tanzanite is a truly incredible gemstone, but you owe it to yourself to get the facts FIRSTbefore adding a gorgeous tanzanite to your collection. I encourage you to put this "purchasingmodel" in place to avoid the common pitfalls and disappointments of making incorrect buyingdecisions on your next tanzanite purchase.
Article Source: www.ArticlesBase.com
John McQueen is a long-time rockhound, lapidarist (gem faceter), internet entrepreneur and acclaimed freelance writer on various topics related to the gemstone and jewelry industry. For more information on purchasing fine gemstones on the internet, please visit his company's site dedicated to fine tanzanite and other types of beautiful gemstones. http://www.eTanzanite.com
