Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:43 pm Posts: 615 Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
I honestly think anyone who would spend $7000 on a purse must be mentally ill. Even if I was worth billions of dollars, I would have a hard time looking at a small bit of sewn leather and think to myself yeah, that's worth 7 grand.
That's just me though. I realize others can and do spend that much.
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2005 2:39 pm Posts: 3528 Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Again, it's about what the purse can do for you. Let's say spending $7,000 on a purse gets you noticed by the "right person" at the gym and you get invited to a party where you meet someone who suggests you stop by for a lunch meeting and then you're being hired for a $500,000 a year job. Is the purse worth $7,000 now? When you're buying status symbols, the worth is far more than the object itself, it's what the object can do for you in the minds of others.
Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:29 am Posts: 928 Location: USA
I have to agree with George this time around. I agree though, that when selling high end stuff to, what should be knowledgeable, vendors that the "gimmicks" shouldn't be needed; But when selling to the general public it is often quite helpful, sadly. I have a fine line here... For example... I am ok with Paraiba-like and Paraiba color(ed) but I would draw the line at Paraiba *insert gemstone name here* like they did with the Paraiba colored coated topaz(of may have been diffused.. Forget) a few years back. If the qualifier or whatever is there, go for it, if not, then it crosses the line IMHO and should not be allowed.
I do think it sets a bad example by such a large place like Pala doing it though! But things have gotten so skewed anymore thx to Ebay and TV Shows, one has to become a bit creative now in order to compete and stay in business in this tight slow economy. But if one sticks to the facts and doesn't cross the line from creative to flat out lying, no real harm done I guess. People create marketing bs all the time, Tanzanite... rings a bell instantly when thinking about this... lol.
As for jewelers out there knowing what they should!? Sorry, but that is nowhere even close!! Joe and Suzie Homemaker "jewelers" are popping up stands, little shops, booths at shows, etc. that have no clue wth they are even selling and just buy cheap junk from Ebay and resell it as whatever they purchased it as! Same goes for many wire artists! Even full stores with GIA diplomas on the walls are doing crap like this! We have one locally who tried to sell me a synthetic blue star sapphire 10K gold mens ring as completely natural and untreated... The ring is sold as is by many wholesalers as higher end costume jewelry! They tried the same thing with heavily treated and synthetic rubies as natural untreated. Another local store a few years ago was selling Alexandrite, which was synthetic, NOT natural! They just take the "word" of the vendor they buy it from and sell it as they bought it as! Almost every show my Wife does we end up seeing booths/vendors setup selling fakes and sims as the real untreated thing! These are obvious fakes that anyone with even a little education, knowledge, or experience would be able to tell... Like cheap poor looking reconstituted Chinese turquoise as natural untreated American SW stuff set in .925 SS when it is in German/Alpaca/Mexican/Nickel Silver! So, there are either a lot of uneducated/mis-educated folks in the Industry, lots more scammers then thought, and/or lots of folks who just don't care either way as long they make a buck! Personally, I think it is the first and last more then any. Considering many of these folks get their knowledge/education off of TV shows and/or Ebay, you know they are way past misinformed! .
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