03/21/09

I can't even begin to explain my anger & disappointment....

by bostonme

I went to Shreve, Crump and Low to have a diamond from my grandmother's engagement ring put in a setting for my engagement. I got a setting with Pave diamonds around the band and with in a week one of the diamonds fell out of the band. When I returned to the store they first tried to tell me that they were selling faulty jewlery and it was not their problem. Eventually they agreed to repair the ring, but when it was done it looked aweful. After an enormous amount of time with really disrespectful sales people they agreed to make a new ring, the whole time acting like they were doing me a favor. This happened at least two months ago and I still don't have the ring back. When I call the store they are the most disrespectful sales people I've ever encountered - from the floor sales guy to the managers. SCL is supposed to be this premier jewlery store? I would never, ever, return there - ever.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Horrible service and appaulling jewlery work

05/09/08

Humiliating, Offensive Experience

by bostonres

I had an absolutely horrible experience at this store and I would advise anyone to think twice before wasting your time here.

Quite simply, I was shopping for an engagement ring and decided I'd buy a loose stone first. I found a diamond on Shreve's website and went into the store to inquire about it. I believed it was priced fairly, and the salesman proceeded to show me more expensive diamonds instead. I obliged, but still wanted to go with the one I had found. So, he agreed to check its status on the computer. I read the product ID number to him and he told me it was out of stock. I peered over and saw that on his computer he had typed the letter O where a zero should have been. (I had clearly said zero.) Possibly an honest mistake and I dismissed the event as such.

Eventually, after another visit, we priced the entire ring together and it was over my budget so I negotiated the price down to something reasonable. At this point, I clearly mentioned that this would be the price after tax. The final price would still be $1000 more than market price if I had gone online and found a diamond elsewhere and then put it together somewhere. Simply, I was agreeing to pay $1000 for the Shreve Crump Low name. The salesman told me he'd check with his boss about the price. The next day, he called me and informed me the price had been approved. I visited the store for a third time and spent an hour as the same salesman told me that the price hadn't included tax.

I ended up walking out and had to start my shopping from scratch. This salesman was no gentleman, and I was certain a business with the reputation of Shreve Crump and Low would exhibit more class. In fact, if he had decided to meet me halfway on the price, I would have probably obliged and paid the money and it would have been the same price.

I wasted around three hours with these people, and they made what should be a joyous event of my life completely miserable."

01/09/07

Even with the unfortunate happenings that took place at their main location, their staff is top notch

by mj2000

And their classic goods were top quality, which they continued to sell at the Boylston location, just not the focal point of the store's new image (unfortunately)

I really cannot speak for the Boylston Street location though as I never visited it after the move into the old FAO building, it appeared nice from the outside however I would have hated to see what they turned it into. I shopped there in early 2005, and even that was in their Chestnut Hill location which thankfully was spared from the renovations, however I can say that of all the larger Boston jewelers, Shreve Crump and Low had and continue to have some of the best staff on hand. Not only are they professional and courteous but they actually are willing to help their customers and provide service, I cannot count the number of times I have frequented other local Boston well known watch dealers/jewelers only to receive either no or rude service, with Shreve it was always pleasant.

It is truly a shame that they were miss-managed as they were however hopefully they good folks of David and Co. can lead the company into a new era and back to their old state of greatness. One can only hope so or else high end shopping in this area is looking rather bleak and bland with the chain dealers moving in.

• Pros: Helpful Staff, good products, parking in the newton location
• Cons: problems with management which led to bankruptcy however new owner