Shreve, Crump & Low

05/09/2008 Posted 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."

01/09/2007 Posted 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

12/15/2006 Posted by djm200

How can you possibly rate them at the top. They moved out of their great space...created a space that was cold and impossible to navigate, that had no soul to it ..got rid of the classic Shreves jewelery and brought in designer jewels that could be just as well be bought at Neiman Marcus or Bergdorf Goodmans. Hopefully the new owners that bought them will bring it back to its old life.

Pros: None right now

Cons: The sale stuff is not even Shreves jewelery..its a liquidators overstock.

11/16/2006 Posted by odee

You can buy a water pitcher that is the Massachusetts State Fish a Cod. It is so much fun. It gurgles. It makes a whole table of people laugh. People love it. The pitcher itself is quite beautiful. I have a white one and people of all ages love it. I've given these to fishermen, to people leaving the state as a remembrance and for people as a house warming gift. It is reasonably priced. They come in different sizes but the large one is the best. The is a very unique gift. They have wonderful pins of Boston scenes. These pins are nice commemoratives. This store has gifts of all prices which I was happy to see. If you want something reasonably priced you can find it. Other times if you want something really special and more expensive they have that also.

Pros: Chestnut Hill has easy parking

Cons: None that I know of except they have been sold, hopefully they will stay the same