Jewelry
”Target To 80-Year-Old: Yeah, We Sold You The Wrong Watch Battery, But We Won't Take It Back
David cc'd us on a letter he recently sent to Target:
More »My mother in law, recently went to Target to get a battery installed for her watch. The watch was a common Timex model and the associate told her that she would have to buy the battery first. So she purchased that battery, and the associate attempted to install it in the watch. The battery did not fit the watch, so the associate said "sorry, we don't have the right battery" and then refused to take the battery back and refund her money. She was told they don't take back opened battery packages.
above and beyond
Tiffany's Dazzling Customer Service More Than Makes Up For Shipping Snafu
Ritzy Fifth Avenue jeweler Tiffany & Co. failed to ship Chris' grandfather a bracelet for his wife in time for Christmas. We expect a certain level of service from high-end stores, but Tiffany's extravagant amends caught us by surprise. More »
jewelry
Would You Seek Out "Fairtrade" Gold If You Could?
Gold is the latest commodity vying for the ethical "Fairtrade" seal of approval, reports Reuters in a feature on Britsh/Canadian Greg Valerio and his quest to reduce exploitation—both environmental and human—in the jewelry market. He's currently selling "green gold" (that term really needs some marketing help) from a small jewelry store in Chichester, England, but is working with the Fairtrade Foundation and the Association Responsible Mining—a trade group he helped found—to figure out how to certify gold as Fairtrade by 2009.More »
travel
When Shopping In A Port Of Call, Document Your Purchases
If you find you're on a cruise to, say, the Caribbean, and you decide to buy something expensive—like, say, an emerald ring—then be sure to pay with a credit card, take photos of the item and the person who sold it to you, and get a receipt. It may sound like overkill, but if the "emeralds" in the ring fall out and it turns your finger black once you're back on the boat and have left Antigua, chances are it's not a cursed pirate ring but a fake, and you'll be glad you have some documentation when you start trying to make things right. More »
ooo, pretty
Insider Tips For Buying Jewelry
The diamond industry is a big stinking sham, but if you're stuck in a relationship where you can't get away with a plastic spider ring for a gift—well, first of all, we feel sorry for you, but second of all, here are some great tips to help you save money when jewelry shopping. More »
lead contamination
Disney, Toys 'R Us To Begin Random Testing Of Toys
Disney is a name a lot of parents trust, so it came as a surprise to many that toys and jewelry featuring Disney characters would be recalled for lead contamination. The jewelry seen here, for example, was recalled for lead contamination after being sold at mall outlets like The Limited, Too. More »
someone think of the children
Over 10,000,000 Items Recalled For Lead Contamination In 2007
With the recall of some Thomas & Friends and Sponge Bob toys on August 22, the total number of products recalled due to lead contamination in 2007 reached 10,020,300, according to data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. None of the items were manufactured in the US, so the recall responsibility and cost falls squarely on the shoulders of the US importers. We took at look back at 2007's lead recalls to try to understand the scope of the problem. More »
chinese poison train
Lead-Tainted Charms From China Very Unlucky
The poisonous lead story continues this week with news that 20% of trinkets and charms sold in the United States still contain dangerous levels of lead. In a surprise to no one, "of the 17.9 million pieces of jewelry items pulled from the market since the start of 2005, 95 percent were made in China." Here's a good scare quote to drive home the danger:Jewelry is perhaps the most dangerous place for lead because children can swallow an entire ring or pendant, causing acute poisoning, which can cause respiratory failure, seizures and even death, whereas neurological damage and learning deficiencies are often associated with exposure to lead paint. Many children also tend to suck on jewelry or put it in their mouths, allowing lead to be absorbed into their bloodstream.More »
scammers
Jeweler Caught Selling Fake Tiffany Items
Tiffany & Co has won an injunction against Starglam, INC, a company that has been selling fake Tiffany-branded items. From Reuters:Tiffany said that according to the judgment issued by a federal court in New York, Starglam Inc., and its principal, John Shamir, should not engage in any further counterfeiting of Tiffany-branded items or infringing on its trademark.More »
recalls
Lead Prompts Recall Of Children's Necklaces, Earrings, And Rings
Kmart and Big Lots! are voluntarily recalling 121,000 necklaces, earrings, and rings that contain lead. This stunning announcement is sure to devastate Valentine sweethearts in pre-schools across the nation. More »
crime
Man Hides in Furniture Box; Steals $80,000 from Kmart
Introducing our new favorite alleged thief, Greg G. Giannotta. Our buddy Greg, "hid inside a furniture box at Kmart until closing time and, according to police, swept the jewelry department nearly clean of merchandise." More »
recalls
Succumbing to Shirley Temple's Deadly Charms
The children's toy industry apparent refusal to stop putting lead in jewelry products lends itself to this morning's best lede: "The good ship Lollipop has some unsafe cargo." More »Consumer Complaints: Blue Niles Break Half-Price Promises
Dollsome reader Paige C. writes in about the tragic mislaying of one of her Blue Nile earrings. It is rather predictably followed by a smattering of appalling customer service on Blue Nile's part after they promise (then deny) her a half-priced replacement: More »
shopping







