Why
should you buy your jewelry from an online jewelry retailer instead
of shopping at your local jewelry shop where you can touch, feel,
and try on the jewelry? You might think it's a no brainer, however,
I would encourage you to give your online jewelry retailer a chance.
You just might be pleasantly surprised at the unique jewelry designs
and consistent high quality you'll find online, not to mention better
pricing.
Handcrafted
Jewelry verses Mass Produced Jewelry
Most
of the jewelry you'll find at your local fashion retailer has been
mass produced and the jewelry you'll find from online jewelry designer
is usually handcrafted. While some people don't appreciate the quality
and value of a unique handmade piece of jewelry, other thrive on
it. There are many reasons to shop online for handcrafted jewelry
verses mass produced jewelry at your local fashion retailer. For
example, when a jewelry product is mass produced, the biggest concern
for the manufacturer is their bottom line. How much money will each
piece cost them and low can they get their costs? This could mean
the compromise of quality materials and assembly, which means you
need to ask yourself if the metal is sterling silver or nickel,
or, are the pearls on this necklace real? However, when a designer
is constructing their jewelry designs by hand, they have complete
control over each piece, it's quality and materials, and each piece
is approved by the designer because it was crafted by their own
hands. All the jewelry at www.kincaidesigns.com is handcrafted by
the artist, Holly Kincaid, and uses only quality materials and precious
metals.
How
does buying more expensive handcrafted jewelry online mean
greater savings?
When
you buy from your online jewelry designer you are paying for the
jewelry and for a very small percentage of their overhead costs.
An online jewelry designer doesn't have nearly as much overhead
as your local fashion retailer. Your online jewelry retailer has
to pay for their website store front, advertising fees and materials
to make their jewelry. Most online jewelry retailers work from their
home, so they are using their home utilities and they don't have
to pay for studio space. It's true that as an online jewelry retailer
grows, so does the need for more space, however, studio space vs.
store front space is a huge difference in rent.
A
local jewelry retailer with a store front has to pay rent for their
location, which is usually the most expensive of their overhead
costs, salaries for their employers, advertising costs, licensing
fees, utilities, wholesale merchandise and much more. In addition
to these overhead costs, the merchandise itself is passed through
many hands before it reaches the retailer. The manufacturer has
sold their merchandise to a wholesaler, who then sells the merchandise
to the retailer, who then displays the merchandise to sell to you,
the customer. In many cases, the prices are doubled at each stage,
starting from the manufacturer.
So,
as for your savings...When you buy your jewelry from your online
jewelry retailer, you are technically buying straight from the manufacturer,
also known as the designer. You will find that materials and assembly
aren't compromised and the amount of money you are paying for your
jewelry is much closer to the actual cost of making the jewelry.
Yes, your online jewelry retailer is making a profit because it
is their business. However, they aren't selling their jewelry to
anyone before it reaches you. You might be paying more for handcrafted
jewelry, but you are paying for your handcrafted jewelry instead
of price inflation, your local fashion retailer's rent and advertising
costs on an add you never even saw. Therefore you are getting the
quality of jewelry that you are paying for. In addition, since each
piece is originally handcrafted, you are guaranteed a truly unique
piece of jewelry that will serve as a keepsake for years to come.
To shop for your own unique handcrafted jewelry visit the Glass
Art and Handmade Jewelry Shop...
Small
Business verses Big Business
When
you buy from a small online jewelry business you are going to receive
the personal attention you deserve as a customer. In many cases
you may hear directly from the designer when you place an order
and you wont feel like a number in a huge array of orders. Unlike
a large business or department store, a small online business can
offer great customer service, which will result in a higher customer
satisfaction. When you are buying unique handmade jewelry that will
serve as a one-of-a-kind accessory in your collection, you want
the personal attention that a small business can give you. In addition,
you will probably find out about the designers background, or exactly
how each piece of jewelry was made, which adds character and greater
personal value to your purchase. Custom orders are a common service
through online jewelry retailers. If they don't offer custom orders
on their website, send them an email. You might be pleasantly surprised
at what they can offer you.
Online
Shopping Tips
There
isn't a better place to buy unique handmade jewelry than directly
from the jewelry designer. You will find the quality and value you
are looking for in addition to a truly unique piece of jewelry for
your collection. Below are some tips for buying jewelry from your
online jewelry retailer.
•
Check out their return policy:
If you can't return the jewelry you might not want to order from
them. Many return policies have restrictions, such as keeping all
tags on the jewelry or returning the jewelry in the original packaging.
These policies are to protect the designer from a customer purchasing
the jewelry for one occasion and returning the jewelry once the
occasion is over. This is an understandable return policy because
most online retailers aren't loaning jewelry out, they are a business
and they are selling their jewelry.
•
Have the designer insure your package. This may cost you more in shipping, but it's worth the
extra to guarantee your package will arrive to you safely or it
can be easily replaced. Simply request insurance in the comments
or special instructions upon checkout. An additional cost may be
added to your order for insurance, if you would like to be notified
of the extra cost of insurance before your credit card is charge,
note that in the comments or special instructions upon checkout
as well.
•
Never send your credit card information over email. Always use the
online retailer checkout process and check for the security pad
lock in your browser window when you check out. This ensures that
your information is being sent over a secure server. This pad lock
may only show up when you check out, it's not on all the pages of
their website. This is fine, only the pages that you are entering
your sensitive information is necessary. You can find out more information
about Payment and Privacy Policies on most e-commerce websites. This information should be available
to you. If you can't find it, request that information or shop elsewhere.
•
If there is a guarantee on their
website, print it out. All return policies, warranties and guarantees
are subject to change. If you print out the return policy, warranties
and guarantees when you make your purchase, the online retailer
should honor those documented policies.
•
Remember, if you have any questions about anything on an e-commerce
website, you should be able to contact
them easily. If you can't find a method of contact you probably
shouldn't be dealing with them. Every reliable online retailer should
allow their customers to contact them. Many online retailers don't
want to receive phone calls because their phone would ring off the
hook, but you should always be able to email the designer or an
associate.
To
shop for your unique handmade jewelry online, visit the Handmade
Jewelry and Glass Art Boutique at Kincaidesigns.
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