Hi all
Jewellers are perceived to overcharge, and maybe even rip you off.
This is not an uncommon perception. Of course we know it's
patently untrue.
Why do people hate paying for jewellery repairs? A colleague had
multiple claws replaced on a ring and a stone or 2 replaced.
Complained about the cost $600, a very reasonable price I thought.
When people tell me my jewellery labour charge is too much I ask
them what their car mechanic charges and then what their plumber
charges. Changes their minds really quickly. Also get some quotes.
Shocked a customer when I said I charge $5 to solder a jumpring
closed but $10 to solder a jumpring on a charm bracelet closed. Had
to explain the difference. Or for $5 I can attach the charm with a
lobster clasp. Seems to be the fashion these days.
If you want to talk about overcharging I find plumbers the best at
it.
Had one come to my place to clear a blocked drain, forgot the tool
for the job came back the next day. Tried to charge 2 call out fees.
Did not like my response, only paid for one call out.
This week a friend who is opening a take away food shop was quoted
$12,000 for plumbing by one guy $1,200 by another.
I think what has hurt the jewellery trade most is cheap imports of
jewellery. Also online buying from overseas.
The government does nothing to protect the trade in Australia. The
horrors of child labour and working conditions in Asia are well known
people die in these workshops, many are children. Most are paid very
low wages. But wholesalers still import it.
The daughter’s mother in law needed to have a Tiffany (LOL) bracelet
repaired, you could tell from the box, badly made, it was a fake. The
break in the toggle clasp showed the parent metal was not sterling.
People are surprised that Tiffany do not have a factory in China. Me
I am surprised they got their shoes on the right feet if they thought
Tiffany did.
My customers like the fact I make the jewellery I sell. Few hand
make these days. Especially in silver.
My wife went to a trade fair recently lots of imported jewellery at
very low prices, China and Korea. One company, no names no law
suits, had lots of jewellery from Asia and Mexico, but looking on
their website most pieces were of average quality. On their website
they claim to be a member of the JAA but do not support the
Australian trade.
Also shopkeepers work to a price point not a quality point. And as
we live in a disposable society people do not expect it to last long.
They will buy cheap jewellery from Asia rather than support
Australian made.
Until consumers support Australian made over cheap imports this
trade will have serious problems. This is a symptom of multi-cultural
ideology as opposed to multi-racial ideology. Multi- culturalism has
small self interested groups with no aim for the whole
country.Combine this with political correctness we no longer have
Easter hat parades at many primary schools in case non-Christians
are offended. Also Nativity plays have vanished. Well hello multi-
culturailsts, the Queen is our sovereign and head of the Church of
England if you don’t like it leave.
Multi-racial societies have different races living in harmony with
one goal for the country and it’s people. The different races
celebrate their cultures and share with other races. Chinese New
Year is very popular. Last time I was in Sydney went out with the wife
and son, went to a pub for a meal and drink after dinner spent hours
talking and drinking with Asians, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese,
Thais and Koreans. Past conflicts forgotten. This was a sign of
harmony and multi-racialism at its best. Sadly I was one of the few
white people there who talked to these people. I was asked why I was
talking to them, I said my Chinese name was He Rui-De and I was born
in KL and they laughed. Not your average white racist. On another
trip I said to the concierge of the Hilton there are a lot of Asians
in Sydney now. The look on his face showed “Not another one.” Till I
said it reminded me of my favourite city/country Singapore. Then he
smiled.
Sorry for the political home truths.
Richard