How to pay when buying online?
Here are a few of the typical payment types that are accepted:
1. Visa
2. MasterCard
3. Discover
4. American Express
5. Bank Wire Transfer
6. Money order
7. Cashier's Check
Other payment type that may be accepted:
1. Paypal
2. Western Union
3. BidPay
Most diamond stores online now list their diamond merchandises on Ebay.
As a result, they will most likely accept Paypal, Western Union and BidPay. These are considered a safe alternative to paying by credit cards, as Paypal, who is owned by Ebay, is offering their members protection against fraudulent transactions. So this is a safer alternative rather than paying via Wire Transfer, Money Order, or Cashier's Check.
What type of payment should I avoid?
Bank Wire Transfer
Why? Because this is rather dangerous. When you make your purchase payment in full, the store has the upper hand in terms of negotiating and selection.
If you see a CLOSED LOCK symbol on the store's website, you can rest assured that the SSL has been activated. The website address should start with HTTPS:// rather than the usual HTTP://.
What does this mean? It simply means that the SSL will allow a secure connection between your web browser and the store's web server. When after you placed your order and submit your credit card information, the information will be sent through securely, not allowing any others to view it, except for the stores' employees who will then process the order.
Most of you a familiar with Online Banking. Just to give you a perfect example, most banking institutions like Washington Mutual and Wells Fargo are adopting this SSL secure connection for their customers. So it's safe to conduct transactions online.
Which payment is protected from fraud?
Not one type of payment is safer than the other.
All online purchases are liable to fraud. However, there are several preventive set up to avoid being scammed. One of them is to pay with credit cards. However it does not mean that when you pay with credit cards, you are exempt from fraud. But when you pay via credit cards, the credit card companies do provide ZERO fraud liability, which means that if you see a charge for an order you did not make, the credit card company will issue you a conditional credit, and they will act in your behalf to pursue the matter further with the store. Upon finishin the investigation if the store cannot provide any sufficient proof, the credit will remai in your favor. However, if they have proof that you in fact initiated the order, the credit card company has the right to withdraw the credit that was issued to you previously. Then you have to settle the matter further with the store directly.
Is it safe to use my credit card online?
The answer is Yes and No.
Most of the time, when you place any orders online with major online retailers, you often see CLOSED LOCK symbol on the store's website. What does this symbol mean? It means that the website has enabled the SSL (Secure Socket Line).The website address should start with HTTPS:// rather than the usual HTTP://.
The SSL will allow a secure connection between your web browser and the store's web server. When after you placed your order and submit your credit card information, the information will be sent through securely, not allowing any others to view it, except for the stores' employees who will then process the order.
Most of you are familiar with Online Banking. Just to give you a perfect example, most banking institutions like Washington Mutual and Wells Fargo are adopting this SSL secure connection for their customers. So it's safe to conduct transactions online.
Eventhough SSL technology has been adopted by most websites, it's still not hacker-proof. Hackers are getting smarter and smarter these days, they will find different ways to "steal" personal information such as credit card numbers, addresses etc online. Online retailers are usually the hit target. Their purpose to steal these credit card numbers is to conduct fraudulent transactions, hoping that they will go through. Please bear in mind that when this occurs, the retailers are not 100% at fault, it just simply means that the hackers have a way to get around the SSL. However this is not the end of the matter. If you feel that your credit card information has been compromised, simply call the credit card issuer and ask them to cancel your credit card so that no one unauthorized can use it.
Most credit card companies these days offer a separate credit card numbers just for online purchases. These numbers are randomly selected, meaning they are always changing. Your original credit card number that is printed on the card you have, will only be used when you are present at the time of the sale (face to face).
Why do a diamond appraisal?
Diamond appraisal is simply a piece of paper that will ascertain a diamond's certain criterias. This is only an expert opinion of the appraiser. It does not guarantee the diamond's values or whatsoever, this appraisar will help you insure your jewelries and when you decide to resell the diamond, you can show this appraisal to the potential buyers.
Are there a certified diamond appraisal?
Diamond's appraisal is simply an opinion of the appraisal that is described on the diamond's appraisal certificate. There is no such thing as a "certified" diamond appraisal in a sense that this appraisal does not come from Diamond Laboratories such as GIA or AGSL but from a local independent appraisal companies whose primary purpose is to "appraise" diamonds based on their values, characteristics etc.
Should I appraise my diamond locally?
If your diamond has a certificate from GIA, EGL or AGSL, an independent appraisal is not necessary. However it is better as these independent diamond appraisal are less biased when doing your diamond's appraisal. They may give you a more fair and accurate opinion of your diamond. This appraisal along with your Diamond's certificate will substantiate your diamond more especially if you are trying to resell your diamond in the future. This document will also help you recover your diamond if anything ever happens to it, you can use this document to present to your insurance company and they can use this document when trying to determine the replacement value of your diamond.
Is one appraiser better than other?
The answer is no. All diamond appraisal are not better than the other.
There is a difference though between an independent diamond appraisal and one local jeweller's own appraisers. Appraisers from a specific jewelry store are more biased to give a better and higher appraisal of the diamond just so that they can maybe bump up the price or sell it faster.
An independent appraisal however, is less biased when it comes to appraising your diamond.
They do not work for a specific local jewelers so they do not have to listen to no one when trying to do the appraisal.
In fact I think they are more fair and can give you a more accurate appraisal.
Independent Diamond Appraisers
Indepent Diamond Appraisers are those that can give your diamond a proper appraisals based on the characteristics of the diamonds. This appraisals in turn will help you in getting a proper insurance value for your diamond. Insurance for your diamond can be very important as it will cover any loss just in case something happens to it.
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