Headlines

“Problem” Jeweler Coughs Up Cash to Disgruntled Customers Every Time Local TV Station Visits

Published

8 years ago

May 4, 2016

INSTORE Staff

Investigative reporters have dropped by four times since 1999.

For the fourth time since 1999, a local TV station in New York paid a visit to Lee Rosenbloom, a jeweler-consignor with a reported track record of “problems spanning nearly two decades and the consumers frustration so similar” – but who ultimately relented to the media scrutiny each time by paying cash to unhappy customers.

The article says the latest visit from WABC-TV news reporters, after earlier visits in 1999, 2001 and 2004, came last week after customer Aviva Ben alleged that, two years ago, she had given a gold watch and a diamond and pearl necklace on consignment to Rosenbloom. At the time, according to Ben, Rosenbloom had promised to pay her $20,000 or return both items. However, Ben claimed that, as time passed, the jeweler neither paid her nor returned her jewelry, repeatedly telling her to come back in a week. In Ben’s interview with WABC-TV, she said that Rosenbloom finally told her at one planned meeting that he had been robbed the day before and her jewelry had been lost in the theft.

After reporter Nina Pineda showed up to investigate the case for the WABC-TV news show’s “7 On Your Side” consumer-advocacy segment, Rosenbloom offered to pay Ben $8,000 – still shy of the $20,000 the customer says she is owed. According to Pineda’s report, Rosenbloom later lowered his offer to $6,000, blaming the customer for being unreasonable. The article says that Ben is now suing Rosenbloom.

The big takeaway for viewers, according to Pineda? “You have to have your jewelry appraised by an independent appraiser before you take it anywhere.” She also suggested customers save their receipts, and get the terms of the consignment in writing.

You Wouldn’t Cut Your Own Hair. Why Run Your Own Retirement Sale?

After being in business for over a quarter of a century, Wayne Reid, owner of Wayne Jewelers in Wayne, Pennsylvania, decided it was time for a little “me time.” He says, “I’ve reached a point in my life where it’s time to slow down, enjoy a lot of things outside of the jewelry industry. It just seemed to be the right time.” He chose Wilkerson to handle his retirement sale because of their reputation and results. With financial goals exceeded, Reid says he made the right choice selecting Wilkerson to handle the sale. “They made every effort to push our jewelry to the forefront of the showcases,” he says, lauding Wilkerson for their finesse and expertise. Would he recommend them to other jewelers who want to make room for new merchandise, expand their business or like him, decide to call it a day? Absolutely he says, equating trying to do this kind of sale with cutting your own hair. “The results are going to happen but not as well as if you have a professional like Wilkerson do the job for you.”