[Jewelry making - Article 00548] - Re: [Orchid] Who pays for the broken opals?

[Neilthejeweler]

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    Several threads now have dealt in some way with the swallowing of
    disasters. Its part of the game but I thought it might be useful to
    set out some examples. If the ethics involved aren't enough perhaps
    the consequences might illustrate to emeging jewelers the importance
    of CYA. 

    There was a time I would want to convey the image of self
    assueredness and complete competence. But after awhile I decided this
    is a business and not an ego venture. 

    So I'll go first, and on some of these I am STILL embarassed. 

    Sent out a customer's Old European Diamond to be recut to brilliant.
    Diamond was inherently stressed and broke several times in the
    process. Not the cutter's liabilty by trade practice which I did not
    know. Eat it. 

    I quenched, yes QUENCHED a large sapphire. Momentary lapse of
    reason. on a busy stressful day. Eat it. My self esteem continues to
    eat this one, and its been 13 years. 

    After a house fire, customer brings literally a truckload of silver
    holloware/flatware for refurbishing. I made a detailed reciept,
    approximately a hundred items. Before any work done customer abrubtly
    picks up all pieces and won't wait for itemized cross checking with
    reciept. Then claims to police I stole several pieces. Police find no
    evidence of wrong doing. Customer later charged with insurance fraud
    Re: the house fire. Nearly ate it. Dot your I's and cross your T's. 

    I accepted a personal check from a known customer for purchase of a
    memoed diamond. $16K check bounces. Turns out he was a running a con
    to cover his gambling debts. Takes three months of sleepless nights
    to finally collect. Luckily diamond dealer was very patient and
    understanding. Lesson...get secured final payment on big sales and
    don't be Mr. Niceguy on check fraud. 

    I've learned the hard way to look at any prospective
    job/sale/proposal and ask myself "what can go wrong here?". I no
    longer act on faith or hope. You need to protect yourself from the
    ill intent of others and your own weakness or ignorance. 

    Hmmmm, that felt cathartic.
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