Sandler's Diamonds & Time

"This store is lovely but I will not be patronizing it in the future! I had seen their website and knew that they sold vintage jewelry and I also knew that I had pieces that were much nicer than some of the pieces that they were selling for thousands. I took a small sample of 12 items in to possibly sell including 2 diamond rings, 2 strands of akoya pearls (one strand still has a Mikimoto hang tag attached) and 3 pairs of diamond earrings ( one pair has natural light pink diamond solitaires). I also had a documented Tiffany and Co. gold and silver necklace with me. After looking at the necklace with his loop, the elderly gentleman who works there said that it was not a T&CO! He claimed that the logo only said silver. Not true! There is a very distinct Tiffany & Co. logo engraved on the small sterling charm on the back! I knew then that I was not dealing with a very knowledgeable person. My personal receipts for the 12 items total over $10,000. and I have seen similar pieces for much more at various locations. The elderly gentleman there is very rude and has zero customer service skills. I was not in a hurry to sell, just curious and he basically tried to diminish the value of every piece to nothing and ultimately tried to offer me $400. for the whole group! I mentioned to him that I had received a couple of healthy offers online on a couple of pieces and he proceeded to chastise me saying that online offers are scams. Well, he only wanted to offer me $400. for the whole group which means each piece is only worth about $33. according to his calculations so I would not be risking much if I sold online (LOL). I certainly wish that I could find a diamond ring with a half carat center solitaire and .60 additional points in accent diamonds set in platinum for $33.00 which is the description of one of the diamond rings that I took in (LOL)! I politely gathered all of my boxes and left. I certainly will not be taking my more substantial pieces there. I sat across the street from the store at an outdoor restaurant area for at least an hour and did not see another soul walk in their door? Not surprised! (Update - 9/5/23 I was fortunate to sell one of the diamond rings and a pair of the diamond earrings to a jewelry store in Charleston for $2,250 and the owner there did verify that my Tiffany & Co. necklace is indeed a T&CO) **(Second Update - 12/9/23 I just picked up my beautiful pair of diamond dangle earrings that have the .40 point natural light pink diamond solitaires on the bottoms from a different upscale jewelry store in Columbia where the appraiser there appraised them at over $3,000. and his report states “light brownish PINK diamond solitaires and it also states that the .35 point white diamond solitaires on the top of each earring are G-H in color!” I am so glad that I was not scammed out of them for $33.00 in September!)"

"Purchased a $7000 watch. No flex just trying to give an idea of how much money I spent with this jeweler. The watch runs fast. A $7000 watch should not run fast. Within six months of the original purchase they had to send it for warranty repair. It comes back four months later. Within two months it’s doing the same thing. I go back again and the owner of the store told me I had to wait for his assistant who is assisting another person with a new sale. He told me he could not help me. I asked him if he could help the new sale and his assistant help me and he told me no. After waiting 20 minutes, I left. So return business is nowhere near as important as new business to this jeweler. I will get this watch repaired, but I will never spend another dime with this jeweler. If they are ever the only jeweler in Columbia, I will drive to Charlotte or Charleston to avoid giving them another dime. I am giving two stars instead of one because I do like the watch very much. - Update 3/14/2023 Watch is back. Owner had the audacity to insinuate I had been spending time near high power magnets to cause the watch to run fast. Insane. Dropping rating to 1 star for his failing to get details from the manufacturer somehow being my fault and assuming bizarre scenarios for poor performance of a high expense watch. Will see if the repair actually takes this time. It only took a month instead of 4 this time. - Update 5/18/2023 The watch is now running slow. In 8 days it loses a minute. $7k watches should not do this. $7k watches that have been repaired 2 times in less than 2 years definitely shouldn't. No time spent near a magnetron. Going straight to Breitling to avoid dealing with this jeweler. - Update 5/19/23 Breitling has told me they can’t provide a replacement but one is warranted. They said my dealer, this jeweler, has to do it. I have informed them. We will see if they do the right thing."

"I have a Longines Flagship Chronograph and took it in due to the clasp breaking. Mr. Sandler replaced the stainless steel band with a leather one. I was unable to obtain a replacement clasp until I called Longines direct and they have them. So I order the clasp and it arrived earlier than expected. Exact replacement. Took the clasp and watch to Sandler's and Victor changed it out in record time. I had been looking at a Longines Hydroconquest in stainless steel and gold. Black face with gold bezel and coin edge design. Perfect color combination for my App State clothing and an automatic, which I prefer. I was told it may take 3-5 business days or several weeks due to COVID. I was called yesterday morning and was told my watch had arrived. The Flagship came off and we ascertained that three links had to be removed from the Hydroconquest to fit my wrist. Victor was gone less than five minutes and returned with a perfect fit. On caveat, after all the plastic was removed and he completed the fitting the watch was given to me without being set. Bottom line, if you sell watches and a customer buys a $1,000+ watch please set the time before delivery. It makes for the "total experience" and is a final presentation aspect that should be performed. Overall I am very pleased with my purchase and Victor, Eva, Kayla and BJ treated me with respect and as a valued customer. As a Local Google Guide, the other reviews, some not that friendly, are not an opportunity to degrade a customer but to learn that every customer should have your undivided, professional respect and treatment. As a small business owner, and the heir to many family business interest, the old adage that "The customer is always right" is not always correct but should be looked at as an opportunity to get through the obstacles and obtain positive "word of mouth" advertising. That is the kind you can't buy, you earn it. In my case they have."

"Best jewelry buying experience ever! I purchased rings for both my wife and I at Sandler's Fine Jewelry back in 2013. Eva made the process so enjoyable; I will never buy fine jewelry from anywhere or anyone other than Sandler's and Eva! The most knowledgeable person in the jewelry business. She's definitely not in it for the money, she's in it to create forever memories for her customers. If you are looking for average jewelry, Sandler's is NOT the place. However, if you are looking for that piece that you'll love forever; go to Sandler's and ask for Eva!"

"I went to Sandler's and was so happy with everyone there! I prefer the feel of family owned stores. There were no pushy sales people and they had so many engagement rings for us to look at! The owners and their son were very honest, which was great for us. They walked my husband and I through our purchase and made sure we were well educated about the diamond we were buying as well as the ring which looks so pretty on my finger. They gave us a FREE warranty and I would recommend this jewelry store to anyone who is serious about making sure they are receiving a ring and diamond of excellent quality at a fair price. Now I know why so many of my friends were as happy as my husband and I were when we purchased the ring."