Beware Of Roger's & Starr's Jewelers

[cowboysbride]

Well yesterday my DH got a letter from Roger's/Starr's Jewelers and when he opened it this morning we found out it was a letter to "special" customers for a two day pre-sale due to them liquidating their entire inventory due to BANKRUPTCY! Seems that the parent company is closing 8 stores in KY, IL, MO, and IN....which is pretty much ALL OF THEM since they only have 14

Well that poses a problem being that my engagement ring came from them (Roger's) and they hold the Lifetime Diamond Guarantee and the Peace of Mind Gold Warranty!

There are no other stores in our area, I checked and I called the Corp office this morning and the young lady that answered the phone obviously had already received several calls like mine because at 845 AM she was already in a bad mood and told me that she would have "Marsha" call me back but it wouldn't be until late this afternoon.

I am hoping that the warranty is held with an outside company or they will refund the money for a service they can no longer provide if this isn't true and we can purchase warranty's somewhere else.

I haven't had a very pleasant experience with this paticular store to begin with which is why after he bought the solitaire and started having problems with the women at the store we went to Kay's to purchase his band and my wrap. I know that if I go in there the same crotchety old hags will be in there and since it looks like they're losing their jobs they won't be very helpful....UGH!

But I just wanted to PREWARN any of you girls who have Roger's or Starr's rings...but on the flip side they are marking WEDDING SETS up to 70% off!!!!!!!!!

[Kacie_bride]

Oohh. I hope you can figure out what you are going to do about your warrenty. I'm sure it'll work out. Good luck!

[AngelinLove]

Good luck Ellen, I hope that you can get this all sorted out sooner than later!!!

[SerendipityCrafts]

If it was me, I would call the better business bureau to see what your rights are. I would think that you should be able to file a claim to get the money you paid for lifetime service but ask to be sure.

[cowboysbride]

THIS SUCKS!

The lady from Ellenstein (parent co of Roger's and Starr's) just called me back and TOLD me that unless I wanted to drive to Owensboro (2 hr drive) every 6 mo's to have the ring serviced at that Roger's store there wasn't anything she could do for me (her words). I asked her how long it would be before that store closed and she curtly told me that she "wasn't psychic" and that if she was she could have foreseen 9/11 and foreseen her stores going bankrupt.

I asked for a refund on the warranties we paid for and she informed me that she was in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and couldn't do that.

She ended hanging up on me because when I asked her what I was supposed to do she told me my only option was to "drive to Owensboro every 6 months". And I laughed and told her well since your options and my needs don't coincide I guess I'm just out of luck and you have (or you did have) our money and we have nothing to show for it now...

So basically he paid for a f*cking warranty that isn't any good on a ring that no one else can service and I'm going to have to give up the ring that my DH gave me on the most special day of my life in order to prevent a financial loss in case something happens to the ring!

I called Kay's and they said I could trade up (that if I brought the receipt they would give me the purchase price) but I don't want to give up the ring that he proposed to me with! They were very nice and for about 100.00 more I can have a 1/2 carat with the warranties and have both my rings at the same store and the manager said if this was something that I was interested in she would have them welded together for me (which is one thing that I did want) at no cost. I know they will make money on the deal but what else do I do? I'm afraid that if I keep the one I have and something happens I will be without a diamond or any way to get it fixed without replacement costs.............

What a **** fine way to start the day, this is so pissing me off...SORRY GIRLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


OH WAIT THE DAY JUST GOT BETTER...........the computer store just called my motherboard is dead and the processor is FRIED....he says I would be better off replacing the laptop becasue the cost of fixing it is going to be over 400.00!:irked:

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! OH SOMEONE PLEASE REMIND ME WHY I SHOULD BE HAPPY AND NOT KILL SOMEONE TODAY!:snide:

[Kacie_bride]

I think you should talk to DH about what he thinks you should do about the ring. I wouldn't want to give my ring up either, but maybe it is the best thing. Talk to him and see what he thinks.

[cowboysbride]

I called the Better Business Bureau and they told me to call the Consumer Protection Agency in Frankfort which is part of the State's attorney general's office they are going to be calling me back...

I just want the money we paid for the warranties back and then I can deal with trading my ring (gulp). I mean what matters most is that I have Eric and he loves me and whatever is on my left hand is a symbol of his love....THANK GOD it's not the wrap, it was the ring used in the ceremony and I don't know how I would handle that!

[cowboysbride]

If it was me, I would call the better business bureau to see what your rights are. I would think that you should be able to file a claim to get the money you paid for lifetime service but ask to be sure.

Thanks Elizabeth...I have done just that!

[SerendipityCrafts]

there wasn't anything she could do for me (her words). I asked her how long it would be before that store closed and she curtly told me that she "wasn't psychic" and that if she was she could have foreseen 9/11 and foreseen her stores going bankrupt. What a biatch!

My job is super stressful too. Some days I am dealing with my own issues, preparing complicated paperwork for cross border shiping, juggling frustrated customers, angry salesmen, angry distributors and a demanding work load but I would NEVER EVER talk to anyone like that! Me? I would call and ask to talk to her superior. If I couldn't get someone I would write a letter. With personnel like her it's no wonder the place is going belly up!

[cowboysbride]

What a biatch!

My job is super stressful too. Some days I am dealing with my own issues, preparing complicated paperwork for cross border shiping, juggling frustrated customers, angry salesmen, angry distributors and a demanding work load but I would NEVER EVER talk to anyone like that! Me? I would call and ask to talk to her superior. If I couldn't get someone I would write a letter. With personnel like her it's no wonder the place is going belly up!

Unfortutanetly that BIATCH is the supervisor...she is one of the owners of Ellenstein....when I calm down I am going to call her back and give her a piece of my mind (equal to the amount we paid for the warranty). It won't accomplish anything but I will get our money's worth in one form or another and you know me....I can ruin her day in about a 3 minute phone call and I'm in just the mood to do it.

[SerendipityCrafts]

Unfortutanetly that BIATCH is the supervisor...she is one of the owners of Ellenstein....when I calm down I am going to call her back and give her a piece of my mind (equal to the amount we paid for the warranty). It won't accomplish anything but I will get our money's worth in one form or another and you know me....I can ruin her day in about a 3 minute phone call and I'm in just the mood to do it.

You go girl! BTW - please don't ever phone me at work to ruin my day LOL I am afraid of you now.

Hmmmmmmmm do you have the right to return the ring(s) and then buy them again at 70% off?

[countrygirl]

Hey Ellen, sorry to hear about all of that. What a total bummer.

If you need me, let me know girl. I got your back!!!No one messes w onewed girls!!!
:chair: :chair: :chair:

[cowboysbride]

Well I appreciate it but she is the top of the line...Marsha Ellenstein, owner of Ellenstein.

I'm going to lunch with Eric today and we will discuss what to do, about trading the ring in on something from Kay's in order to keep my rings warrantied.

Unfortunatley it seems that under Chapter 11 Laws she is covered from any claims of this type.

So I am going to try and calm down and chalk it up to one of life's lessons...maybe it's a good thing...hell I may end up with a whopper of a ring if DH gets mad over the whole situation and decides that we should trade it in at Kay's....

I won't call her either because she could sue me for harrassment and although I would like to stomp a mudhole in her @SS and walk it dry that wouldn't do me any good either (**** I hate being a grown up sometimes)!

[countrygirl]

Well, like you said El, the band that Eric gave you at the ceremony is what really counts, and the fact that he loves you NO MATTER what is the greatest thing of all.

PS, If you do get a rock out of it, you better post a pic!

[ladymelissa]

I don't have any more ideas as Chap 11 is pretty comprehensive and they are in more debt and troubles than you. Hopefully you can take comfort in that. I hope you are able to find a solution that suits you. :hug:

[cowboysbride]

I don't have any more ideas as Chap 11 is pretty comprehensive and they are in more debt and troubles than you. Hopefully you can take comfort in that. I hope you are able to find a solution that suits you. :hug:

Thanks Melissa, that actually made me stop and remember that Eric and I are very fortunate not to have financial troubles....he'll be here in about 15 minutes for lunch so I'm sure that my DH will just tell me to trade up at Kay's and have the whole set at one store and be done with it...

I just am a stickler for customer service and know that in my position I don't get away with treating viewers like that and the fact that she did really irked me!

:flower: You are a dear!

[ladymelissa]

What she said was so wrong, but it has to be tough to lose your business and they must owe a lot people a lot of money to have to file for bankrupcy. She probably shouldn't have taken any calls, but then customers would be upset about that, too. It's a no win situation.

I just thought of this: If you really want to keep your ring, could you insure it yourself?

[countrygirl]

What she said was so wrong, but it has to be tough to lose your business and they must owe a lot people a lot of money to have to file for bankrupcy. She probably shouldn't have taken any calls, but then customers would be upset about that, too. It's a no win situation.

I just thought of this: If you really want to keep your ring, could you insure it yourself?

That's what I was thinking?

[cowboysbride]

What she said was so wrong, but it has to be tough to lose your business and they must owe a lot people a lot of money to have to file for bankrupcy. She probably shouldn't have taken any calls, but then customers would be upset about that, too. It's a no win situation.

I just thought of this: If you really want to keep your ring, could you insure it yourself?

Well I did my research and she isn't losing her entire business...she over extended herself and now doesn't want the responsibility of the extra stores she added in 2004. 9/11 was 2001 so 3 years later (when the rest of the world is feeling the strain) she adds 6 more stores. She told me it was because of 9/11 that she is filing but actually it's because the jewelry business is seasonal and she has chosen bad markets for her stores she can't keep the stores out of the red accounting ink...she is filing Chapt 11 in order to get out from under the strain of the added stores 2 yrs ago and keep her initial stores intact...her company was her great, great grandfathers and she is based in Evansville, Indiana. Looks like she made some bad decisions and now doesn't want to weather the storm... 2yrs is harldy long enough to turn a profit on an expediture like that...something else is going on. But I do understand what you are saying and normally I would be very compassionate about it but after the way she talked to me and the blatant disregard for what her company supposedly stands for I have no compassion whatsover.

Eric and I took the rings to the store here (hoping to at least get them inspected and papers signed before the 10/14 6 mo deadline) and they refused! They said they aren't allowed to do that and we have to go to Owensboro for the inspection in order not to void the warranty.

[WebLady]

Well I don't have any other advice that others haven't already given. I'm sorry you are having to deal with all this though.

I would be pretty ticked at the lady's attitude also, but I'm glad you decided to be a 'grown up' ;)

The BBB is a good place to start complaining, you could also look into any professional organizations the company might be a part of and try to lodge a complaint there too.

Bankruptcy keeps you from litigation and monetary obligations, so you may not be able to get a refund or anything. But you can still do what you can to ruin their reputation. If they plan to stay in business at all then they should treat their customers better ... especially the owner!

Good luck!

[mariaandmanish]

Ellen, just a quick question, but do you have homeowners insurance? My DH and I have renter's insurance, and my e-ring, as well as both of our bands are insured through that. All we had to do for that was get an appraisal on the value, and then it was automatically covered under that insurance. That covers loss, theft, everything. Check it out through your insurance company if you have either renter's or insurance before you go through the heartache of trading it. Good luck!

[lize566]

Do you know if the store in Louisville is closing? That is where I really wanted to get my rings from, but if they are having this much difficulty I am not sure. We were just in there like 2 weeks ago looking at rings and they never said anything, not that they necessarily would but still. I really hope the one in Louisville is staying open! Plus, is Louisville closer to you then ownesboro (I am trying to think and it is probably about the same distance isn't it? that really stinks!)

[asm198]

Ellen, just a quick question, but do you have homeowners insurance? My DH and I have renter's insurance, and my e-ring, as well as both of our bands are insured through that. All we had to do for that was get an appraisal on the value, and then it was automatically covered under that insurance. That covers loss, theft, everything. Check it out through your insurance company if you have either renter's or insurance before you go through the heartache of trading it. Good luck!

That was what I was going to suggest. My ring isn't under any kind of warranty (it's an antique), but we have it insured with a rider on our homeowner's policy, which covers everything that might happen to it. When I need it professionally cleaned or serviced, I go to a jeweler in town that we are familiar with.

[septemberbride06]

If it was me, I would call the better business bureau to see what your rights are. I would think that you should be able to file a claim to get the money you paid for lifetime service but ask to be sure.

That sounds like a good idea!!