Peoples Jewellers ring repair leaves Abbotsford woman fuming
Dara-Lynn Gatin of Abbotsford was outraged over her experience with Peoples Jewellers and wants to share her story about what happened to a family heirloom that she had taken to a store in Abbotsford to be repaired.
“I trusted them enough to leave a $35,000 ring with them,” Gatin said.
Now she wishes she had never taken it there. The ring needed resizing and some work on the prongs but she says it was an ordeal to get the job done and when she finally got her ring back she says it broke while she was wearing it.
“And I was like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me,'” she said.
On June 18, Peoples gave her an estimate of $967 and a completion date of three weeks for the job. However, after more than two months, the ring still hadn’t been returned and Gatin says she had to constantly call to find out what was going on. At one point she says Peoples couldn’t find it.
“It came to a point where I actually called the store and I said ‘I don’t care where my ring is, you need to get my ring back, and if it’s in pieces, bring it back, because I’m done with you,'” Gatin said.
She says it was only after she reached out to CTV Vancouver on social media that that she started getting action.
In an email to CTV News, Peoples wrote, “We have sincerely apologized for the delay. Our team has been in regular contact with the customer and we’re pleased that she will receive her ring today (August 29)."
When Gatin picked up her ring, Peoples waived the repair cost. However, four days later she says the band cracked while she was wearing the ring, and when she took it off, it broke into pieces.
Again, she says Peoples offered to fix it at no cost.
“‘Don’t worry we’ll pay for it and we’ll get it fixed,’ and I said, ‘Over my dead body. I am not bringing it back to you,'” Gatin said.
CTV asked Peoples for comment about the repair, the delays and what issues the company might be experiencing in its repair shop. The company declined to address those questions. After the ring broke we reached again for comment and received no response.
“I’m shocked to be quite honest with you. You’re really taking me aback. It’s not common in our industry," said Ashley Myerson, speaking on behalf of the Canadian Jewellers Association.
Myerson’s family has been in the jewelry business for generations, working in both manufacturing and repair, and she says the kind of work that was done to Gatin’s ring should have taken no more than a week to 10 days - barring unusual circumstances. CTV also surveyed three well known Vancouver jewellers who confirmed that.
As for the repair, an independent jeweller who examined Gatin’s broken ring told CTV News it was a crude job.
Myerson says mistakes can happen but when things go wrong a jeweller needs to address the issues.
“There’s always room for human error in any business but I do believe communication is key. You will keep your client happy as long as you communicate. I can’t really imagine how something like this got that far. If you’re a professional jeweller you’re doing it right the first time.”
Gatin says Peoples Jewellers has offered to pay to have the ring repaired wherever she chooses to take it.
B.C. jewellers warn public about fake gold scam – Abbotsford News
Dan, who owns Thomas Designer Jewellery in Chilliwack, shows an example of a fake gold ring that people are buying on the streets in an elaborate scam. (Paul Henderson/ The Progress)
The owners of Thomas Designer Jewellery in the Fraser Valley have disappointing news for a few customers these days.
That supposedly 18-karat gold ring bought after hearing a sob story from a couple desperate for gas money?
Worthless.
Dan and Nikki (who asked that their last names not be used) own the Chilliwack jewelry shop, and they’ve had five customers in the last week trying to sell them gold that isn’t gold at all.
“The stuff looks good,” Dan explains. “But if you check it out, the rings are worth maybe $10.”
One ring Dan showed to Black Press would have been worth about $545 at current gold prices if it was real, based on the metal alone. Retail, more like $1,200.
The fake gold is part of what appears to be an elaborate scam, and it isn’t new.
• READ MORE: Chilliwack businesses warn each other of ‘watch scam’
In at least one version of the scam, a hapless person is approached at a gas station or in a parking lot with a sob story from a couple with a van with Alberta licence plates.
In a story relayed to the jewellers, the couple said left Edmonton for a drive but went too far. They didn’t have any money for gas and they needed to get back to Alberta to catch a flight to Dubai.
That’s when they offer up the 18-karat gold rings, necklaces and bracelets for what would be a bargain price. And some people fall for it, whether it’s out of sympathy to help the seemingly desperate couple get some gas money, greed on behalf of the person thinking they’ll make some cash on a gold transaction, or a little of both.
“They are playing on people’s sympathy and their greed,” Dan says.
In the case of the couple, once the transaction is done they are very thankful.
“When the money is handed over, they fall over themselves thanking, the woman in tears, they are very professional,” Dan says.
“They’ve got it down,” Nikki adds.
Dan said a couple of men on motorcycles came to his shop and said they paid $300 for two rings, a chain and a bracelet from a couple in Merritt.
One other person was approached at a Chilliwack gas station, one at Pick-A-Part, another in the parking lot at Five Corners.
Since this story was first posted online, several Chilliwack residents reported being approached by the scammers, some fooled by them. Locations reported included: downtown, Yale Road Esso, Value Village, Superstore, in Yarrow, as well as in Abbotsford, Langley, Merritt, Kamloops, Chase, and as far away as Regina, Sask.
And it isn’t just the couple with the van, according to Dan and Nikki. One customer reported it was a single man, also with Alberta plates, in a red car.
It’s reached the point where Dan and Nikki have seen it so often they recognize the jewelry as fake before even giving a closer look. It starts with the fact that men’s rings are almost never 18-karat gold as it would be too soft. Then there is the fact that the rings have no manufacturer’s logo, just the “18K” stamp.
Then Dan pulls out a magnet, and to be sure his acid test. The fake rings are attracted to the magnet, instantly telling Dan and Nikki they are fake. The acid test confirms it.
“This was pretty rampant last year as well, but then it died off,” Dan says. “But now it’s back.”
They also wonder just how widespread it is, considering they’ve had five people come in to their little shop in Chilliwack in just over a week. How many people go to other stores or pawn shops or just keep the jewelry? And how many other towns is this happening in across B.C.?
Dan said he heard there were four instances at gas stations in Abbotsford a couple of weeks ago.
As for a description of the couple, Dan said they are told the couple have accents and are possibly Middle Eastern, or pretending to be. One customer said the man involved in the scam even gave him a business card saying he was a used car salesman from Montreal, with the name Ali Mohammed on it.
Dan and Nikki said they just wanted to warn people so others don’t get duped. And if you think you might have been scammed, Dan said he’ll test to see if it’s real gold at no cost.
“And if it sounds too good to be true, chance are it’s not.”
Chilliwack RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Mike Rail agreed.
Rail said people should not to be pressured into making these sorts of transactions on the street, particularly if its seems too good to be true.
“Don’t be afraid to say no, and if you suspect fraud, call police.”
• RELATED: CRA scam the email edition targeted the Mounties
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The 18K stamp seen through a loupe on the fake gold rings being sold in a scam. (Paul Henderson/ The Progress)
Life and style with Charlotte Erdeley – Abbotsford News
– Words by Lia Crowe Photographs by Darren Hull
Charlotte and her husband Travis are long established in Kelowna’s business community. Charlotte has 25 years of experience in real estate and the two mark the second generation running their custom-homebuilding business, Destination Custom Homes.
I chatted with Charlotte about life and style, and asked what she loves most about her work.
“The plans!” she said. “This is when it is all becoming real and clients are starting to get more excited as they see the home take form. We love this stage also as it gives us an opportunity to add valuable input to the client for function and the ever-important budget ramifications.”
Asked what quality Charlotte possesses that has led to her success, she said, “I have a forgive-and-forget mentality; life is too short and precious for baggage. And empathy, I try to always remind myself that we don’t know anyone else’s moment or story—assume the good.”
And the best life lesson she has recently learned?
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“My husband and I are an undeniable team. With him by my side we can accomplish whatever we work hard for.”
Outside of work they are passionate about family, travel and food.
“We are big foodies. I love to cook, dine out and order in. I am constantly craving mouthwatering things, from homemade comfort food to spicy Thai and seafood cioppino—and then all of it paired with wine.”
However, Charlotte added, their work is their everything: “We are passionate about it, we are good at it and we love it! Delivering people’s dream homes is an emotional journey, and we love the happy endings that we are a part of.”
Fashion & Beauty
All-time favourite piece: Cashmere cardigan.
Currently coveting: FRAME jeans.
Favourite pair of shoes: UGGs and flip-flops.
Favourite work tool: Calculator.
Favourite jewellery piece or designer: My wedding ring (Neil Lane).
Fashion obsession: Sweaters.
Accessory you spend the most money on: Shoes.
Necessary indulgence for either fashion or beauty: OLAPLEX products.
Moisturizer: Clinique Smart.
Scent: Chanel Chance.
Must-have hair product: OLAPLEX 3-4-5.
Beauty secret: Hair colour.
One thing that has been torture to live without during the COVID-19 pandemic: Travel.
Style Inspirations & Life
Favourite cocktail or wine: Really digging oaky Chardonnay right now.
Favourite flower: Alstroemeria (lily of the Incas).
Favourite city to visit: Vancouver. It’s nice and close to home and oh so beautiful. And then there’s the food.
Favourite app: Netflix.
Favourite place in the whole world: A white sand beach.
One thing that consistently lifts your spirits during these hard times: Great food and wine.
Story courtesy of Boulevard Magazine, a Black Press Media publication
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