Characteristics of a Good Jewelry Store

Jewelry pieces are a lifetime investment for many. It behooves you to find a trusted jeweler who will help you to ensure that you get the best value for your money. Today, you have the option of buying your jewelry items from a “brick and mortar” store or online. If you know exactly what you want to buy, including brand, carat weight, color, etc., then shopping online might be an option. But as is more typical, if you want to look at a lot of pieces until you find something appealing, nothing takes the place of the personal attention and advice you can receive from professional jewelers at a physical jewelry store. When searching for a reputable jeweler, here are some of the characteristics to seek.


Quality customer care

Reputable jewelry stores in and around Oceanside usually invest in providing their customers with unparalleled customer service, which in turn helps them establish brand loyalty. Their staff is highly trained in customer care etiquette and making sure that the customers feel secure when doing business.

To discover whether the jewelry store you want to purchase from offers excellent customer service, start by getting acquainted with one of their salespeople. If she is considerate, listens to your needs, and promptly replies to your emails with helpful information, those are good signs. Note that good jewelry stores don’t pressure you to buy from them, but let you take your time so you can make the right decision.


Broad array of jewelry

A good jewelry store will offer a wide variety of merchandise to shop. The more variety of jewelry on hand, the easier it will be to find the piece that best suits you or your loved ones. Walking into a jewelry store in Oceanside, or visiting their website, you can see right away whether they have a good selection of jewelry. Some stores, particularly chain stores, have the same selection of merchandise on hand and it doesn’t change much from month to month. Once you’ve seen what they have, that’s all there is. But an independent jewelry store typically changes their mix of merchandise more often, especially one like Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers that sells not only new jewelry but also vintage jewelry. Our selection changes daily so there’s always something new to see whenever you visit.


High-end jewelry items

Costume jewelry is fun for everyday wear, but for a significant gift or investment, avoid buying imitation products, especially if you are shopping online. You will know genuine jewelry from faux when purchasing from an actual jewelry store because the professional salesperson is there to give you the details. He or she will inform you about the quality of the gemstones and metals used to create the jewelry piece, its age if vintage, how durable it will be for wearing daily, tips on proper care to keep it looking new. A trustworthy jewelry shop will be ready to provide you with all of the relevant information that you need. 


Real people are there to help

A good number of online jewelry stores run round the clock. But when you try to make an inquiry on orders, deliveries, or returns, it can be difficult to get an answer, even at a listed phone number. Physical jewelry stores aren’t open 24 hours a day, but when they are open, you will find a real person available to help you resolve any concerns or issues without delay.


Excellent merchandise knowledge

First-time jewelry buyers may have trouble trying to make the right choices. A good jewelry store like Leo Hamel’s employs professionals that are extremely knowledgeable about jewelry and watches, and love to give you the benefit of their expertise. If you inquire about anything in a particular store and get a fast and helpful response, then that’s a good clue that you are in the right place.


Has a return policy

No matter how much effort we make to choose the right piece, for a gift, or for ourselves, sometimes we change our minds. Make sure that your jewelry store offers a return or exchange policy so that you aren’t stuck with something you don’t want.

Never settle for doing business at a mediocre jewelry store. If a particular one doesn't provide you with the help or the items you want, move on and look for a better one. And if you haven’t been to Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers, just down the I-5 from Oceanside, come see us! It’s worth the drive.