selling of jewelry on TV

Direct Shopping Network

1239 South Glendale Ave.

Glendale, CA 91205

I had lodged a previous complaint against DSN here. After many months I received an e-mail from Marc Garabedian of DSN, apologizing, and asking what they could do to make matters right. At the time, I was not interested, but thought maybe the firm had changed it's deceptive way of doing business.

So, on 4/26/2006, I watched DSN, after 8pm (MT). My husband had made the offer that I could spend $3000.00 for a ring of my choice. So, that evening a ring was presented by "the blond hostess" at DSN. It was a 4ct. Imperial Topaz, .85ct. of Diamonds, set in 18k white gold. The center stone shown in the ring was heavily pink. The hostess even commented on that fact by saying "this stone has a lot of pink in it". The ring was up for auction. I ended up having the high bid at $2,000.00. The ring had to be sized to a size 7. My credit card was charged for the total amount of $2,019.95 immediately, this included shipping. I was told that I should have the ring within 15 business days.

I finally received the ring on 5/30/2006. I eagerly opened the package. The setting was the same all right. But the center stone was not the one I bid on, on 4/26/2006. The center stone I received was a light yellow to light orange. No pink anywhere. Both my husband and I, after reviewing the tape, knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was not the same stone as was presented on 4/26/2006. And the ring was supposed to be one of a kind, one only. When it comes to Imperial Topaz, stones with pink in the amount as shown on 4/26/2006, are more valuable than the light yellow to light orange stones. We consider this to be a bait and switch action on the part of DSN.

I called DSN today and told them that I wanted to return the ring. The sales representative first told me that I could not do that because the sale was a final auction. When I told him that the stone was not the one shown on 4/26/2006, and that I buy rings for the stones, not so much for the settings, he said let me talk to a supervisor. When the rep came back to the phone he gave me 2 options, I could either send the ring back to DSN where they would try to match the stone with the one shown on 4/26/2006, or I could get a refund, but my account would be terminated.

Upon discussion with my husband, we decided to return the ring to DSN, and ask for refund. We can absolutely not trust DSN to ship merchandise as represented on tv. I have been burned twice now, that's enough. And I don't think that I should have to wait for months to finally get what I bid on. That is not acceptable.

I must concur with another complainant here, you cannot trust DSN and their representations.

I will file complaints with the FTC, with the AG of CA, and anyone else I can think of. I don't want any other customers to get similarly burnt. Too bad I did not see the complaint by the gentlemen who purchased 3 rings, none of which turned out to be what he had seen on tv, before I made my purchase. He also recorded the presentations. It is a shame that such dealings by a business, namely DSN, should continue. Something needs to be done.