Have you been considering purchasing a diamond ring or any other piece of jewellery online? With the rise of online shopping, it’s not uncommon to come across websites like Rare Carat offering diamond comparison and purchasing services.
But is it worth trusting these online marketplaces with such a big-ticket item?
When it comes to diamond shopping, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the vast selection and high price tags.
That’s why websites like Rare Carat have become increasingly popular among consumers. But with the convenience of online shopping comes the risk of scams and fake products. So, how can you be sure that Rare Carat is trustworthy?
In this article, we will dive into the world of Rare Carat and its legitimacy. We will explore customer reviews, company information, and industry reputation to give you a better understanding of whether Rare Carat is a legit diamond buying service or a potential scam.
What is Rare Carat?
Rare Carat is an online diamond search engine that compares diamonds from different retailers based on 3D imaging technology. In addition, it offers several features that help you make an informed decision when purchasing a diamond, including diamond education, price alerts, and a chatbot assistant.
Its Exclusive Business Model
As a pricing aggregator, Rare Carat first gathered data and diamond feeds from several online sellers and displayed them all in a gallery. The buyer might compare numerous retailers at once in this fashion.
In 2022, Rare Carat altered its business strategy and evolved into a marketplace that handled all aspects of the transaction, including payment processing, logistics, customer support, and delivery. Since those retailers changed into wholesalers and supplied diamonds to Rare Carat, you no longer purchase a diamond from a retailer.
With that adjustment, James Allen, Blue Nile, and Brilliant Earth joined a fierce competition that Rare Carat now faces. To compete with those well-known online retailers, they must offer a superior shopping experience.
Is Rare Carat a Marketplace?
Although Rare Carat claims to be a marketplace, are they? It needs to be clarified. Most online stores produce only one item they offer for sale. They permitted other vendors to sell goods inside the market.
Similar to eBay and Etsy, marketplaces make money by charging sellers a listing fee plus a percentage of sales. Another illustration is how Asos and Amazon develop their own brands while offering other brands.
In the instance of Rare Carat, they only market the Rare Carat brand. They try to hide it by utilising a marketing ploy that involves “purchasing directly from the wholesaler.” Their diamond vendors are the wholesalers, just like that.
Customer’s Buying Experience
The issue with purchasing a diamond online is that you must believe what you see. Blindly purchasing a diamond is a total gamble. Most websites need videos of outstanding quality with consistent imagery, which brings us to another issue.
The diamond is positioned differently in each image in the Rare Carat collection, and each one features a different setting for the white balance and lighting. You must know the diamond’s colour before evaluating several diamonds and choosing the best one as a consumer.
Customer Reviews
Rare Carat has received positive reviews from its users. Many customers praise the convenience and effectiveness of the site, stating that Rare Carat helped them find their perfect diamond and save money. However, some users have also reported experiences with lagging 3D imaging or needing help finding larger diamond sizes.
Shipping Policy
Shipping Policy
Free insured shipping is provided by UPS or FedEx at Rare Carat. You must sign this document personally. Remember that the time required for manufacture varies depending on the diamond you select.
Every diamond page includes an anticipated shipping date. This is due to the fact that each wholesaler must transport the diamond to Rare Carat so they may mount it on the engagement ring of your choice.
It may take 10 days to ship one ring and 20 days to ship another. The precise shipment period needs to be specified. This is, to put it mildly, a little hazy.
Return Policy
When it comes to their return policy, they were upfront and concise: You have a 30-day return policy, with free shipping and no restocking fee.
The Bottom Line
It is important to note that Rare Carat is not a seller or retailer of diamonds but rather a platform that connects you with trusted retailers. It is a reputable and legitimate diamond search engine that has been reviewed and endorsed by various media outlets and industry experts.
For example, Forbes and MarketWatch have reported on Rare Carat’s innovative technology and user-friendly interface.
Therefore, it’s still important to exercise caution when purchasing diamonds online and do your research and due diligence before making final decisions.