Diamond Exchange USA — Attraction in North Bethesda

At first glance you wouldn’t know that I’m a doctor and I am also a person of color. I walked into the store looking to sell a gold ring with diamonds around it. When I pushed the buzzer to be let in and I walked down the aisle to greet the people who worked there I was looked at “oddly” is the best way to describe it and the customer service reps looked around at each other I guess deciding who was going to help me.

There was another customer there who was also making a transaction, assuming it was an appraisal but was seated behind the counter while they looked at his item (basically assisting him with his transaction) while I was left to sit in the aisle as if I was purchasing. Yet there was space to do the same for me while reviewing my item but that was not offered.

I’m not accusing anyone of being biased and I don’t like to jump to that conclusion, but I did generally feel unwelcomed or that my business was not wanted. Possibly even how I was dressed I could have been perceived as a person without means. It’s Saturday so I had on jeans and a hoodie (casual wear). Granted I was the only other person who looked like me in the store at the time.

I believe they gave me a fair price for my item being that it could not be resized which would make it difficult for them to sell. I totally understood that. No problem there. My issue is how I was treated compared to the other customer in the store at the time. My visit was not very long it was very much a “here ya go, try somewhere else” kinda deal. If I visit this place again, I hope to be treated like a welcomed and valued customer.

EDIT: In response to the owner; thank you for taking the time to reply. There are more than a few of the details that we recall differently. We will have to agree to disagree. I'm very well aware of what I experienced and how I was treated. Based on a few of your other reviews I am not the only person to have formed this opinion. Take care and please remain aware of how your staff is handling customers, regardless...

I found this place on google and the stars seemed like an appropriate place to do repairs on my gold jewelry. I called ahead of time to see if there was an appointment needed and was told no by a young gentleman. Assuming it was a good place to go, once I got to the store, I was barely greeted. I presented my jewelry to an old man, which needed repair but right off the bat he showed clear signs that he needs to put in retirement. Once asked if he could customize a name plate you could tell he was out of his comfort zone which is crazy at a jewelry store and his place of employment. So then we took the idea off the table and I proceeded to present him two other pieces in need of repair. He was creating me a receipt/ticket and when asked if he could weigh my items in front of me (which anyone who deals with gold knows its a must) he immediately—after pulling my jewelry off the scale—and I quote stated “I dont want to do it” and wanted to “Nip future problems in the bud”. I was so caught off guard I didn't have time to process he was refusing service, and continued on asking “Which piece?” To which his response was “All of it”. So I gathered my jewelry and left. Now I no longer had intentions of seeing them again after stepping off the premises, an employee proceeded to watch me from my car and decided to stay until I left the parking lot. I was nothing but polite. I was so astonished that I had to come back to check the reviews and to my surprise noticed a common pattern with the mistreatment that goes on with people of color. Majority of the 5 stars are clearly white people. Yet most 1 stars seem to have similar experiences as me, all of whom are people of color. If you're anything but white dont expect the 5 star experience thats obviously accommodated to whites. And I say this as a hispanic 26 year old graduate. Im in the medical field and although I have many tattoos that doesn't give him a right to profile me and lower his hospitality. I would give 0 stars if I could, but unfortunately google...

I have to say I don't know if I should have felt entertained or annoyed after my visit to this gentleman's business. Diamond Exchange was recommended twice around town to me. I purchased some jewelry off of a government auction with a desire to turn my investments into a profit. I brought in a $13,000.00 item that was appraised by AIG. I wanted to find out how much he would offer for the piece. After getting offers between 9K and 5K elsewhere, which I thought was low balling me, I saved my trip to his establishment for last. He barely looked at the item and told his son to tell me $500 bucks. He said he could easily make the same item for $1200. Listen, I didn't take it personal because I understood what I might hear when I set out that morning to get offers. Some folks would take their shot. It's business, but all I could see after he said $500.00 was big pink hair, with red lipstick and a shiny red nose on his face. I started to laugh but didn't. I just said thank you, and have a great holiday. Oh, and all of the people who recommended him, told me later (in jest) if I was going to take $500.00 for my item from him, they'd give me that right on the spot. Of course they were joking. This guy is not professional. He thinks he is. The location of his place is excellent (for him) but he might as well be Jimmy Bobo on a corner selling out his mother's trunk with that silly approach. Good luck with this place. Beware.

Edit: While the owner replied, with a few made up details, like "he told me he wasn't interested", and I "just had to get his thoughts", I will suggest reading the other reviews. It seems they make great alternative recommendations to the competition. Maybe you will get a better...