Violette Boutique — Local services in Victoria

On the Saturday of the February long weekend, I went to Violette to return jewelry that I bought the week before, but didn’t fit for an exchange. They were closed early due to the weather. I knew the owner so I contacted her to ask if I could come in to exchange on Sunday or Monday. She told me they will not reopen until Tuesday. Their hours are 11-5 and those are the hours when I work—all weekdays, like most people do. I explained this to her that I won’t be able to go in on weekdays because the store is only open during my work hours. I offered to pay for the item over the phone so that I could have that item set aside for me and then I will just have to bring back the other to return, but she didn’t agree to that either. Even though they decided to close for three consecutive days on the long weekend—unexpectedly— which was not announced on their website nor Google search, I was basically told that they won’t even make a small exception to accommodate my exchange due to their own closure. This shop had been my favorite in Victoria AND I was a regular customer for well over a decade. Over those years I didn’t have to do a return—and especially a return when the owners had decided to close shops early for their own reason. Despite this, Erin told me (not in so many words) that it sucks to be me and they won’t make any exception to their policy! Up until recently, I myself was working in retail, including being a manager in local small business retail, and I would have dealt very different for this situation myself, especially when it was not the fault of the customer who came into the store during business hours, but the store was closed that day plus the next 2 days when the customer can rightly have the exchange done!

I shall not shop at this boutique again, even when I always prefer to support local small businesses because of the usually more personable and customer-friendly services.

As a follow up on the reply of the owner: Erin NEVER offered to extend the exchange period when she communicated with me. She was adamant that the item must be returned for a change within the 14 days period. She simply told me to contact the store on Tuesday to sort things out as she was unwilling to help me...

I purchased the 10k Slim Stacking Ring from the Violette Studio line in November 2021. I absolutely loved this ring and ended up getting engaged right after I purchased it so it holds so much sentimental value. For me, spending almost $200.00 on one small piece of jewelry is a lot of money so I ensure that I follow the proper wear and care instructions. I don’t sleep with my jewelry on, wear it while I’m doing skin care, or while I’m in the shower. I was incredibly disappointed to recently discover that my ring had completely snapped. I immediately emailed Violette to see if there happened to be any sort of warranty or repair process. I wanted to get the ring repaired since it held so much personal value to me. I was shocked by the response that I received. Violette stated that my ring snapped “simply due to wear and tear”. I was never asked to send a photo of the ring or come show them the ring in person. I was also surprised that the company jumped to this conclusion after I’ve had the ring for less than a year which makes me question the quality of the Violette Studio line. Unfortunately Violette only offers complimentary repairs or replacements within 3 months of purchase. I was offered a 25% off discount on a thicker version of the ring I purchased which I appreciated. I won’t be pursuing the discount as I now question the quality of their jewelry line and had an unpleasant customer service experience. I own a few high-end jewelry pieces from other local jewellers in Victoria and have had way better experiences. My jewelry from Paul Mara that is similar to what I’ve purchased from Violette seems much better quality and their costumer service is night and day to what I’ve experienced at Violette. I will definitely be going elsewhere to repair or replace my ring. Violette will no longer be receiving...

I purchased a Slim ‘twist’ Ring from the Violette on October 2022. It was a piece from their studio line. I was so in love with this piece and valued it deeply, as it marked a special occasion. I also was told when I purchased it that I could consider it an investment piece, as it was solid gold and more expensive than some other options. Despite always following the proper care instructions (I took it off at night, never wore it in water, and always removed it for any type of activity), I was very disappointed to discover it had completely snapped in one spot on the band after only 5 months of gentle wear. I brought the ring into the shop, expecting to be treated with the excellent customer service I hope all small businesses show a customer who has invested in their product; unfortunately, this was not the case. The person who looked at the ring said it had simply snapped due to wear, and hinted that I must have worn it during rigorous activity. To complete this unpleasant interaction, the only advice I was given was to take it to a local jeweller who may be able to fix it (for a generous charge $). So sad and disappointed, as I chose to spend my hard earned money with this local business and was met with such a lack of care. After this poor experience, I will be reconsidering giving Violette any more of my business. in writing this review, I noticed another customer had a very similar experience.. sad to see this may...