Rio Grande Jewelry Supply — Local services in Albuquerque

As a Rio wholesale customer, I like many other customers I chose to purchase findings from Rio primarily because I needed not only a source for my gold and silver wire and findings, but also a source for my metal scrap return. Offering this scrap return service, not just to large volume spenders, but to regular mom and pop small business wholesale customers like me, was the main enticement for Rio to get my business over other online finding vendors. As of now as I am writing this, the Rio website still lists scrap returns as a benefit for Rio Wholesale members! However, when I sent in my last scrap return and it was processed without even notifying me as usual via email that it had been processed. I contacted them because I wanted to send more scrap but was not able to find the scrap return form that was on the website less than a week before when I used it to send in my gold and silver scrap, much of which was leftover pieces from making jewelry out of Rio gold and silver wire and findings! Then in response to my customer question I submitted on the website I received an email informing me that the scrap form was removed because scrap return was now being limited to Rio pro customers only. Ok well…without notice in the middle of the business year, they unilaterally withdrew the very and still advertised benefit that enticed me to choose their company over many others to buy my findings. I believe that is very likely a violation of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act and could be subject to serious financial penalties….maybe even a potential class action suit if enough customers relied on this service then were denied it! It appears Berkshire Hathaway is taking small business purchasers, individuals like me for granted! Follow up: An in house attorney with Rio Grande called me yesterday to clarify that the scrap return had never been ended for wholesale customers while in the same conversation stating that her estimate was that the service to wholesale customers would terminate sometime in July. She basically accused me of making it up that I had been told by customer service that the scrap return was no longer available to me, demanding that I send her a copy of the email I’d received. She then said, if there is any such email, it was inaccurate because Rio has not ended scrap return service for wholesale customers! So I forwarded her the email customer service sent in response to my asking how to access the scrap return form! I guess somehow this in house Berkshire Hathaway attorney thought it was good PR to basically in effect accuse a long standing Rio Grande customer, (who also happens to be an attorney!) of lying about receiving an email from their Customer Service stating Rio scrap return service was no longer available to wholesale customers! All she had to do was get a copy from their own customer service department rather than alienate me further, but instead she chose to demand a copy from me as though I was making this up! Ok…I was disgusted before her call! Now I’m beyond disgusted! Not only did they deny me an advertised service, they sent their in house bully attorney to intimidate me. It did not work. Shame on you Berkshire Hathaway. I know you are rich and powerful but you don’t get...

WARNING: I've been buying from Rio Grande for over 10 years. They are not the cheapest supplier around but they were convenient. I now think I will either go to Stullar or IJS. THE REASON BEING: I went to them a couple weeks ago looking for pink opal which is the color they do not supply. I got a hold of someone in the gem Department, his name is Chris Hoffman. He was fairly quick to reply on my request to see if they could Supply pink and or orange opal. He stated that they did not have a call for that color but he would see if he could find me pink which is for project I was working on. He did happen to find me some he told me it weighed approx 10 to 15 grams he wasn't sure, it was estimated per piece and he found 2 pieces but he just received the dimensions.. He charged me $65.00 for one piece. When I received the product it weighed 4.73G!!! So for $65 i received under 5 grams which is almost 3 times the rate for the simulated opal that they sell now. When it was 10 to 15 grams that $6.50 a gram at 10 grams and for special order I was willing to pay that, but instead I got under 5 grams and feel as I got the shaft. I also had to pay $8 shipping for a under 5 grams of product.

BE WARNED, THEY WILL SERIOUSLY OVER CHARGE YOU.

He was quick to respond to my request but not to my complaint. Now I can return the product but then by the time I find the pink opal I need for my product for breast cancer awareness this month it would be too late so they have me over a barrel.

So once I made my complaint MiKayla got back with me, and she offered me either a partial in store credit and or shipping return if I was not pleased. When I told her I would take the credit she only offered me shipping price which was $7.99.

Now they charged me $8 to mail me something that did not even weigh a full ounce. She only offered me the shipping charge back still keeping the $65 for 4.73 G of simulated opal, no more than that. I wanted at least $30 in credit.

Seeing that we would not come to an agreement I asked for a full refund and decided to take my business elsewhere...

I am now a customer with Stuller for everything instead of just a few things and I am awaiting my refund for the entire piece of opal.

My project is no longer relevant since breast cancer awareness month is over Wednesday. I guess I will be prepared for next year. By the way I did find a Stateside opal dealer. He buys from Germany instead of Hong Kong and he only charges a $1.90 a gram You have to buy larger pieces but even the larger pieces are $65 to $80 and you get a lot...

20+ years I’ve been doing business with Rio Grande jewelry supply.

You’re not gonna find silver cheaper or better anywhere in the market.

Let’s just start there. Gemstones over the highest quality you’re getting exactly what you pay for and your customer is going to be pleased with the quality if you’d like cheaper things you can get less quality.

Problems !!!! if you think you’re gonna do business a not I have any problems.. i’m just straight crazy.. I want some of the problems can drive you crazy as well but that’s just the name of the business called being in business for yourself.

Real as always taking care of me through any of the issues that came up through purchasing equipment or materials or shipping or a credit card or God knows what else can go wrong in business.

If your neighbor taking your box off your porch but you know something the next day there’s another box on my porch I will just figure out what happened to that package.

30 day no questions asked shipping paid return policy

Ask the returns department they know me well I’ll buy things just to try them. If I like it I’ll keep it if I don’t return it.

Websites of Rio Grande‘s size and magnitude are an absolute disaster. That’s a corporation pays millions of dollars to keep them in high maintenance. Time to time the website has small issues with it more than likely you’re just trying to enter it at the same time that they’re trying to change prices or do something in it as well calling customer service always helps. I have a set of catalogs on hand. Like we used to before computers!!! I haven’t had a problem with the website in about three years. Sooo.. yeah

To my knowledge Rio Grande has no problems processing international charges now your credit card may not allow international charges to be charged that is a very common in the financial industry.

Technical support you have any issues or if you’d like to learn something just give him a call.

I self taught myself with the help of Rio Grande technical support.

Hey John how do I solder !!!! Yeap ask that question about 20 years ago!! Lol

I love Rio Grande they are family

And his only buddy knows families not always smooth but in the end you still love each other and take care of each other and that’s what Rio does takes care of...