Thomas James & Bechtold Jewelry — Local services in Sioux Falls Township

My experience with this store has not been great when it comes to watches. They had moments of humility and compromise clouded by debilitating mistakes and oversights. The only reason there are 2 stars here is because I respect your watch repairman. I brought a watch, which I understood was a custom job and difficult to fix, to be fully restored and cleaned. I basically told them I was offering a blank check to do this job in full and properly. I ended up calling the store 3-4 times before they remembered to even tell the watch guy to come pick it up, to get my estimate, etc. This is not including the other time I came in looking for an estimate and they ghosted me until I asked them about it when I came back in for this repair. Anyways, they apologized for the obvious blunder and they offered a "discount" to fix it. I accepted against my better judgement and understood things can happen. However, not returning my calls, never telling me about an estimate in a timely matter, and other issues over the course of 3-4 attempts from me and a few months is not good customer service and is a big red flag. I had a gal from the store who tried to smooth things over and actually called me for a follow up one time after the repair had started, but she seems to no longer work there. I was told a few times I would receive some pictures or a description of what was being worked on which was appreciated, but I figured if it got fixed proper It was not important at the time, though I see now this was a mistake (more on that later). Every watch repair I have had in town has provided me with a statement of what was fixed or done. Anyways fast forward to pickup day. I was told ahead of time that there was a part that was not repaired and was not in the best condition. They said it was ok because it kept time for a good amount of time. Good on them for the honesty, but I wasn't called and offered a chance to review the fix or a new estimate. They just brought it back in and that was that. A little suspicious. It makes me feel like this was less of a funding issue and other factors are at play based on the facts. At this point I had quite enough of the games and the geriatrics so I collected my watch and left. I'll probably just have to take it to another store which I have had multiple watches fixed without a hitch, without bizarre notes or questionable practices. If I can't get a list of things made or repaired here then I'll have to have another repairman do the whole assessment from scratch to get it fixed proper as was originally asked from me when I brought in to this store. (EDIT: Later I was able to find out who repaired it and generally what was done) I won't speak for the jewelry side of the business, but I would not recommend anyone gets a watch fixed here. I get the feeling my watch was just not important enough to be cared about. My watches may not be Rolexes, but they are old antiques and they are important to me. It's the principal that is important here. I thank the repairman, but I have nothing to say to the store except I'm very disappointed and I would never I recommend this experience to anyone. There are simply better places and groups in town who have more love and...

I took my wedding ring and my husband's wedding ring in for an appraisal and to get the stones checked and fixed. I was promised 10 days and everything would be back. Well on day 14 I finally called and asked where my jewelry was. It's still was not at the store but I was assured it would be there by 1:00 in the afternoon. I showed up at the store and waited 45 minutes and finally left. I called a little after 2 the same day and the jewelry still was not there even though I was promised it would be there by one o'clock. The next day they said the jewelry was there and ready to be picked up and so I went down to pick up my items. Now mind you this is during very bad weather extremely cold weather and me having to drive from out of Sioux falls to get my Jewelry. After leaving the store I noticed that the appraisal for my ring was not completed and they had only appraised the diamond only. I have multitude's of small diamonds in the ring and even the gold was not appraised. I was told ring was worth 1430.00. Once again I called Paul up to explain to him that what I had paid for had not been done. I went again on my 3rd trip to the store ( and had to take my ring back and leave it for another 4 days before I could get it back. The new appraisal was almost $5000. This is a major difference when you're looking at insuring your jewelry. I had also asked for some other work to be done on this ring but no one ever called me to update me about it or to tell me it couldn't be done. This is by far the worst customer service I had ever had at a jewelry store. Bechtold jewelries used to be The place to go for quality service it is no longer that way. From Victor to Paul explanations were not given work was not completed the way I wanted it to be and it took me a month to get everything done. If you want good quality service don't go here. The same wonderful diamonds can be bought at the diamond store or anywhere. Paul did bend over backwards to try to help me but since he said "I'm not the boss anymore" nothing much could be done. Bechtold jewelries Has now sank to the depths of the Mini mall jewelry store. And with the inflated prices that they have I am assuming that they will go out of business rather soon. This was a sad disappointing experience and I'm so glad I have my jewelry back and they will never ever get it again. This was a terrible experience and even Paul Bechtold in his own words couldn't believe the incompetence of the people that were doing the work or the appraiser not being able to read simple language. Paul expressed a sincere apology but that did not get me my rings back sooner or the work done that I want it. Good bye Bechtold's Jewelry because I'm sure with service like this you will be out of business soon or at least you should be. I pity anybody who goes to the store...

I worked with Thomas to create the PERFECT engagement ring for my now wife. He took all my crazy ideas to heart, and we worked together to make it a reality. I was able to be there when they melted down the gold from my grandmother's old wedding band to make the center of my wife's engagement ring. He showed me options to choose the best diamond for my budget and really helped me to stretch my money to make the dream come true. There is no ring in the world like the one i gave my wife. You can't find that one online or in a catalog. He was even willing to work with me on my crazy ideas for my own ring. His team took my grandfather's wedding band and built around it to create something truly unique to me. With his help, I was able to honor the memory of my grandparents' amazing relationship and also create something to embody my relationship with my now wife. I wouldn't have entrusted that experience to anyone else. It is a blessing and comfort to know that those precious heirlooms were safe and never left his shop in Sioux Falls. A blessing still to have witnessed firsthand as they were transformed into something more than they were. Thank you to Thomas for sharing all his experience and love...