Obovo win received :(

A

almbrecht06

New member
A couple of months ago, I received email that I'd won a "3 Carat Crystal Octahedron Lazare Kaplan diamond, worth between $600-$800" from the Obovo.com sweeps.

Today it arrived, an uncut, .44 ct stone. Not exactly what they advertised as the stone I'd won. Not sure what to do about it. Anyone have any thoughts?
 
If you are not happy then, you can report BBB (Better Business Bureau ) or Federal Trade Commission.. Good luck... :wave:
 
That sucks. I'd definitely contact them and let them know of your disappointment and the fact that prize doesn't match what was promised.

You can have it appraised though to see if worth more. They are allowed to replace with something of a higher value. If real vs. crystal, could be valued higher.
 
I received mine today too! And YES I too was very disappointed...no where did it say that is was an uncut diamond and mine was .36 carats but by the time you got it cut it would be less...I knew it was supposed to be right around a 1/3 carat but I was under the assumption that it would be a CUT diamond...well I might have to take it to the jewelry store in town and have the gemologist take a look at it to see if it is real or not!
 
Wow thats a big let down. I went searching online and found a site that sells 1/4 carat sized ones for $99. I definitely suggest getting an appraisal because that sounds fishy. I knew it was a raw diamond because that term Octahedron describes the shape in its natural state. Thats those days of mine working as a jeweler. They are misleading the people to enter the sweep in my opinion. Because most people are only seeing that its a diamond.

http://www.meandmyjeweler.com/shoponline/details_multi_stone.asp?product_id=7759
 
Just a few links for you:

http://lazarediamonds.com/main.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazare_Kaplan_International

http://sweepstakes.obovo.com/rules/

PRIZES
The following prize(s) will be awarded:
Number of Daily Winners: 364
Description of Prizes: approx. 1/3 carat octahedron diamond
Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of Each Prize: $600.00 to $800.00 or more.

Number of Grand Prize Winners: 1
Description of Grand Prize: 1 carat diamond set in a solitaire platinum ring.
Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of Grand Prize; $16,500
Click to expand...

It would appear that what you received is exactly what you were promised. We all know that "values" are open to interpretation and are most of the time are highly inflated.

If that site listed by Hqhoney is selling them for $79.00 AUD (or approx. $60.00 US) then you can pretty much figure that they paid $15-20 US each for them wholesale/bulk.

Lazare-Kaplan is a highly reputable company that deals only with cut and polished gems. They probably don't even realize their name is being used in connection with this promo.

If you read the rest of the "rules" you will see that you are pretty much stuck with whatever they send you. Unfortunate but true.

BUT if you are really in a "high dudgeon" over this whole matter you do have several options open to you:


  • [li]1. Contact the Attorney General of the State of Florida and file a 'Complaint of Fraud' with them. This would have to based solely on the posted valuation or the representation that it was a Lazare-Kaplan product.[/li]
    [li]2. Contact Lazare-Kaplan about the matter. Of course, they have nothing to do with this actual promotion, so you must not get on their case about it. But they might just be persuaded to pursue the matter on their own or to assist you in the matter.[/li]
    [li]3. Contact Obovo ... but we know how far that will get ya...[/li]
    [li]4. Spend $5,000.00 on a lawyer ... :scratch:[/li]

In any case YOU MUST have a copy of the original email you received. All packageing, enclosures, and of course the "diamond" that you received. If it came Registered Mail or UPS you need the paperwork for that. (And a screen shot of the active page of the sweepstakes if possible.)

Did it come with an IGA Certification?????

Or you could just buy a little ebony display box, put a "My $20.00 Diamond" plaque on it, and display it on your mantel place!

My 2 pennies worth

:crazytongue:

Loren
 
I'll add one more thing both of you should do -- get it appraised if you can, and print out any comparable value sites you can, and keep it with your tax records for next year. Because of the inflated value on the items, they will likely report these at 6-800, and will expect you to report it, too. Your tax preparer can dispute that on your behalf when you file next year, and that way you don't need to pay more in taxes on the win than it's even worth.
 
good advise, if they do report it to the IRS and you get a 1099 form sent out to you
 
I won one of those, too. It was a letdown. But, I didn't have to sign an affy or anything - just an email that let me know I had won. That's why I wasn't too surprised when I received it!

Let's see if they send a 1099 or not - any wagers on that? :crazytongue:

Kate
 
ktshome said:
I won one of those, too. It was a letdown. But, I didn't have to sign an affy or anything - just an email that let me know I had won. That's why I wasn't too surprised when I received it!

Let's see if they send a 1099 or not - any wagers on that? :crazytongue:

Kate
Click to expand...
probably not if they didn't ask for a ssn?
 
I won this one too and was very disappointed in the resulting diamond. Everyone keeps saying to get it appraised, but that's easier said than done. After I got my rock, we called a local jewler and asked him about getting it appraised. His reply was that it would cost around $200 just for that because the jewler would have to grind part of the diamond away just to see the quality of the stone. Getting it cut would cost a lot more and he suggested sending it away to gemoligist in New York or somewhere who specialized in nothing but that. So I'm stuck with a uncut diamond and feeling like Charlie Brown when I say "I Got a Rock." :laughing:

Oh and the letter of Authenticity that comes with the diamond has Lazare Kaplan International as the letterhead and states that they are in conjunction with WhatsOnline.com in the awarding of the diamond.
 
Add me to the list of the disappointed!

For I too received this "rock"................
No, not rock but more like "pebble"........
No, that doesn't accurately describe it either!

I too received this "grit"!
Yeah, that's it! And if I even attempted to have it cut
then it would become dust! :cry:
 
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