topic Re: Alex and Ani in Community Chat

Alex and Ani

sweetkelly — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 12:46:27 GMT

I see that Alex and Ani is an all day easy paytoday! That would have really excited me a few years ago, but now, not as much. I used to love buying this jewlery but i have noticed that the quality seems to to have changed....at least in my experience. Have you noticed a differnece in this jewelery line since it became wildy popular?

Re: Alex and Ani

faeriemoon — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 12:53:50 GMT

Alex and Ani doesn't interest me.

Neither does Easy Pay.

I enjoy watching the designer silver shows, particularly JAI.

Re: Alex and Ani

nova — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 12:57:13 GMT

@sweetkelly I have bought bracelets for both my sister and daughter-in-law who both really like them. It was a super trendy jewelry line when it was first introduced and perhaps the popularity here at QVC is just waning a bit. However I have an Alex & Ani store in my local mall & the variety of styles there surpasses what's sold online here.

Re: Alex and Ani

phoenixbrd — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:28:44 GMT

@sweetkelly Perhaps your taste in jewelry has changed because there is always a huge vast of difference in quality in jewelry and an abundance at every level. Or perhaps, your priorities have changed and this style, or any jewelry, may not be as important to you. Easy pay has never enticed me.

Re: Alex and Ani

I am still oxox — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:05:23 GMT

I have at least 8 Alex and Ani bracelets, yet I have not worn one in over a year, they no longer have an appeal to me

Re: Alex and Ani

jackthebear — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:06:25 GMT

I have a couple

Re: Alex and Ani

sweetkelly — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:06:54 GMT

Not a taste thing at all....it tarnishes faster than it used to and when I called about the isues I was told to rememebr that it IS costume jewlerly......but not after a month or so and I am careful. It used to stay nicer for a longer time. I have literally had to throw some of it away. Too expensive for that.

Re: Alex and Ani

violann — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:37:50 GMT

@nova wrote:
@sweetkelly I have bought bracelets for both my sister and daughter-in-law who both really like them. It was a super trendy jewelry line when it was first introduced and perhaps the popularity here at QVC is just waning a bit. However I have an Alex & Ani store in my local mall & the variety of styles there surpasses what's sold online here.

Around the time that my sons were marrying my terrific daighters in law, I did a search of Alex and Ani for the bracelets that I was SURE I’D find, honoring each of them in their special, happy relationship with me.

No DIL bracelets.

I contact the company and ask why, since practically every other female human in the Universe may be honored by a designated bracelet, there is NO bracelet for DIL.

I get the expected pointless non-specific blah blah blah response.

After REQUESTING MULTIPLE TIMES for FOUR YEARS, I got smart and stopped buying my DILS A&A.

Surely there MUST be other women in the world who LOVE their DILs as I do, BUT APPARENTLY A&A DOESN’T.

IMNHO, the quality of the bracelets hasn’t slipped at all, but the quality of marketing is non-existent.

Re: Alex and Ani

violann — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:46:40 GMT

@sweetkelly wrote:
Not a taste thing at all....it tarnishes faster than it used to and when I called about the isues I was told to rememebr that it IS costume jewlerly......but not after a month or so and I am careful. It used to stay nicer for a longer time. I have literally had to throw some of it away. Too expensive for that.

I “LITERALLY” have to throw out things that are hidden too long in the fridge, or develop holes in embarrassing places, or no longer s*ck the crumbs out of the rug, but I can’t think a tarnished bracelet could be so overwhelmingly repulsive that it would necessitate any handling more drastic than offering it to the Goodwill, especially since it IS fairly expensive, but we’re all different I guess.

Re: Alex and Ani

sweetkelly — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 15:40:38 GMT

Yes..we are all different and I don't think comparing AA to refrigerated old food is quite the same thing. Enjoy your day.

Re: Alex and Ani

Spurt — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 18:33:50 GMT

Never bought Alex & Ani....but used to purchase nice earrings and an occasional ring that were reasonably priced.

However, now QVC'S jewelry quality has declined and prices have gone way up.

Now the only QVC jewelry brands I buy from are Or Paz, Carolyn Pollack, Hagit, and I like some of the items in the JAI collection

Re: Alex and Ani

Mom2Dogs — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 19:12:33 GMT

@violann.....I have had to throw away costume jewerly because it was badly tarnished and no amount of work on my part would clean it up....so yes, sometimes you do have to throw away...

Re: Alex and Ani

Kachina624 — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 19:32:02 GMT

@sweetkelly wrote:
Not a taste thing at all....it tarnishes faster than it used to and when I called about the isues I was told to rememebr that it IS costume jewlerly......but not after a month or so and I am careful. It used to stay nicer for a longer time. I have literally had to throw some of it away. Too expensive for that.

@sweetkelly. You threw it away because it was tarnished? You do know, I hope, that tarnished items can be shined up with a polishing cloth. It's not a huge chore; a few swipes will do it. If properly stored they will not tarnish.

Re: Alex and Ani

chrystaltree — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 19:51:16 GMT

It never interested me, I had once bracelet that a former boss gave to me. I'm not even sure that it was silver, I think it's some mystery metal. I did wear it with my silver bangles at one time but only because it was a gift from someone I liked. My younger daughter when through an Alex and Ani phase when she was in h.s., maybe college too.

Re: Alex and Ani

GinzTonic — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 19:54:46 GMT

I had quite a few back in the day, gave them to my niece , kept 2. I thought they were sterling?

Re: Alex and Ani

lmt — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 01:58:58 GMT

I have several Alex & Ani bracelets and a few rings, too. All of the charms/symbols have a special meaning for me.

I haven't had any issue with tarnishing but I only started my collection about 4 years ago. I do like the 'shiny' silver finish over the Rafaelian silver finish. I also wish they would offer more choices in all three metal colors. I've seen so many bracelets that I would love to get but they're only offered in the rose or the gold finish which I don't care for.

If you go to the FAQ's on their website, it says that the bracelets are made from a BRASS base with silver or gold plating.

They do have some pieces that are sterling and some pieces that are gold plated over sterling.

Re: Alex and Ani

Shawnie — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 04:05:52 GMT

@sweetkelly I ditched a couple that looked terrible. Happily i had paid rock bottom prices at The Rack. I have a handful of the completely beaded wrap bracelets that i like a lot. No tarnish problem there.

Re: Alex and Ani

Shawnie — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 04:09:26 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@sweetkelly wrote:
Not a taste thing at all....it tarnishes faster than it used to and when I called about the isues I was told to rememebr that it IS costume jewlerly......but not after a month or so and I am careful. It used to stay nicer for a longer time. I have literally had to throw some of it away. Too expensive for that.
@sweetkelly. You threw it away because it was tarnished? You do know, I hope, that tarnished items can be shined up with a polishing cloth. It's not a huge chore; a few swipes will do it. If properly stored they will not tarnish.

Not the ones i got rid of. No amount of polishing was cleaning it. They use a base metal of some sort, looks like a heavy wire and i think coat it. They do have some expensive sterling and i believe 14k but most people buy the $30 price range bracelets.

Re: Alex and Ani

shoekitty — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 05:09:50 GMT

I have bought Alex and Ani for at least 7 years. My granddaughters and one of my daughters love it as well, so I have gifted A&A often. Quality is about the same. I have mainly bought at dept stores and their website. I have bought 3 bracelets here on QVC, two were for the ovarian cancer fundraiser. The first one I got at the fundraiser here was the finest, top quality bracelet . But I noticed the succeeding bracelet was not. Thin, cheaper beads, same for the one I bought as TSV a while back.

the Alex and Ani website has great quality, but sometimes there is a bracelet that is not up to par. To be fare these bracelets are not silver or gold. They are just costume jewelry metal. I probably have 30 different styles I have bought over the years. My granddaughters and I had a couple styles that were awful. One a bangle cross just peeled. All of us, same style. So I think it is different with each style bracelet they make.

other than that they have held up really well. I have a couple i like to I wear all the time and they are nice still.

To be honest they are over priced costume jewelry. But cute and lots of fun. They are so special when you give the themed ones for events, like graduation hats for grads with dayes, etc. . I will say, I think the bracelets at qvc are not as sturdy as the ones I buy at their site.

you should not get them wet. Be careful when washing hands. Be careful about getting lotion and oils on them as well. Wipe them down before and after use if you remember, and they are best stored on the pouch you receive with them or box. If you do this they will hold up really well, especially the gold color ones

Re: Alex and Ani

beach-mom — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 05:31:19 GMT

DD gave me my first one (Mom) for Mothers' Day 2013. Then others started getting them for me. DS came home from college his first year with one for me at Christmas. I have a lot, and I met a close friend by shopping at their store. About 2 years ago, my friend told me she was leaving (she was the manager). She didn't tell me why, but it seemed sudden. After she left she said there were some big changes coming. I'm wondering if they sold out to "investors" like so many other brands.

I think this is another example of a company that really grew too fast. Their sweet little store became a crowded one and it was hard to keep up with the new releases. Then I noticed a lot of other stores carried the products. My favorite store, which was a freestanding one, closed suddenly. They seem to want to be in malls now.

I gave DD a few for Christmas and she gave me two. I still like them and wear them.

They do have their own polishing cloth. Don't use a regular silver polishing cloth. Also, if a piece becomes tarnished take it to the store. They will clean it, and if it's not to your liking they will replace it if they can. I have done this.

I don't buy them for family and friends - and once in a while myself - like I used to, but I still think their customer service is excellent and I've never had a problem that they didn't try to help me with.

DD just showed me tonight - they have a new "Beatles" collection - four bangles with Beatles' song titles on them!