Jewelry

[lizzief]

On 3/21/2014 underwriter said:

Judith Ripka jewelry is not for everyone in the same sense that not everyone can afford couture designs offered by Gucci, Chanel, Versace and Cartier and many people who can afford to buy these designers also shop QVC, why not?

Judith Ripka is a real couture jewelry designer. Just because she has a QVC collection does not mean she should offer her jewelry designs at bargain basement prices. The QVC collection is no different than her couture collection in terms of design aesthetic and design quality. You are paying designer prices for her Jewelry on QVC no different than you would pay for designer merchandise if you shopped at Saks or Neimann. Not everyone can afford to shop at Saks & Neimann or Judith Ripka Madison Avenue stores or Judith Ripka QVC collection. Having said that, I wish people would stop bashing the price of Judith Ripka's QVC collection. If you dont' want to buy her jewelry due to the price or for whatever your reasons are, don't buy it, there are hundreds of thousands of people who can afford to buy Judith Ripka no matter the price. Stop complaining about the price. QVC customers are not low income buyers always looking for a bargain basement price, there are hundreds of thousands of QVC shoppers who can afford designer merchandise. I cannot afford to buy everything she offers but I am a huge fan and a big collector, most of her jewelry is very affordable thanks to the QVC collection, I love it and am happy I can afford it.

With all respect, I think you are missing the point here. Most people that I see who are complaining about the prices are well aware that Judith is a couture designer, and love her jewelry, but are upset because they are getting priced out of buying the things they love. When you see so many Ripka fans on this forum, her loyal customers, saying they are no longer buying, something is wrong. And with is so much mark up in jewelry, the obvious problem is price. Yes, all materials and gems have gone up, but there's a price point where even spontaneous purchases aren't going to happen because some pieces simply aren't worth the price, designer or not. Even if you can afford something, do you buy it if you know it's not worth the price? It's like a good meal. I don't mind paying a higher price if I know it's going to be a wonderful dining experience. But to pay a gourmet price for a fast food meal doesn't make any more sense than paying the price for some of JR's pieces that you just know are WAY overpriced.

[Maxine49]

On 3/21/2014 Flyersfan said: Sheesh, Thank you for the advice. I will do that. I enjoy reading your posts and your tag line quote is by far my favorite! I hope you enjoy your watch.

Why thank you, that is very sweet of you to say so! Enjoy your pieces, too. I'm looking forward to tonight's show.

[michiganredneck]

In my opinion the Ripka line is way overpriced considering it's not 14k gold most of the time only 14k clad over sterling. If I'm going to pay these extreme prices I want the real thing. Ripka jewelry is so similar to what I see at major department stores without the high price. Guess it's ok if you want to pass it on to further generations but if I do that I want the real thing. Come on, $200 for a hunk of leather and a small heart and diamonique is way too much. Put the money you would have spent away for your retirement if you have so much extra, you'll need that more then a box full of jewelry.

[MickD]

Glitter Puss ~ ITA! I do love watching the shows and hanging out with ya'll!

[panz]

Well said, and ITA with everything. I've been cleaning out of a lot of my pieces that I don't wear anymore (or never did), and not really buying anything new (unless there's something that shows up with LQ pricing).

There's a sort of freedom in letting go of obsessions! I find myself really enjoying my other silver and gold pieces - and it's liberating to know that I no longer HAVE to have a new piece with every show!

[sharonrs]

I feel as you do Glitter Puss. I prefer the real stones to the all DMQ items because I can wear them daily. however, the prices for even semi-precious items had gone beyond my ability to buy even with the skimpy numbers of EZ pays they put on the high $ items. I keep watching the BT cuff and half hoop earrings wishing they would be reduced and on EZ pay but they will be gone before I can ever get them. I can't remember the last time I bought a cuff because of the prices. It used to be that I would buy a $200-$300 item as a splurge but now that is a ring loaded with DMQ and maybe a real stone. I don't need anymore rings.

I hope those that can continue to buy enjoy their purchases. I will keep wearing and enjoying my tried and trues and be happy with what I have.

Enjoy tonight's show....

[Maxine49]

On 3/21/2014 sharonrs said:

I feel as you do Glitter Puss. I prefer the real stones to the all DMQ items because I can wear them daily. however, the prices for even semi-precious items had gone beyond my ability to buy even with the skimpy numbers of EZ pays they put on the high $ items. I keep watching the BT cuff and half hoop earrings wishing they would be reduced and on EZ pay but they will be gone before I can ever get them. I can't remember the last time I bought a cuff because of the prices. It used to be that I would buy a $200-$300 item as a splurge but now that is a ring loaded with DMQ and maybe a real stone. I don't need anymore rings.

I hope those that can continue to buy enjoy their purchases. I will keep wearing and enjoying my tried and trues and be happy with what I have.

Enjoy tonight's show....

Hi, Sharon. We do have to have lunch someday soon---how about the Somers Inn or Max's in Longmeadow? I'm just a bit over the Ct line in Longmeadow, MA---a 15 minute drive ether way. We could also do Spoleto's in East Longmeadow. Bling out on the Ripka! See my "address" under my profile.

I've been buying since the fist show with Rick and Judith, so I remember the days when $300 total spend would get you a boat load of pieces...and now, like you said, barely a cuff, on Clearance. Case in point, the Titanic as a TSV was $129.00....that was about 2005, give or take. You could also get a fabulous AMY, BT or Citrine ring or earrings for $79. Ahhh, those were the days my friend....

I love ALL my Ripka---I bought too much, I sold some, I gave some away, and I still miss the pieces that got away.

But the best thing of all are the friends I made through my love of all things Ripka---now that is absolutely priceless!!

[sharonrs]

Sheesh, I would love to get together someday soon! The Somers Inn is just up the road from my house. I am flat out right now as the the library where I work is just finishing up a big construction project and it's crazy time but maybe in late April or early May. My email is sredfernct@comcast.net. Let get blingy together !!

[Maxine49]

On 3/21/2014 sharonrs said:

Sheesh, I would love to get together someday soon! The Somers Inn is just up the road from my house. I am flat out right now as the the library where I work is just finishing up a big construction project and it's crazy time but maybe in late April or early May. My email is sredfernct@comcast.net. Let get blingy together !!

Perfect! Let's plan, mid to late May---I'm headed to AZ for a bit in April. I used to go to the Somers Inn a lot, but have not been there for years, for some reason. One of my sisters used to live on Greenacre Dr off Rt 83 in Somers--they moved to CA in 1997. Bling it on!

[Mando]

I dunno. I'm in the mid 30's demo with lots of expendable income but honest to goodness, my qvc JR threshold is about 300ish per piece. It's not my fault her retail stores have failed but I refuse to pay the exorbitant prices for the creme de la creme pieces when just last year they were in my reasonable working girl price-point. I simply refuse to spend the going rate for the pieces I most covet today. Maybe I'm not a richbitch but I used to be able to justify a piece or two per visit. The affordable items just aren't signature either. If I wanted plain ole dimonique, I'd buy that. *sad Ripkonista*