My Experience Shopping At Long's For An Engagement Ring [Customer Story] Author Long's Jewelers Share Facebook Share on Facebook Email Email Date May 31, 2017 Engagement My Experience Shopping At Long's For An Engagement Ring [Customer Story] When it comes time to buy her that engagement ring she's always wanted, getting started can be the hardest part. Where do you turn when there are a million online articles about diamonds? The fact of the matter is, you're going to want to come see diamonds in person and get fully educated on what you are buying. Diamond buyers and sellers are often certified by reputable organizations like GIA, which are rigorous programs that take a lot of time and effort. We don't expect anyone to walk into a store knowing everything there is to know about diamonds - it's a lot! Long's always prides itself on creating a no-pressure situation since none of our sales associates work on commission. It's about helping and guiding someone to find the right ring, no matter their budget. So we sat down with one of our recent engagement ring customers, Mike, to ask him a few questions about his experience shopping at Long's. Mike and Lynelle were dating for over 5 years before he decided to pop the question. Here's a little insight into what his experience was really like: When you decided to propose, what were some of your first thoughts about buying a ring? "When I knew I wanted to propose, I was excited but really nervous and overwhelmed. I didn't really know anything, and I had no idea where to even start picking out a ring. I tried doing some research online, but there was so much information to sift through. When I bought a motorcycle a few years ago, I spent hours researching it and becoming an expert. I knew exactly what I was buying and that I wasn't getting ripped off. With engagement rings, I spent days researching diamonds but realized there was still so much I didn't know. I didn't even know that people normally buy the ring and the diamond separately. I thought they always just came together, and I remember being like, 'Oh wait I have to buy two things?'" How did you decide where to shop for the ring? "After doing all that online research, I was really scared and worried that I was going to end up getting ripped off. I couldn't really become an expert overnight on diamonds just by reading a bunch of articles, so I knew a sales person would have all the power. I had no idea how I could trust someone to sell me something of such high value and 100% believe that I was getting the real deal. I asked around to find a jeweler that had a good reputation and one that other friends had trusted and used in the past. That's how I found Long's. The name kept popping up when I reached out to people asking for recommendations." What was your experience like shopping at Long's for the ring? "I was really nervous when I first stepped into Long's. I was still skeptical that I was going to get ripped off, and I felt really uncomfortable. I worked with the owner, Bob, who instantly made me feel at ease. He knew how I was feeling, and he took the time to educate me on diamonds and actually show me the differences so I could make the decision for myself. I began to trust him, and once I was able to trust him, I felt so much more relaxed. It really felt like he was genuinely trying to find the best ring for what I was looking for and wasn't trying to just sell me the most expensive thing in the store. It felt more like a normal conversation back and forth with him guiding me in the right direction. I remember walking out feeling so confident in the ring Bob and I ended up choosing for Lynelle. It was scary at first, but I was so relieved I went into the store and trusted his guidance and advice." What is your #1 piece of advice for anyone looking to propose? "Whenever a friend reaches out to me about buying a ring, I always make sure they think through to what degree they want to involve her in the process. There are a lot of ways to get her involved and still make it a surprise. Some of my friends didn't want to involve her at all, which meant they were going in a little blind. I always recommend that if they've already started the conversation, it's really helpful to involve her in some capacity. Lynelle and I went ring shopping together in person so she could show me a few styles she liked. I was still able to customize the ring design myself, and she had no idea what it would end up looking like, but it gave me some great direction. You don't have to avoid ever talking about it to still have it be a surprise. Also make sure you find a sales person that you actually trust. You want to feel good about the person and trust that they are actually trying to help instead of just sell." Visit Long's in Massachusetts or New Hampshire to find the perfect engagement ring. Our experts will help educate and guide you through the process so you can feel great about the ring you choose! Subscribe Email Engagement Estate Jewelry Wedding Watches Fine / Fashion Jewelry JOIN