As an ombudsman I receive a lot of e-mails regarding consumer issues with cruise lines. Recently, I received an e-mail from a distraught young man regarding a jewelry purchase he made onboard a Norwegian Cruise Line vessel. The man purchased a gold bracelet for his girlfriend and presented it to her during her cruise. She was happy, he got lucky….at least for a few weeks anyway.
A few weeks after their return home the bracelet (ah-hem) turned her wrist green and started to discolor. Young man got some ’splainin’ to do. See, he told the girlfriend it was an expensive gold bracelet, but it was really one of those gold-by-the-inch specials all big cruise lines do outside their jewelry stores. Young man said he paid good money and was told it will never tarnish or discolor. Not true. These items do discolor when worn a lot and they don’t cost a lot of money — maybe $40. The young man tried to get a refund from the cruise line and asked for my help. I told him, dude, you were duped now go buy your gal pal a real gold bracelet…. I never heard back from the young man and wonder if he and his gal pal are still together or if she has gone on to more golden pastures.
I have had my “Inch Of Gold” chains I bought on a cruise for a few years now with no problems. I reallt love how they made it any size i wanted! Anyway the address of the company (on the guarantee I got) if that guy wants to get his (girlfriends) chain replaced for free is:
IOG Customer Service
3975 Investment Lane
West Palm Beach, FL 33404
Carnivals gold by the inch is a scam. I am between jobs and tried to cash in my neclace and bracelet. No gold content is what my jeweler said. He also said they intentiaonally sell the jewelry in “international waters” so there is no retribution with any law enforcement or regulatory organizations. The purchase is out of their juristdiction. They suck!!!
I was on a cruise last November on the Caribbean Princess and bought several pieces of “gold by the inch” It was so much fun picking out and designing my own things!! The person selling the “gold by the inch” to me, made sure that I clearly understood that this wasn’t real gold that I was buying and handed me a slip of paper explaining the care of the metal and I knew right away that it wasn’t real because of the price, but it sure looks real and it still looks as beautiful today as it did when I purchased it!!! I wear one of the necklaces all the time and it’s become one of my
“signature” pieces……lol. Trust me, I have a lot of gorgeous jewelry, but this product was worth every penny. It definitely looks and feels like the real deal.
I bought my “inches of gold” on the Coral Princess. The crew was careful to specify that it was 18K “goldwash” i.e. goldplated. The literature, along with a 15% coupon, in the cabin clearly explaines how these products are manufactured and provide the name and address of the headquarters in Palm Beach, Florida . I wear the bracelets all the time and experience no deterioration. I would sugest that the product not be exposed to bleach or harsh chemicals. If they look a little dull it’s usually from normal wear and exposure to dirt/dust, lotions/creams and sun screen. The same dullness happens to the real gold rings I wear all the time. A drop of Dawn dishwashing liquid will remove the grease and the pieces will sparkle anew.
My parents bought me a inch of gold chain when i went for my graduation and they paid like 150 for it and no one of my friends know the diff from mine and there 3 to 5000 chians that they have other then my friends that came with me and know its not real and mine never fades or anything and always cleans right up.
P.S magnets slightly stick.