Polishing jewelry confidence

BANGKOK Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports has secured a pledge from major jewelry shops to offer a ‘return-and-refund scheme’ for tourists who are not happy with the products they bought.

According to the ministry, Thailand could be a world leading jewelry hub, along with the many over hubs that ministry has in mind for the various segments of the country’s tourism.

But to achieve hub status, the jewelry industry will need to improve the way it deals with customers who are not happy with what they bought. They are the customers who complain on social media sites and the most vocal critics of Thailand’s gem and jewelry industry.

The ‘return-and-refund’ pledge that has been achieved through talks with major jewelry suppliers in Thailand. It could go a long way to repairing the country’s tarnished jewelry image, that has been marred in the past by scams.

Tourism and Sports Minister, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, said that besides sports tourism, the country should do more to raise the profile of the jewelry industry to raise tourism related revenue and create a quality image.

Asian tourists, particularly from China, India and ASEAN nations, are the main target groups for jewelry sales.

To improve customer service, 64 jewelry shops in Bangkok, four in Phuket and one each in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Samut Prakan provinces have accepted a product guarantee proposal presented by the ministry.

The ministry asked them to pledge compliance to a guarantee scheme that would provide for the return of goods and offer refunds to customers who were not satisfied with products purchased.

Refunds would be 100% for returns within 24 hours of purchase and gradually decline to lower percentages for returns filed at later dates according to a sliding scale, the minister said.

Last year, the value of Thai’s gems and jewelry exports stood at USD14,248.85 million increasing 29.60% from 2015, according to Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion data.

Read more...