CrimeNov 20, 2024
Sotheby’s to Pay $6.25M Settlement to NY State for Alleged Tax FraudMajorsNov 21, 2024
Harris Jewelry Ordered to Reopen Claims Portal for Refund Requests
A federal court found that the jewelry store chain violated terms of the settlement reached after it was accused of defrauding customers.
A federal court has ordered Harris Jewelry to restore its website to accept refund requests from the customers it is accused of defrauding. Claims made by eligible customers will be processed now through Dec. 21.
New York—Harris Jewelry, the now-closed retailer that reached a settlement in 2022 after it was accused of cheating customers, has been ordered by a federal court to restore its website and reopen its claims process to allow customers to submit refund requests.
Founded in 1955 by U.S. Marine and World War II veteran Jerome L. Harris, Harris Jewelry had stores on and near military bases nationwide, meaning many of its customers were active duty servicemembers.
In July 2022, the Federal Trade Commission and a group of 18 states led by the New York Attorney General’s Office took legal action against the retailer, accusing it of cheating its customers through illegal financing and sales practices.
The complaint claimed that the New York-based jeweler took advantage of its customers by telling them that financing jewelry through the company would boost their credit scores, which was not true in most cases; telling customers they had to purchase the store’s Lifetime Jewelry and Watch Protection Plan in order to finance their purchase, which was not the case; and routinely adding protection plans costing between $40 and $350 to customers’ bills without disclosure.
These alleged actions violated several financial consumer protection laws, including the Military Lending Act.
Earlier this week, the court found Harris Jewelry violated the settlement by prematurely shutting down the claims portal, according to an FTC press release.
The new claims process will be open for 33 days, from Nov. 18 through Dec. 21.
The court’s action is meant to provide consumers “fair and sufficient time” to file claims for refunds.
Harris Jewelry also will have to renotify customers about the option to request a refund, the FTC said.
Related stories will be right here …
Founded in 1955 by U.S. Marine and World War II veteran Jerome L. Harris, Harris Jewelry had stores on and near military bases nationwide, meaning many of its customers were active duty servicemembers.
In July 2022, the Federal Trade Commission and a group of 18 states led by the New York Attorney General’s Office took legal action against the retailer, accusing it of cheating its customers through illegal financing and sales practices.
The complaint claimed that the New York-based jeweler took advantage of its customers by telling them that financing jewelry through the company would boost their credit scores, which was not true in most cases; telling customers they had to purchase the store’s Lifetime Jewelry and Watch Protection Plan in order to finance their purchase, which was not the case; and routinely adding protection plans costing between $40 and $350 to customers’ bills without disclosure.
These alleged actions violated several financial consumer protection laws, including the Military Lending Act.
Earlier this week, the court found Harris Jewelry violated the settlement by prematurely shutting down the claims portal, according to an FTC press release.
The new claims process will be open for 33 days, from Nov. 18 through Dec. 21.
The court’s action is meant to provide consumers “fair and sufficient time” to file claims for refunds.
Harris Jewelry also will have to renotify customers about the option to request a refund, the FTC said.
The FTC is encouraging consumers who purchased items from Harris Jewelry and paid for a protection plan and have yet to file a claim, or who have filed a claim but have not yet heard back, to request a refund via the Harris Jewelry website as soon as possible.
Harris Jewelry neither admitted nor denied the allegations but did agree under the settlement to issue refunds, which could total $10.9 million, to more than 46,000 customers who unknowingly paid for a warranty for their jewelry.
In addition to providing these refunds, the jeweler was ordered by the FTC to stop collecting millions of dollars in debt, issue refunds for overpayments, and assist with the deletion of any negative credit entries pertaining to debt in consumers’ credit reporting files.
As part of the settlement, the jeweler also had to entirely shut down its business.
It closed all 18 of its stores in the spring of 2021 and said it was moving its business online, citing declining sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
More on Majors
The Latest
Supplier BulletinNov 21, 2024
Tasha R Releases 2025 Labbelle Lab Diamond Jewelry CatalogSponsored by Tasha R
AuctionsNov 21, 2024
Gold Watch Gifted to Titanic Rescue Ship Captain Sells for $2MThree Titanic survivors presented him with the personalized Tiffany & Co. timepiece about a year after the tragedy.
CollectionsNov 21, 2024
Channel Elphaba in Muse’s ‘Have a Heart x Cynthia Erivo’ CollectionCynthia Erivo chose Dreams of Hope, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQA+ youth, as the charity for this year’s collection.
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
IndependentsNov 21, 2024
Mary Moses Kinney Is Now Part of The Edge’s Team Kinney, who spent nearly 30 years at IJO, has been hired to head Abbott Jewelry Systems’ new virtual marketplace.
Weekly QuizNov 14, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CrimeNov 20, 2024
Sotheby’s to Pay $6.25M Settlement to NY State for Alleged Tax FraudThe auction house was accused of helping clients avoid paying taxes on millions of dollars’ worth of art purchased from 2010 to 2020.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
Kering Debuts New Jewelry Award With Sustainability FocusThe four finalists will present their pieces at the 2025 JCK Las Vegas show.
Brought to you by
Enhance Your Expertise with IGI’s In-Person Courses in NYCThis fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
CollectionsNov 20, 2024
Pamela Love Channels Surrealist Artists in New CollectionThe “Camera Oscura” collection showcases earring designs celebrating female Surrealist artists Claude Cahun and Leonor Fini.
Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2024
Columbia Gem House Raises $10K for Reforestation EffortsThe money will fund the planting of 10,000 trees in critical areas across Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and other regions.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
The Jewelry Symposium Opens Registration, Scholarship ApplicationsThe event centered on advancing jewelry manufacturing technology will return to Detroit in May 2025.
CrimeNov 19, 2024
Woman Killed in Armed Robbery of Sacramento Jewelry StoreLocal reports identified the woman as the wife of the jewelry store owner.
AuctionsNov 19, 2024
‘A Tsar’s Treasure’ Fetches $2.9M at Sotheby’s Jewelry SaleA collection of pieces owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family, blew away estimates in Geneva last week.
CollectionsNov 19, 2024
Snoop Dogg’s New Jewelry Collection Is All About Love“Lovechild” was created in partnership with Carolyn Rafaelian’s Metal Alchemist brand.
EditorsNov 18, 2024
Q&A: Helzberg CEO Brad Hampton on the Jeweler’s RebrandHampton discussed how Helzberg is improving the customer experience and why it was inspired by the company formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts.
Policies & IssuesNov 18, 2024
Reciprocity Jewels Returns to NYC Jewelry WeekThe group will host several curated events and an exhibition of designer jewelry made with Peruvian gold traceable to the miners’ names.
CollectionsNov 18, 2024
Dolly Parton Shines in Collaboration with Kendra ScottThe collection honors the 50th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s “Love is Like a Butterfly” song, which shares a birth year with Kendra Scott.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2024
IGI Jewelry Design Competition ReturnsThis year’s theme asks designers to take inspiration from classic fairy tales.
EditorsNov 15, 2024
Why Fine Jewelry Belongs at New York Comic ConSenior Editor Lenore Fedow makes the case for why more jewelers should be appealing to nerds at the annual event.
CollectionsNov 15, 2024
Marie Lichtenberg Battles Counterfeits with New ‘Raiz’in Scapular’ DesignsThe latest “Raiz’in” drop showcases a newly designed “Scapular” necklace and donates a portion of the proceeds to Make-A-Wish France.
WatchesNov 15, 2024
Piece of the Week: Citizen’s Commemorative Pocket WatchNo. 1 out of 100, the timepiece was created to mark Citizen’s 100th anniversary and will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s next month.
Recorded WebinarsNov 15, 2024
Watch: 10 Tips to Keep Your Jewelry Store Secure On the latest episode of “My Next Question,” two experts share best practices for store security during the holidays and year-round.
AuctionsNov 14, 2024
18th-Century Diamond Necklace Sells for Nearly $5M Sotheby’s sold the necklace, which potentially has ties to Marie-Antoinette, for $4.8 million to a woman bidding via phone.
MajorsNov 14, 2024
Saks Fifth Avenue Cancels Holiday Light DisplayInstead of its usual elaborate display, the store will illuminate its façade and frame the windows to highlight its flagship’s architecture.
WatchesNov 14, 2024
Grand Seiko Partners With Ben Bridge on First Hawaii Store The new Grand Seiko boutique is located in Honolulu’s Waikiki neighborhood.
SourcingNov 13, 2024
Gem Legacy Adventures Announces 2025 Trip Eleven spots are available for travelers to visit Northern Tanzania and Southern Kenya from July 25 to Aug. 4.
AuctionsNov 13, 2024
Aga Khan Emerald Sells for $8.8M, Sets RecordThe emerald brooch-turned-pendant returned to auction after 55 years, setting a world record for most expensive emerald sold at auction.
