DeBeers is evil personified.

Sums up why DeQueers got my vote.

1800 is the worst because they take about 30% of every order for themselves and give the balance to a REAL florist to fill the order. Why not order directly from the REAL florist? Why do people order from a broker?
Diamonds and other jewelry come in many sizes to fit all budgets from no diamond to several carats. It is your choice but at least you know you are getting a REAL diamond when you buy Debeers.
Ken

@Papa Midnight: maybe they're seeded like the NCAA Basketball Tourney. The best against the worst for the most part. Except there's less likelihood for an upset because it's unlikely that 1-800-Flowers will magically become a monopoly and start running a business that appears to be killing people.

@johnva:

That is true. Honestly, no one can tell the difference by just looking at it... And they're guaranteed for a lifetime, if I remember correctly, so that's always a good thing.

There are also "real" man-made diamonds, which are chemically indistinguishable from a natural diamond. These, unlike the CZ sold by places like "Diamond Nexus", ARE a diamond. They just aren't dug out of the ground. But they're just about as expensive as a natural diamond. Good option if you just don't want to support DeBeers (although of course there are also other choices there, like Canadian diamonds). Bad option if you want to save money.

@Buran:

Diamond Nexus makes some amazing lab made diamonds. I bought my fiancée one and she absolutely loves it. It's virtually indistinguishable from a "real" diamond. Instead of dropping serious coin on a 2 carat "real" diamond, that money went right into the wedding fund.

Most of this issue ended in the 90s. Though it is still a problem today, The Cocoa industry is currently much more at fault for things like child slave labor.

All I have to say is two words...Blood Diamond...well, maybe more than two words lol! My husband got me a $125 wedding ring and that was specifically because I'm not feeling the whole dying over a rock thing. I mean seriously...what is the big deal with diamonds?! The fact that people are enslaved, dying, highway robbed, etc. should make the appeal a lot lower! So you're going to tell me that this shiny rock you found in the dirt is really worth $10,000 and I'm going to buy it?! Come on! I guess the human life value that was spent has to be refunded some how...DeBeers is definitely the worst. And as for flowers!! What's the point of those too! I mean...they die in like 8 days...LAME! Okay, I'm done.

@Git Em SteveDave:

As I was reading the article, I had that very scene from Family Guy going through my head. ;)

@mrmcd: Funny you should mention Halliburton. I've heard good things about briefcases made by Zero Halliburton.*

*Not affiliated with the defense contractor that gave a big fat golden parachute to Dick Cheney, I don't think.

I had to place my vote for 1-800-Flowers, solely on technicality--while DeBeers may possibly be the most evil company in the entire competition, most of their evil is perpetrated internationally, and this is about the worst company in *America*.

Name one other company that that sells a completely useless product nobody needs, at absurdly inflated prices while propping up their market with a monopoly enforced by violence, political corruption, psychological manipulation, criminal activity, and slavery. Just one.

Christ, even Halliburton makes a few useful products that aren't designed for killing people.

@22rifle: Still with the man 10+ years later, so I suppose we could tolerate each other for a while, eh?

shallow relaionship huh?

I second going directly to the local florist, but I'd also recommend getting shipped directly from the grower.

DeBeers' practices cost lives. Their inflation of diamond value and tight control of the diamond market have created circumstances that make it reasonable for people in diamond rich regions to finance civil war and arms trade with diamonds as both the currency and the end-goal. Simply in areas of conflict, if you control diamonds, you control guns, power and government. The kimberly process helps, but not by a lot. I'd say DeBeers is pretty high in the running for worst company in the world.

I've had my sapphire engagement ring for quite a while now, I don't take it off for any activity, and it has yet to scratch. And it's gorgeous.

@utensil42: Actually, sapphire (corundum), along with rubies, is an extremely hard mineral, you can't scratch it.

I have to go with DeBeers. No one ever died for a bouquet, except maybe the flowers.

1-800 Flowers is a ripoff though. A far better solution for sending flowers to someone not in your area is to Google around for a florist local to them and arrange for delivery. It's far cheaper, and you'll generally get a better selection and fresher flowers. I've used this method with great success.

Am I cheap? maybe... but then again it's the thought that counts not the ring!

@holocron:

I think at 10K or above, the absolute most you could get back was 45%. I think it scales down depending on how many people apply.

The funny thing is that they aren't.

One of the useless bits of trivia I seem to remember from chemistry class is that diamonds are an unstable carbon allotrope and will eventually (over a very, VERY long time) turn into graphite and normal temperature and pressure.

I always thought it would be amusing for someone to sue DeBeers for false advertising over that :)

Plus, they settled that price-fixing suit a couple of years ago, so their execs can freely walk the streets of America!

When I completed their satisfaction survey I told them I thought they had a poor product. They did call me and offered to replace the order, which they did. So they get bonus points for that. Yet when the replacement order arrived, these flowers also died in about 4 days. I will not be giving them any more of my business. I get better flowers at the grocery store, because I can choose them myself.

If you don't know how to pick a good rose, it's kind of like picking a woman. Give the hips a little squeeze, and if it's nice and firm, it's a keeper! If it feels soft and wilted, move on and make another choice.

In the immortal words of Ron White.

DIAMONDS!!!!

That'll shut her up!

@catskyfire: Yes. Sony and Toshiba are in this too.

But I hope your wife didn't sell it on the spot to the same person who did the appraisal? (Whatever you did, I'm sure you considered it thoroughly and made the right decision based on your circumstances.)

I don't mind diamonds, though. They can look good in the right setting. I appreciate that they're not for everyone or that some people prefer other stones, but people who act cool because they'd "never get a diamond" are just obnoxious.

Really? No mention of slave labor? That's my #1 reason I'd vote for DeBeers over all other competition, including Comcast. But hey, children dying in diamond mines halfway around the world? Who cares, I missed the latest episode of Lost because my cable went all screwy! *Le sob*

@cheddarpants: Definitely do that!!!! I bought from an online wholesaler. It was 1 carat certified (w/all the papers to prove it) with good clarity, color and cut (can't remember the specifics)for about 2k. Since I bought it online I was terrified and took it to a jeweler to have it appraised. They valued it at $4,400.

i image the diamond industry is alot like this but worse. debeers.

Back when we were still dating, I made it clear to my wife that she'd never get a diamond from me. Fortunately, I'm convincing, and she finds my little rants entertaining, or endearing, or something like that. I've already made other promises that I'll have to live up to later, but I'm perfectly happy with that.

To echo what CRNewsom said...not much is harder than diamond, but gemstones are still pretty hard. On the Mohs scale, sapphire and ruby are 9, emerald around 8, garnet around 7, hardened steel around 7-8, and opal around 5.5. My mother's 40 year old opal engagement ring has held up pretty well...though she DOES take it off when she's in the kitchen.

It's tragic, really.

f the diamond industry all together. it's corrupt.

love transcends all materialistic bribery. most people don't get that.

@jmuskratt: I'm with you.

deBeers FT"W"

As a note, DeBeers tries to avoid the blood diamonds. They have their own mines, such as in South Africa, as well as some off-shore items. The majority of their business isn't even for the consumer market. Most diamonds are for the industrial side of things.

One question: Can a company be eligible for 'worst company in America' when their headquarters is in South Africa?

Debeers is just plain evi

Do what I did: Find a lady with smaller hands. You can get away with buying a smaller (cheaper) diamond. You don't want a huge-ass rock sitting on a small, petite hand. It looks poorly proportioned.

Also, my #1 tip for diamond shopping: Avoid the mall stores like the plague. There are places out there where you can get a better stone for the same price (or less).

@blondegrlz: I'll keep that in mind.

@cheddarpants: I did that too! I got connected with a guy who was able to give me good prices on rings/bands, but I was hoping to be able to pick my style so i looked at loose stones, but they all ended up pricing about the same everywhere. I think it's a really good idea to go with a wholesaler if you just want a ring, but not if you want something very specific.

Um, that's the way these tournaments work. It's set up so the crappy contestants get the boot early, and the scrappers in the middle get to fight it out for a chance to take on the giants.

DeBeers: A diamond is forever, but $10,000 is a year's rent.

@Secret Agent Man: You know, if you're having second thought you can always propose to me. All that talk of Tiffany diamonds...is it hot in here?

@utensil42: It's interesting that you're worried about scratching a sapphire. They are a 9.0 on the Mohs hardness scale (diamond is 10.0), and Rolex (and a number of other rather pricey watchmakers) use them for their crystals due to their scratch resistant properties.

Diamond propaganda aside, there are far better reasons to hate DeBeers. 1-800-Flowers.com doesn't have a "human rights" PR section on its website.

In all seriousness, this is one of those, blame the consumer instances. We keep buying this crap and propagating these problems.

Step 1. Buy all the known diamond mines.
Step 2. Convince the huddled masses that "A diamond is forever" along with "it's mandatory" and "the number of months you go starve to buy it is directly proportional how much you love her."
Step 3. Profit.
Step 4. Run a few TV ads around Valentine's day.
Step 5. See step 3.

Don't forget the debeers class action settlement if you bought between 94-06.

Up to 45% of your $ back. If you don't claim it, who knows what lawyer will end up with it.

Although I might be willing to bend a bit on lab grown diamonds.

@Buran: After my husband proposed with a beautifully modest diamond ring, he mentioned that he had looked into buying a lab-made diamond because I would think it was cool. Unfortunately, either the technology wasn't yet commercialized or it was too expensive, as Secret Agent Man said. If you haven't already read it, [www.wired.com] is a really neat article.

I'm sorry but flowers and diamonds are rediculous. If I can ever meet a good geek guy I would never want him to buy me flowers or diamonds because its just plain frivolous.

In absolute terms, no question, DeBeers.

@freshwater: Because DeBeers doesn't have any diamond mines in Canada. I'm sure if they did, they wouldn't call them anything like Snap Lake Mine or Victor Mine.

@utensil42: I got my fiancée a three stone ring (small diamonds on side, large center green sapphire, to match her eyes) for $1,300. A pretty good deal if you ask me, since a 1 1/4 carat diamond would have cost me ten times as much.

Guys you gotta start lying about salary as soon as you meet them.

@BStu: "Another 1 vs 16 match-up. This isn't the 18th century. Dead Africans trump dead flowers."

You'd think that would be the logic, but rembmer that poor internet service beat out dead pets in Comcast vs Pet Food like 5-to-1.

Still, I went with da-beers. I have my pick of flower places, but almost no choice for diamonds. Not that I buy much of either.

Last I heard it was two months' salary. I better inform my boyfriend of this news!

Or, you could save yourself thousands of dollars and get something other than a diamond.

Or do what I did and go with completely different stones altogether. My wife and I met with a jeweler and had a custom ring made with emeralds and aquamarine (our birthstone) for less than $4,000.

In the end I bought from Tiffany's, so not only am I a sucker, I'm a sucker who paid too much just to get a brand name. You'd think I'd never read the consumerist...

Speaking of DeBeers, when do I get that check from the class action lawsuit?

Looks like I am in the minority. 1-800-Flowers screwed up my order 2 too many times. I'll never use them again.

Debeers...well I won't be dealing with them for a couple months.

@m4ximusprim3: Amen. That's an additional reason why DeBeers is evil. Blood Diamonds are bad.

You guys are all wrong. Speding a quarter of a year's salary on something an exploited african pulled out of the ground is the only way to show someone you really care.

wait...

No, really honey, here's how this works. I give some crappy monopoly $10,000 and you get this little shiny glittery thing and that proves how much I love you. See, I prove my love for you by giving away all my hard earned cash. Why, you ask? Because the TV said I had to!!

I ignore diamonds. But I have a permanent grudge against 1-800-F'ingIncompetent for practically ruining my engagement when he and I both used them to send flowers to each other on Valentine's Day a couple years ago, and neither order was delivered.

In any case, my wife's engagement ring was not a diamond, though she was more insistent about that than I was.

What did someone once say - true lovers elope?

Oooh, a tough one. I'm still 7/7 with the majority though. Gotta check my brackets.