If you are looking for somewhere to sell some jewelry or gold for scrap, STAY AWAY FROM THE JEWELRY BOUTIQUE on Mass. Ave. in Arlington (across from the Capitol Theater). I went there last Saturday to get some cash for a gold ring that could only be sold for scrap (it has a curve that an engagement ring originally nestled against). The jeweler examined and weighed the ring, and told me it was worth $17 and some cents - I think it was 65 cents, but I don't remember the exact number. I responded by asking if we could make it an even $20. My understanding is that negotiating in such a situation is accepted and expected practice. His response was an irritable, "How about an even $17," as he handed me $17. I said, "I thought you just said it was worth $17.65." He replied, "Now it's $17."

Of course the 65 cents, or whatever it was, was insignificant; it was the principle. He could have just said, "Sorry, but the amount I just quoted you is based on the weight, and that's all I can pay you." Instead, he "penalized me" for attempting to negotiate. I told him that was no way to do business and that he could expect some bad publicity for being such a sleaze. Unfortunately, I had to take the $17, as I had a rather large dental bill I'd recently paid and was woefully short on cash that week, as well as too short on time to take it somewhere else.

I'm sure this type of story is regrettably all too common these days. It's a shame that unscrupulous businesspeople take advantage of people's precarious financial situations in these difficult economic times.