I took my engagement and wedding rings into Guest and Phillips to be valued and spoke to a lovely helpful lady who asked me if I wanted a valuation for sale or for insurance. I mistakenly asked for sale as I wanted a valuation in order for me to sell them privately, I was unaware that they were going to give me a price for them to buy it. What I wanted was certification of the stones, as both rings were purchased for a total of over £3,500. When I went in, I was met by another lady, who was incredibly brusque and frosty. She said, ‘these are too modern and not popular so it would be £100.00 for the wedding band and £250.00 for the engagement ring.’ I was understandably bemused, not having realised my mistake and uttered in exclamation, ‘but they are worth over £3,500.00 that’s what they were purchased for.’ She shrugged and said ‘take it up with them, they are only worth what someone will pay for them.’ I asked about stone size and the lovely lady who had served me was there and said, ‘but you wanted a sale evaluation.’ She pointed out my misunderstanding and I apologised to her stating what I wanted. The other woman snatched them back and said ‘well that’s not what you asked for.’ My mum who was standing behind with my baby son then felt compelled to try and reason with her ‘my daughter just needs to sell them. Her husband has left her with nothing and she has to try to sell these. She just wants to get a certificate to prove authenticity.’ By this point I am feeling utterly humiliated. A frozen stare was returned with another gruff response ‘well that’s something completely different and it costs you know.’ I was aware of that and prepared to pay, but by now absolutely was aware that indeed everything does come at a price, even a ludicrous one! Necessity compelled me to leave them for valuation, that and a burning sense of shame I had acquired in the store and I wanted to scuttle away before any more admonishments. I don’t expect to illicit sympathy, she is a business woman and has a business to run and I accept that. Maybe she was having a bad day, just as I have been having a hard time. I will say, however, as a fellow human being, in some of the most difficult times that we have faced, that a gentle approach costs nothing. A smile and an amenable air is by far a more humane way to conduct oneself. Certainly I wouldn’t wish anyone to come out of the store feeling as I do now, without receiving basic human dignity and as if I have been looked down on and completely ridiculed because I misunderstood something, in what has been the most tragic time of my life. The old adage ‘think before you speak’ goes a long way and indeed if the shoe was on the other foot how would you want your prize possessions to be treated.