Ring Replacement Info for the Class of 62

Background:  Joe Petrolino recently sent us the following information about his problems with finding a replacement for his Class Ring.  You can read Jack Reavill's response below Joe's e-mail; the background info that Jack included may also be of value.

• "I read back emails from last year on Jack’s travails in getting his ring replaced. I did so because I now have to get mine cut off along with the wedding band. I have however taken no action yet.

  I called the number in Austin only to discover that no one there dealt with ring replacement. After several times of being forwarded I ended up with Lisa in New Jersey at the West Point account. This is the same number that was in the Graduate Guide we got at the 45^th reunion on page 10.

  The contacts in the book are Jayne Roland and Lisa Swatek at 201-262-8800. There is also an 800 number listed but that gets you to Austin who will send you back to Lisa. The Jessica and Nicole that Jack dealt with are long gone.

  Lisa told me that nothing that Jack spelled out in his email on how his situation was handled was correct. She said that policy does not apply and that should a ring need replacement it would cost the current price not the $75.

  I suspect that many of us will be in the position of having to have rings removed as we get older, fatter with arthritis and banged up hands. This may require another run at Balfour. Thoughts?" 

  Joe Petrolino

• "I talked with Balfour folks at Austin and New Jersey as well as with Joe.  Apparently I got a one time good deal when I had my rings done. The folks at Austin screwed up and quoted me the costs for replacement of  normal college rings which are normally plainer and smaller than those of the academies.  I have requested that they email me their policies and cost associated with:

   

  1. Resizing less than 2 sizes
  2. Resizing more than 2 sizes
  3. Ring replacement with turn in of original ring for melting down
  4. Ring replacement when there is no old ring to melt down

  As I indicated earlier, I got a special one time good deal on my ring replacements.  Balfour folks at Austin apparently quoted prices meant for normal college rings that are "plainer" than ours.  To their credit, they stood by the prices quoted, although they never mentioned their error to me.

  ---

  This is the second missive from Jack on the matter:

   

  Anyway, after some conversations with Lisa, one of their reps in New Jersey, she provided the attached policies which I recommend be posted on the class web site,

   

   Following are some points from my telephonic and email discussions:

   

  1.  Resizing not to exceed 2 sizes is at no charge.  They will not resize more than 2 sizes.

   

  2.  Replacement of a synthetic stone by a like synthetic stone is at no charge but changing to a different type of synthetic stone is $65 plus tax and shipping.   

   

  3.  Replacement of an old ring (turned in to Balfour for recycling) currently costs approximately $450 with a synthetic or black onyx stone.

   

  4.  Replacement of a lost or stolen ring is as indicated on the attached. Note the cost of replacement of a synthetic/genuine black onyx stone by a special stone is additional as is green gold.

   
   
  Costs for both resizing and replacement depend upon things such as real or synthetic stones and, more importantly, the cost of gold."

  Jack Reavill

   

   

   

• Info from Balfour (new Rings)

UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY

CLASS RING PRICES

THE ABOVE PRICE INCLUDES ALL SYNTHETIC BIRTHSTONES AND THE GENUINE BLACK ONYX. SPECIAL STONE PRICES ARE ADDITIONAL.

GREEN GOLD IS AN ADDITIONAL $65.00

DESTINATION SALES TAX MUST BE ADDED TO THE ABOVE PRICES.

PRODUCTION TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 10-12 WEEKS.

PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

PRICES EFFECTIVE AUGUST 15, 2007-JANUARY 1, 2008  

 Telephone contact for Balfour is 1-800-BALFOUR