Not all Disney Springs stores are gold

[zackiedawg]

Sorry about your experience - fair point to warn others, though I will say I've always avoided Diamonds International ever since they started popping up at every cruise port in the world 25-30 years ago. I remember back in the early 80s it had a few stores at a few Caribbean stops, but then exploded to having a store inside the cruise port facilities as well as in town at nearly every stop around the world. Inflated prices, mass marketed and manufactured jewelry, and just not worth it. I still browse their stores, just because it's a convenient spot to see many different watches, pens, etc - but then I tend to go to smaller trusted stores to actually purchase.

Disney Springs is not the place to shop for a bargain - almost anything you buy there could be purchased cheaper elsewhere. Sometimes, you're just in the mood, have the money, and decide to buy something there - I've done it...but I'll typically avoid making expensive luxury purchases there. Fun to browse, but if I'm spending 4-figures, I'm going to stores I trust and have a relationship with.

My boss is a big pen guy - he's got quite a collection including lots of Mont Blanc, Aspinal, Montegrappa, Namiki, Meisterstuck...some cost as much as my car. If it brings you joy, and you have the money to afford it, why not?

I admit I'm a watch guy, and I have far more watches than I need - I don't necessarily buy a watch because it's the most expensive - I have $70 watches that I love and 5-figure watches that I love...for me, it's the design, the movement, the complexity, or the durability that draws me in. But I'll only spend excess money on one - I don't go into debt to get a watch, or go late on bills to afford one. I've worked since I was 14 and now I'm in my late 50s, so I feel I've earned the right to enjoy collecting something I really like.

 

[Kennywood]

On DCL, was it DI that had offers for free charms? You had to go into the store in port, present your coupon, and they would give you the charm. Of course, once you're in the store, they do try to sell merchandise to you. The charm offer is just to get you in the store. My wife and I are both strong willed, so the sales pitches never bothered us. We were there only for the charm. Still, it was a nice, free souvenir and it gave us another excuse to look at other shops in port.

 

[zackiedawg]

DI has been doing that for decades on all the cruise lines. I've gotten those same free charm offers on Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Celebrity. As you say, if you're immune to the hard sell, you can just go get the charm and wave off the pressure. And DI stores can be useful as I mentioned earlier - it's a good spot to see a lot of merchandise - then go buy it at another store you trust more.