> Find a jewlery shop that isn't too pushy and are generally good people. Some of those people are way pushy and/or rude.

Others are amusing. When I was shopping for an engagement ring, I had it narrowed down to two diamonds of similar price but different physical characteristics -- the choice boiled down to a small trade-off between size and clarity/flawlessness. Both diamonds were within a good range as far as both things went, so it was a matter of which thing I wanted on the better end of the scale.

So I'm examining these two stones under the microscope, and the person helping me is talking to me about the things people take into consideration when deciding on a diamond. She kept walking me to think out loud, because if she knows what's going through my head, she is better able to sell me. I knew the game, though. I mostly kept quiet but didn't have any problem making her happy, either, because I knew she wasn't going to make me make a decision I wouldn't otherwise. So, as I say, I was examining these two stones under a microscopic, then out from under it, then under it again, and I'm dropping just enough of the thoughts I was weighing in my head to keep her happy.

It was fascinating, because whichever way I leaned, she started leaning, and if I leaned the other way, she started leaning the other way. It hardly mattered to her which stone I picked (I don't remember which was more expensive, but the difference was minute), only that I picked *something* and was happy about it.

She had a cohort -- one of the other ladies behind the counter with whom she struck up these mock conversations, staged entirely for my benefit as I studied the stones. I wish I remembered more of the conversation exactly, but this was the gist of it:

Me: "I'm leaning toward the [however I referred to the larger but slightly more flawed one]."

Her, to conspirator, but facing me, and in a casual tone yet so clearly spoken that it was obviously anything but casual: "He's thinking he likes the bigger one. It's a beautiful stone."

Conspirator, matching the tone of voice: "Yes, it is. And you don't even notice the difference in quality."

Her: "That's right. It's a great quality stone, too."

All this time I'm basically just continuing to examine the stones and follow my own lines of reasoning, only noting theirs so much as to be amused by it. But then:

Me: "Hmmm. I think now I'm leaning toward [however I referred to the slightly smaller, slightly less flawed stone]."

Her: "That's a really beautiful diamond." (to conspirator) "Now he's thinking he likes the [other] one better."

Conspirator: "Ohh! The quality of one is excellent. I just think it's so beautiful."

Her: "Yes. And, you know...[short speech on why quality is more important than size]"

And so on. It was hilarious.

S "ended up buying the smaller, better quality diamond, which was a good decision, because it turned out to be big enough to take gouges out of my fingers if I hold her hand wrong, so I can only imagine how I would suffer by a bigger one" am