The Bert Show — "Vault: Is She Wrong For Selling Her Wedding Rings?"

Date: February 9, 2026
Hosts: Burt, Jeff, Jen, Kelly, (guest) Ashley, listeners
Episode Focus: Ethical, emotional, and practical dilemmas surrounding the resale of engagement and wedding rings after a marriage ends—with a lively debate over whether it's acceptable to buy or sell rings or jewelry store credit tied to failed relationships.

Episode Overview

This episode centers on a real-life scenario: Ashley, a listener, wants to sell her engagement and wedding ring set after her marriage ended. Unable to sell directly, she considers exchanging the set for store credit and then selling that credit (for less than its value) to someone shopping for a ring. The cast debates whether buying jewelry associated with a failed marriage carries bad luck or negative energy, or if it’s simply a smart deal. They invite listeners to weigh in, sparking a spirited back-and-forth about superstition, practicality, and the meaning behind jewelry traditions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ashley’s Dilemma: Selling Her Rings (00:00–02:10)

• Ashley explains she's been trying to sell her engagement ring and band set for months—via eBay, Craigslist, and word of mouth—with no luck, only scam attempts.
• She reveals the jewelry store will let her return the rings for a full store credit (worth about $5,000), which she’d then sell to someone needing an affordable engagement ring. She'd accept less than the full value to help someone else and get some cash.

2. The Gift Certificate Plan: Superstition or Smart Deal? (02:10–03:41)

• Jeff breaks down Ashley’s plan: She trades her rings for a $5,000 store credit, then sells it for $4,000. The buyer gets a $5,000 ring for $4,000; Ashley gets cash.
• Jeff highlights potential objections: “I fully believe there are women out there who would be upset if their engagement ring was purchased using a gift certificate that’s tied to another engagement ring where the marriage failed.” (03:17 — Jeff)
• Kelly suggests some might see any connection to failed love as “bad luck,” while Burt questions if anyone would care “if you didn’t know the history.”

3. Do Stores Re-Sell Divorce Jewelry? (03:43–05:21)

• The group wonders if stores resell returned rings, and whether shoppers can unknowingly buy rings/diamonds from past relationships:
  • “So now it makes me wonder... how do you know you don’t already have a diamond that was part of a marriage that didn’t work?” (06:07 — Jen)
• Kelly explains that stores typically reset diamonds, so a buyer wouldn’t know the diamond's history.

4. Listener Calls: Bargain Hunters vs. Superstitious Shoppers (05:21–10:12)

• First caller is all for the deal: “I would definitely push him to take the gift certificate and go. It’s not like you’re buying somebody’s old ring... it’s free money.” (05:23 — Listener Kelly)
• Jeff wants a more controversial opinion: “I want the woman who’s like: No way... I’ll take a smaller ring rather than take a ring connected to a marriage that didn’t work out.” (05:48 — Jeff)
• Another caller, Rachel, shares her fiancé traded his ex’s ring toward hers: “I was totally fine with that because hers was a $5,000 ring, and I now have an $8,000 ring on my skirt.” (06:31 — Listener Rachel)
• Next caller is torn: “I was all for it until I heard... it was from another marriage. I’m too superstitious for that.” (07:17 — Listener Ashley)
• Ken shares a personal (and costly) story: He gave his divorced sister $19,000 for store credit, topped it up to buy a massive ring. His wife was furious for three weeks after discovering the bargain, despite saving over $10,000: “I have no idea why. She can’t validate that...I haven’t figured it out yet.” (08:08 — Listener Ken)

5. Are Most Rings “Jinxed” Anyway? (09:24–10:28)

• Some jewelers confirm they do resell ring sets, sometimes with only minor cleaning or adjustments.
• Jen observes: “There are plenty of women in Atlanta who are wearing a jinx ring and have no idea.” (09:41 — Jen)
• Another caller: Ok with credit for non-romantic jewelry (like earrings or pendants), but “anything but engagement or wedding ring, because that’s a symbol of your love... you don’t want to just sit there and pass on your love from another relationship.” (10:14 — Listener Elaine)

6. Final Thoughts: Is Money or Meaning More Important? (10:30–End)

• Burt wonders if knowing the truth would change buyers’ attitudes, and if sellers must disclose a ring’s “history.”
• Jeff speculates: If you showed buyers a larger diamond for the same money—with the “jinxed” credit—they’d likely take the better deal:
  • “My guess is she’s wrapping her arms around the 20 stacks and the big stone and running the hell out of there.” (11:00 — Jeff)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jeff: “I fully believe there are women out there who would be upset if their engagement ring was purchased using a gift certificate that's tied to another engagement ring where the marriage failed.” (03:17)
• Kelly (caller): “It’s not like you’re buying somebody’s old ring... it’s free money.” (05:23)
• Rachel (caller): “Hers was a $5,000 ring, and I now have that $8,000 ring on my skirt.” (06:31)
• Ken (caller): “Yeah, I was in the doghouse for about three weeks... It saved us over 10 grand. I don’t... I haven’t figured it out yet.” (08:08)
• Jen: “There are plenty of women in Atlanta who are wearing a jinx ring and have no idea.” (09:41)
• Elaine (caller): “[With] any kind of connection to any type of relationship... you just gotta say no. Now if... my significant other wants to use that credit for some beautiful diamond earrings or a pendant, that would be awesome. But anything but engagement or wedding ring.” (10:14)
• Jeff: “My guess is she’s wrapping her arms around the 20 stacks and the big stone and running the hell out of there.” (11:00)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–02:10: Ashley explains her situation and plan to sell her rings for store credit.
• 02:10–03:41: Show hosts debate superstitions around buying engagement rings/jewelry linked to failed marriages.
• 03:41–05:21: How do jewelers handle resale of divorce jewelry and do they disclose it?
• 05:21–10:12: Audience calls with opinions ranging from pragmatic to superstitious.
• 10:12–11:06: Final reflections on meaning vs money; would people really turn down a deal for “bad luck”?

Takeaways

• The cast and callers displayed a blend of practicality and sentimentality—some caring deeply about the symbolic origin of the jewelry, while others emphasized the value and smart shopping.
• Listeners were split: Some focused on the financial sense of using store credit/trading in rings, while others felt strongly that engagement/wedding jewelry should be “untainted.”
• The segment is lively, humorous, and authentic—typical of The Bert Show—offering a real-life glimpse into how traditions, superstitions, and modern thrift can collide in matters of love and marriage.

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