Amazing deals" like multi-thousand dollar stones for a couple
hundred. I wonder if it's all "too good to be true". If a stone has
x value how is it possible to buy it for so very little? This seems
to go against all the "rules" of economics/supply and demand.
Yes, it IS possible to get fabulous deals on faceted & cabochon
gemstones (and rough) on eBay. 'Most everybody tends to think that
eBay is a huge “world market”…but in actuality, if you’ll check out
the ‘hit counters’ on the individual auctions, you’ll see that many
MANY times an auction has been viewed less than fifty times. Those
‘hits’ include competitors, people who are comparing prices, and
lookers that have no intention of ever bidding or buying.
So think about it…if you displayed at a show or had a shop where
you put a very low opening bid on an item (to draw attention to that
item)…and only had 38 people even look and/or consider
bidding…there would be a HUGE chance your item would sell for FAR
less than market value.
eBay is open to the world…but that doesn’t mean the whole world
sees every listing.
One thing which doesn’t seem to have been mentioned in regard to this
’excess postage’ scam is the matter of duff goods insurance. I very
briefly looked at the musical instruments being offered direct from
India or China - about 4.95 + 300.00 postage and insurance for the
one I was interested in, but then I thought… If they don’t arrive
or if they are not as described, what recompense could I get? Sure
Ebay and Paypal say they will compensate you for goods which are not
delivered or are not as described BUT, they will only refund the cost
of the item (4.95), NOT the cost of the postage. On principle I will
not deal with anyone who uses this postage scam for this reason and
their attempts to avoid taxes.
My jewelry is sold based on its artistic quality and quality of
workmanship. I would never over state my materials. I do like good
quality, but I do not work with real diamonds, etc. This is not my
focus.
Good to know. I have visited your web site and enjoy your designs. I
would have just hated it if you were under any kind of potential
legal cloud!
... E-Bay does not involve itself in the buyer/seller business
until if and when someone files a legitimate complaint.
John, that sure wasn’t my experience. Last year I purchased some
sugilite which turned out to be plastic. Being relatively new to eBay
and very naive, I just KNEW they would want to know about it. Wrong.
First I followed the proper channels with the buyer who sells a lot
of stones, told him I was a Graduate Gemologist and that I identified
it as plastic, he claimed his overseas buyer wouldn’t sell him
anything other than genuine sugilite, he returned my money but
continues to sell the stuff in droves. Because of the principle of
the thing and because he was putting a black mark (ok, a relatively
small one) on the jewelry industry, I contacted eBay, eventually
every which way that’s possible (believe me, I tried 'em all). They
basically dropped the ball, sending wimpy e-mails a couple of times
which didn’t address the fact that this guy was committing fraud on
their site. It was clear to me they didn’t care enough to address the
situation. Buyer beware? Oh yeah.
as everyone has said, these are probably CZ, certainly not what
you would get from Rio."
The price I quoted in my earlier post was for CZs from Rio Grande.
And btw, I never thought they were diamonds, did you think I did?
Well, as a matter of fact, since your original post said " I have
recently purchased some really beautiful Russian lab grown diamonds
on ebay" I did think you had purchased some (lab grown) diamonds.
Could it be that you are confusing the term simulant with synthetic?
Anyway, ebay has pulled his auctions
Not so. As of about ten minutes ago he has over 500 items listed on
his auctions.
I just wanted to let you all know that ebay pulled the auctions that
I had purchased stones from summitjewels, due to circumventing ebay
fees, so I am not liable for paying this guy for the items I bid on.
He still has lots of auctions on ebay that still run this scam, but
at least I don’t have to be liable for paying him those outrageous
fees.
Thank goodness! Thanks for all the suggestions and ideas, I really
appreciate it.
Hope you will all be more cautious than I was this time. I know I
will be in the future!
