Dear Parasawalaito Parasawala, I have seen many glass-filled rubies in my life and this does not look like one of them. I'd say these inclusions look like natural ones. They have neither the form, nor the color characteristic of glass-filled rubies. Gas bubbles are the characteristic inclusions forRead more
Dear Parasawalaito Parasawala,
I have seen many glass-filled rubies in my life and this does not look like one of them. I’d say these inclusions look like natural ones. They have neither the form, nor the color characteristic of glass-filled rubies. Gas bubbles are the characteristic inclusions for lead glass-filled rubies, and I don’t think these look like such bubbles.
Dear Nena, It is not necessarily a scam. I know at least a few absolutely reliable and honest sellers that make bidders' identities private. It is somewhat hard for me to understand why they are doing this as the real identities remain hidden at all times anyways. With that being said, I have to notRead more
Dear Nena,
It is not necessarily a scam. I know at least a few absolutely reliable and honest sellers that make bidders’ identities private.
It is somewhat hard for me to understand why they are doing this as the real identities remain hidden at all times anyways.
With that being said, I have to note that private listings are indeed a factor that should raise a red flag.
According to my personal experience, private listings are mainly used by dishonest sellers. For the most part, it is being done to hide shill bidding (placing bids on your own lots).
You see, in order to engage in shill bidding, sellers have to create new fake accounts (users) all the time. Thus, these fake bidders have extremely limited feedback scores or none at all. If bidder identities are not private, you can easily notice that one and the same bidder with no feedback score is continuously bidding on that seller’s lots. Or there is a bunch of no-feedback-bidders competing for that seller’s lots. So, there is a good chance you’ll get suspicious that something fishy is going on. They (dishonest sellers) don’t want that. Therefore, they make bidders’ identities private (hide them), and bidders have no idea with whom they are competing.
My estimate is that at least 9 out of 10 sellers who make their listings private are scammers.
As @Eric rightly noted, this happens due to automatic bidding. However, it is important to note that automatic bidding, although it may seem a very convenient tool, is not a smart choice. It inevitably leads to paying more. There are other foolish mistakes bidders make, too. For example, engaging inRead more
As Eric rightly noted, this happens due to automatic bidding. However, it is important to note that automatic bidding, although it may seem a very convenient tool, is not a smart choice. It inevitably leads to paying more.
There are other foolish mistakes bidders make, too. For example, engaging in bidding wars. If you want to find out how to bid on eBay and pay less, read this post: https://www.shopperlib.com/how-to-bid-to-win-on-ebay-3-simple-tips/
This post describes in detail what mistakes eBay bidders make, how to avoid them, and what is the most effective bidding strategy.
It is not rocket science, but you’ll be surprised how many eBay bidders make mistakes and grossly overpay as a result.
Dear Paulo, There are two things I'd like to say about Westfield Jewelry Appraisers: The good thing is that they are perfectly clear and honest about the gemstone treatment methods in their certificates. For example, if a ruby is lead glass-filled, they state "treatment: glass & flux". Many labsRead more
Dear Paulo,
There are two things I’d like to say about Westfield Jewelry Appraisers:
The good thing is that they are perfectly clear and honest about the gemstone treatment methods in their certificates. For example, if a ruby is lead glass-filled, they state “treatment: glass & flux”. Many labs (or so-called labs) do not disclose such information. Westfield Jewelry Appraisers are not like that.
The bad thing, however, is that their estimated retail values are extremely inflated (as Anna has already mentioned). Actually, they are shamelessly lying about the market value of the items they certify.
Therefore, I find this lab very interesting – on the one hand, they are perfectly consistent and professional; on the other hand, they are just a bunch of scammers printing certificates with totally fake retail estimates.
I used to buy 14K gold clasps from es_store, too. Then about a year ago, I found this seller (see attached file). The good thing is that now I can buy these clasps at this price whenever I need them and I don't have to ask es_store for a discount each and every time. Regards, Editor
I used to buy 14K gold clasps from es_store, too. Then about a year ago, I found this seller (see attached file). The good thing is that now I can buy these clasps at this price whenever I need them and I don’t have to ask es_store for a discount each and every time.
Hi! First of all, the item's listing is not entirely fair. It doesn't say a single word about the ruby's treatment. This ruby is what is known as lead glass-filled ruby (aka "composite ruby"). Thus, it is not really correct to state it is a natural ruby. Composite rubies are extremely cheap. This isRead more
Hi!
First of all, the item’s listing is not entirely fair. It doesn’t say a single word about the ruby’s treatment. This ruby is what is known as lead glass-filled ruby (aka “composite ruby”). Thus, it is not really correct to state it is a natural ruby.
Composite rubies are extremely cheap. This is the exact reason why such composite rubies are frequently mounted in silver settings and surrounded by cubic zirconia (abbreviation CZ). CZs are cheap synthetic stones.
This is a readily available Thai-made pendant, and its true market value is $20 to $30 only. Thus, the present bids are placed by bidders who lack the necessary knowledge.
Hope this helps!
@Freddie is right that these rubies look like lead glass-filled. It's because they are lead glass-filled. @Anna is absolutely right that these earrings look Thai-made. It's because they are Thai-made. And yes, she is right about the price! $385 (£294) is absolutely outrageous for this jewelry set. FRead more
Freddie is right that these rubies look like lead glass-filled. It’s because they are lead glass-filled. Anna is absolutely right that these earrings look Thai-made. It’s because they are Thai-made. And yes, she is right about the price! $385 (£294) is absolutely outrageous for this jewelry set.
For the sake of clarity, I’d like to add that this seller, TrulyVenusian, is a liar. She states in her Etsy profile: “I have been passionate about making jewellery for about 30 years. Then I learned how to make pieces from scratch, usually inspired by a vintage theme or iconic woman from history”
She keeps on bragging about “best materials” and “beautiful architecture, vintage fashions, costume dramas”.
Passionate about making jewelry? Hmmm, are you sure that’s what you are passionate about? 🙂
Surprise, surprise, she states she does not take commissions “because my head is already too full of my own designs, and my house is full of half-finished jewellery”.
Your own designs?! Really?!
Let’s face it: this is not the true reason for not taking commissions. Most likely, she has no clue about how to make jewelry. That’s the true reason why she doesn’t take commissions! 99% of the jewelry she is selling is Thai-made. Almost all of it has been purchased from sellers like egemdiamond and gemsporium on eBay.com. TrulyVenusian’s prices are 10 to 20 times higher than the original prices on eBay. People, wake up!
And she has 1220 admirers! Crazy!!!
Dear Enigma, It really depends on what you mean by "natural sapphires". These are not man-made or synthetic sapphires. So, in that sense, you could say they are natural. However, they are treated. And by treated, I don't mean heated sapphires which is an industry-accepted treatment method. Most of tRead more
Dear Enigma,
It really depends on what you mean by “natural sapphires”. These are not man-made or synthetic sapphires. So, in that sense, you could say they are natural.
However, they are treated. And by treated, I don’t mean heated sapphires which is an industry-accepted treatment method. Most of the sapphires on the market are heated.
These sapphires here, instead, are what is called cobalt-lead glass-filled sapphires. They are also called lead and cobalt glass filled sapphires, cobalt-doped glass-filled sapphires, or cobalt-doped composite sapphires. In essence, these are composite sapphires.
A very low-quality starting material is used – opaque, industrial-grade stones. It is then mixed with powders that contain lead and cobalt. This mixture is heated fusing the powders into a cobalt-lead glass that penetrates the fractures and cavities in the stone. Lead-cobalt glass can account for most of the stone’s weight.
Basically, the technology is pretty much the same as that used for the lead glass-filled rubies. The main difference is that for the cobalt-doped composite sapphires, as the name suggests, cobalt is used.
These composite sapphires have the same durability problems as lead glass-filled rubies do. And yes, they are almost worthless (just like lead glass-filled rubies).
£137.79 (ca. $179) is definitely not a good price for this bracelet. You can easily buy alike bracelets at a price around $40 – $60 on eBay (note: at auction, not “buy it now” format). So, this price here is 3 to 4 times higher than what would be reasonable for a composite sapphire bracelet.
You can read more about composite rubies (in order to better understand issues related to composite sapphires) here:
FoxyFox, This price estimate, as well as the start price, is the most outrageous nonsense. Indeed, the necklace is very nice. However, it is important to note that these sapphires are diffusion treated and rubies are lead-glass filled. This is a Thai-made piece of jewelry. This is not to say that thRead more
FoxyFox,
This price estimate, as well as the start price, is the most outrageous nonsense. Indeed, the necklace is very nice. However, it is important to note that these sapphires are diffusion treated and rubies are lead-glass filled. This is a Thai-made piece of jewelry. This is not to say that there is something inherently wrong with it; it is just not worth the price. I am 99.9% confident that this necklace comes from eBay seller gemsporium or egemdiamond (actually this is one and the same seller with two accounts).
I’d suggest you check out this seller. There is a pretty good chance that you will find exactly the same necklace at some point. If it is not there at the moment, it might be a good idea to contact the seller and ask him when this necklace will be in stock again.
Normally, the price of such a necklace is around $600 – $700 if you go for “buy it now”. However, if you are lucky, you can win it on an auction at a price even lower than that – $300 – $400. This is what it is actually worth, not $5700. Icollector.com business model is based on unreasonably high price estimates and start prices. In addition, they do not disclose the information on gemstone treatment. Yet another online auction site engaging in dishonest business practices.
Arnold, I do understand you. This kind of situation can be really frustrating. I agree with you that the auction site should step in and facilitate the return and the refund. You mentioned that they keep the money for two weeks. Is the auction site in question Catawiki? I know that they would hold aRead more
Arnold,
I do understand you. This kind of situation can be really frustrating. I agree with you that the auction site should step in and facilitate the return and the refund. You mentioned that they keep the money for two weeks. Is the auction site in question Catawiki? I know that they would hold all the payments for two weeks. Anyways, this system is designed to boost trust in the buyers, to make them feel safer, more protected. And if it’s not working to your benefit in a situation like this, then what’s the point to have it in the first place?
What they are saying about private sellers (non-business sellers) is true. The EU law with its right to cancel and return your order within 14 days does not apply here. However, this situation here has nothing to do with the EU law. I mean, the auction house (auction site) can have its own policy in place in order to protect its customers. It wouldn’t be against any law to expand this coverage so that private sellers’ customers are equally protected. And that would be very easy to do as long as the money is still in their account. So, there is no excuse for them not to do that. Except that they are not interested in that. It is bad for the business, I mean. They would rather earn their commission on this sale, and you are left with all the losses.
So, I would suggest you try to convince them that it is their obligation to step in and to protect your lawful interests. However, if it is already too late (they don’t have your money any longer), or you do not succeed in convincing them, here are a few things I’d suggest you give a try:
1. Check whether this seller is selling a lot of items. I mean, does it look like he/she is selling personal belongings from time to time or is it rather a business activity aimed at gaining profit? A lot of private sellers are not really private sellers within the meaning of the law. They are selling a large number of items on a regular basis and for profit. As a rule of thumb, they are not paying taxes. So, it might be a good idea to tell them that if they wouldn’t go for a refund, you might contact their tax authorities and pass on the information concerning tax evasion. I think this is by far the best approach. It has helped me several times actually.
2. Tell the seller that you would contact the police. As you rightfully noted, it can be regarded as fraud if there are serious discrepancies between the description/images and the actual goods. If the seller was from China, this wouldn’t help, but as the seller in question is from the EU, there is a pretty good chance he might reconsider his position.
3. Tell them that you have a powerful blog (e.g. for collectors of antique furniture) with millions of monthly visitors and you will start writing about them if you don’t get your refund. Tell them that in the long run this would hurt them much more than this single refund.
Let me know how did it go!
Is this glass-filled?
Editor
Dear Parasawalaito Parasawala, I have seen many glass-filled rubies in my life and this does not look like one of them. I'd say these inclusions look like natural ones. They have neither the form, nor the color characteristic of glass-filled rubies. Gas bubbles are the characteristic inclusions forRead more
Dear Parasawalaito Parasawala,
I have seen many glass-filled rubies in my life and this does not look like one of them. I’d say these inclusions look like natural ones. They have neither the form, nor the color characteristic of glass-filled rubies. Gas bubbles are the characteristic inclusions for lead glass-filled rubies, and I don’t think these look like such bubbles.
Sincerely, Editor
See lesseBay – private listing – bidders’ identities protected – is it a scam?
Editor
Dear Nena, It is not necessarily a scam. I know at least a few absolutely reliable and honest sellers that make bidders' identities private. It is somewhat hard for me to understand why they are doing this as the real identities remain hidden at all times anyways. With that being said, I have to notRead more
Dear Nena,
It is not necessarily a scam. I know at least a few absolutely reliable and honest sellers that make bidders’ identities private.
It is somewhat hard for me to understand why they are doing this as the real identities remain hidden at all times anyways.
With that being said, I have to note that private listings are indeed a factor that should raise a red flag.
According to my personal experience, private listings are mainly used by dishonest sellers. For the most part, it is being done to hide shill bidding (placing bids on your own lots).
You see, in order to engage in shill bidding, sellers have to create new fake accounts (users) all the time. Thus, these fake bidders have extremely limited feedback scores or none at all. If bidder identities are not private, you can easily notice that one and the same bidder with no feedback score is continuously bidding on that seller’s lots. Or there is a bunch of no-feedback-bidders competing for that seller’s lots. So, there is a good chance you’ll get suspicious that something fishy is going on. They (dishonest sellers) don’t want that. Therefore, they make bidders’ identities private (hide them), and bidders have no idea with whom they are competing.
My estimate is that at least 9 out of 10 sellers who make their listings private are scammers.
Regards, Editor
See lessWhy do I keep getting outbid on eBay?
Editor
As @Eric rightly noted, this happens due to automatic bidding. However, it is important to note that automatic bidding, although it may seem a very convenient tool, is not a smart choice. It inevitably leads to paying more. There are other foolish mistakes bidders make, too. For example, engaging inRead more
As Eric rightly noted, this happens due to automatic bidding. However, it is important to note that automatic bidding, although it may seem a very convenient tool, is not a smart choice. It inevitably leads to paying more.
There are other foolish mistakes bidders make, too. For example, engaging in bidding wars. If you want to find out how to bid on eBay and pay less, read this post: https://www.shopperlib.com/how-to-bid-to-win-on-ebay-3-simple-tips/
This post describes in detail what mistakes eBay bidders make, how to avoid them, and what is the most effective bidding strategy.
It is not rocket science, but you’ll be surprised how many eBay bidders make mistakes and grossly overpay as a result.
Best regards, Editor
See lessAre jewelry certificates issued by Westfield Jewelry Appraisers credible?
Editor
Dear Paulo, There are two things I'd like to say about Westfield Jewelry Appraisers: The good thing is that they are perfectly clear and honest about the gemstone treatment methods in their certificates. For example, if a ruby is lead glass-filled, they state "treatment: glass & flux". Many labsRead more
Dear Paulo,
There are two things I’d like to say about Westfield Jewelry Appraisers:
The good thing is that they are perfectly clear and honest about the gemstone treatment methods in their certificates. For example, if a ruby is lead glass-filled, they state “treatment: glass & flux”. Many labs (or so-called labs) do not disclose such information. Westfield Jewelry Appraisers are not like that.
The bad thing, however, is that their estimated retail values are extremely inflated (as Anna has already mentioned). Actually, they are shamelessly lying about the market value of the items they certify.
Therefore, I find this lab very interesting – on the one hand, they are perfectly consistent and professional; on the other hand, they are just a bunch of scammers printing certificates with totally fake retail estimates.
Best regards, Editor
See less14K Yellow gold clasp for my pearl necklace. Where can I get the best deal?
Editor
I used to buy 14K gold clasps from es_store, too. Then about a year ago, I found this seller (see attached file). The good thing is that now I can buy these clasps at this price whenever I need them and I don't have to ask es_store for a discount each and every time. Regards, Editor
I used to buy 14K gold clasps from es_store, too. Then about a year ago, I found this seller (see attached file). The good thing is that now I can buy these clasps at this price whenever I need them and I don’t have to ask es_store for a discount each and every time.
Regards, Editor
See lessHow much this ruby pendant is worth?
Editor
Hi! First of all, the item's listing is not entirely fair. It doesn't say a single word about the ruby's treatment. This ruby is what is known as lead glass-filled ruby (aka "composite ruby"). Thus, it is not really correct to state it is a natural ruby. Composite rubies are extremely cheap. This isRead more
Hi!
First of all, the item’s listing is not entirely fair. It doesn’t say a single word about the ruby’s treatment. This ruby is what is known as lead glass-filled ruby (aka “composite ruby”). Thus, it is not really correct to state it is a natural ruby.
Composite rubies are extremely cheap. This is the exact reason why such composite rubies are frequently mounted in silver settings and surrounded by cubic zirconia (abbreviation CZ). CZs are cheap synthetic stones.
This is a readily available Thai-made pendant, and its true market value is $20 to $30 only. Thus, the present bids are placed by bidders who lack the necessary knowledge.
Hope this helps!
Regards, Editor
See lessRubies, Emeralds & Sapphires Earrings & Pendant. Seller TrulyVenusian on Etsy. Are these gemstones natural or not?
Editor
@Freddie is right that these rubies look like lead glass-filled. It's because they are lead glass-filled. @Anna is absolutely right that these earrings look Thai-made. It's because they are Thai-made. And yes, she is right about the price! $385 (£294) is absolutely outrageous for this jewelry set. FRead more
Freddie is right that these rubies look like lead glass-filled. It’s because they are lead glass-filled.
See lessAnna is absolutely right that these earrings look Thai-made. It’s because they are Thai-made. And yes, she is right about the price! $385 (£294) is absolutely outrageous for this jewelry set.
For the sake of clarity, I’d like to add that this seller, TrulyVenusian, is a liar. She states in her Etsy profile: “I have been passionate about making jewellery for about 30 years. Then I learned how to make pieces from scratch, usually inspired by a vintage theme or iconic woman from history”
She keeps on bragging about “best materials” and “beautiful architecture, vintage fashions, costume dramas”.
Passionate about making jewelry? Hmmm, are you sure that’s what you are passionate about? 🙂
Surprise, surprise, she states she does not take commissions “because my head is already too full of my own designs, and my house is full of half-finished jewellery”.
Your own designs?! Really?!
Let’s face it: this is not the true reason for not taking commissions. Most likely, she has no clue about how to make jewelry. That’s the true reason why she doesn’t take commissions! 99% of the jewelry she is selling is Thai-made. Almost all of it has been purchased from sellers like egemdiamond and gemsporium on eBay.com. TrulyVenusian’s prices are 10 to 20 times higher than the original prices on eBay. People, wake up!
And she has 1220 admirers! Crazy!!!
925 Sterling silver bracelet with Sapphires on Etsy. Are these sapphires natural?
Editor
Dear Enigma, It really depends on what you mean by "natural sapphires". These are not man-made or synthetic sapphires. So, in that sense, you could say they are natural. However, they are treated. And by treated, I don't mean heated sapphires which is an industry-accepted treatment method. Most of tRead more
Dear Enigma,
It really depends on what you mean by “natural sapphires”. These are not man-made or synthetic sapphires. So, in that sense, you could say they are natural.
See lessHowever, they are treated. And by treated, I don’t mean heated sapphires which is an industry-accepted treatment method. Most of the sapphires on the market are heated.
These sapphires here, instead, are what is called cobalt-lead glass-filled sapphires. They are also called lead and cobalt glass filled sapphires, cobalt-doped glass-filled sapphires, or cobalt-doped composite sapphires. In essence, these are composite sapphires.
A very low-quality starting material is used – opaque, industrial-grade stones. It is then mixed with powders that contain lead and cobalt. This mixture is heated fusing the powders into a cobalt-lead glass that penetrates the fractures and cavities in the stone. Lead-cobalt glass can account for most of the stone’s weight.
Basically, the technology is pretty much the same as that used for the lead glass-filled rubies. The main difference is that for the cobalt-doped composite sapphires, as the name suggests, cobalt is used.
These composite sapphires have the same durability problems as lead glass-filled rubies do. And yes, they are almost worthless (just like lead glass-filled rubies).
£137.79 (ca. $179) is definitely not a good price for this bracelet. You can easily buy alike bracelets at a price around $40 – $60 on eBay (note: at auction, not “buy it now” format). So, this price here is 3 to 4 times higher than what would be reasonable for a composite sapphire bracelet.
You can read more about composite rubies (in order to better understand issues related to composite sapphires) here:
Natural Top Red Ruby & Fancy Sapphire 728 Cts Necklace on icollector.com auction site. How much should I bid?
Editor
FoxyFox, This price estimate, as well as the start price, is the most outrageous nonsense. Indeed, the necklace is very nice. However, it is important to note that these sapphires are diffusion treated and rubies are lead-glass filled. This is a Thai-made piece of jewelry. This is not to say that thRead more
FoxyFox,
This price estimate, as well as the start price, is the most outrageous nonsense. Indeed, the necklace is very nice. However, it is important to note that these sapphires are diffusion treated and rubies are lead-glass filled. This is a Thai-made piece of jewelry. This is not to say that there is something inherently wrong with it; it is just not worth the price. I am 99.9% confident that this necklace comes from eBay seller gemsporium or egemdiamond (actually this is one and the same seller with two accounts).
See lessI’d suggest you check out this seller. There is a pretty good chance that you will find exactly the same necklace at some point. If it is not there at the moment, it might be a good idea to contact the seller and ask him when this necklace will be in stock again.
Normally, the price of such a necklace is around $600 – $700 if you go for “buy it now”. However, if you are lucky, you can win it on an auction at a price even lower than that – $300 – $400. This is what it is actually worth, not $5700. Icollector.com business model is based on unreasonably high price estimates and start prices. In addition, they do not disclose the information on gemstone treatment. Yet another online auction site engaging in dishonest business practices.
Return denied by an online auction house. Reason – private seller. What to do?
Editor
Arnold, I do understand you. This kind of situation can be really frustrating. I agree with you that the auction site should step in and facilitate the return and the refund. You mentioned that they keep the money for two weeks. Is the auction site in question Catawiki? I know that they would hold aRead more
Arnold,
I do understand you. This kind of situation can be really frustrating. I agree with you that the auction site should step in and facilitate the return and the refund. You mentioned that they keep the money for two weeks. Is the auction site in question Catawiki? I know that they would hold all the payments for two weeks. Anyways, this system is designed to boost trust in the buyers, to make them feel safer, more protected. And if it’s not working to your benefit in a situation like this, then what’s the point to have it in the first place?
See lessWhat they are saying about private sellers (non-business sellers) is true. The EU law with its right to cancel and return your order within 14 days does not apply here. However, this situation here has nothing to do with the EU law. I mean, the auction house (auction site) can have its own policy in place in order to protect its customers. It wouldn’t be against any law to expand this coverage so that private sellers’ customers are equally protected. And that would be very easy to do as long as the money is still in their account. So, there is no excuse for them not to do that. Except that they are not interested in that. It is bad for the business, I mean. They would rather earn their commission on this sale, and you are left with all the losses.
So, I would suggest you try to convince them that it is their obligation to step in and to protect your lawful interests. However, if it is already too late (they don’t have your money any longer), or you do not succeed in convincing them, here are a few things I’d suggest you give a try:
1. Check whether this seller is selling a lot of items. I mean, does it look like he/she is selling personal belongings from time to time or is it rather a business activity aimed at gaining profit? A lot of private sellers are not really private sellers within the meaning of the law. They are selling a large number of items on a regular basis and for profit. As a rule of thumb, they are not paying taxes. So, it might be a good idea to tell them that if they wouldn’t go for a refund, you might contact their tax authorities and pass on the information concerning tax evasion. I think this is by far the best approach. It has helped me several times actually.
2. Tell the seller that you would contact the police. As you rightfully noted, it can be regarded as fraud if there are serious discrepancies between the description/images and the actual goods. If the seller was from China, this wouldn’t help, but as the seller in question is from the EU, there is a pretty good chance he might reconsider his position.
3. Tell them that you have a powerful blog (e.g. for collectors of antique furniture) with millions of monthly visitors and you will start writing about them if you don’t get your refund. Tell them that in the long run this would hurt them much more than this single refund.
Let me know how did it go!