posted on February 8, 2002 08:42:25 PM
Just wondering if I am the only one seeing the problem with the influx of vintage jewelry sellers on ebay? Glass is no longer glass, "I just thought it was", sorry a mistake. vintage crystal. "didn't think it was plastic"Are you kidding me, plastic has no weight. I have had some great buying expierences, but most are not up to the seller's descriptions, not even close.Why dosen't ebay regulate these? I used to sell my handmade jewelry on ebay all year when my shows were not going on and did well, now the fees make it impossible to break even. So I have been trying to buy in my off season to create new jewelry and you can't trust anyone. The seller's advertise, signed jewelry, and it's not, they say it's glass. it's not,they say mint condition and the stuff looks like it was dragged through a rock tumbler.The few that offer a refund, and they are few, make you loose the shipping both ways. And we wonder why ebay is loosing buyers? The sellers used to be the best buyers but now everyone is trying to make an instant buck and cares nothing about their integrity. For us who not idiots, and do like to know what we are buying, where is the protection? buy the way, I ALWAYS email a seller before I bid on their auction and confirm their descriptio of an item. Thanks and any advise would be welcomed. Edie
posted on February 8, 2002 08:49:04 PM
Some will disagree with what I'm about to say.
I started out my business with vintage jewelry. In fact "Vintage Costume Jewelry" is part of my business name. And I'll tell you that there is a lot of wishful thinking going on in the field, along with those who will always feign ignorance as an excuse.
A true dealer professional won't give you any of the dodges you mentioned, but a real dealer won't sell at giveaway prices, either.
You might be better off avoiding eBay and frequenting flea markets and garage sales instead. I used to have some luck advertising in the local paper "Costume Jewelry Wanted". True, I did get some people who just wanted me to tell them how much their baubles were worth (usual answer: not much) but that's the cost of buying out of peoples' houses.
posted on February 8, 2002 08:58:18 PM
when you list a piece of jewelry on ebay,ebay does throw up a screen warning seller to make sure item is as described.
but like paypal,ebay does not like to get involved in quality issue between buyer and seller.
antiques and estate jewelry are two categories where there is more complaints on authenticity of the items .
i tend to agree with prior post,ebay buyers are getting cheaper and cheaper,as many are bidding for resale,it is to their advantage to keep their cost down by bidding as low as possible.
no seller is going to give away a perfectly good piece of jewelry for little.you get what you pay for,may i suggest you find the reputable dealers and pay what the item is worth a la ebay !!
posted on February 8, 2002 09:04:22 PM
>>I used to have some luck advertising in the local paper "Costume Jewelry Wanted". True, I did get some people who just wanted me to tell them how much their baubles were worth (usual answer: not much) but that's the cost of buying out of peoples' houses.<<
I used to do something similar and I am thinking of going back to it. However, because of those who want free appraisals I am going to stipulate that there will be a fee if I leave with nothing having left them an opinion. Something like that.
posted on February 8, 2002 09:27:48 PM
You are not the only one. I am a vintage, 50's jewelry collector and seller. If you look on ebay today there is some really nice vintage that isn't getting near the price they should, because the buyer is to cheap to pay for it. I just recently had a beautiful bracelet on, described, pictures and mint condition and could not get a decient bid. Won't list it again because I won't give it away. I have many pieces of vintage jewelry to sell and rest assured there will be a reserve and if I don't sell them I will keep them. I make sure my description and pictures tell the whole story and I do tell if any of the "stones" "cabouchon" are glass or plastic. I agree most of the "vintage" jewelry is crap that is on ebay. I think sellers advertise anyting as vintage because it sounds better. I also offer a refund if the item is damaged or not described right and I do include the postage....I do not advertise in the paper to buy. I go to the garage sales, estate sales and flea markets.
posted on February 8, 2002 09:55:09 PM
how about antique art nouveau,art deco,edwardian,victorian jewelry??
where can i find art nouveau jewelry without going to france?/
posted on February 9, 2002 07:40:57 AM
I don't know why but for some reason this thread reminds me of the days when we sold at flea markets. There was this little Brooklynese woman who came around each month without fail. She was looking for pretties to incorporate into her jewelry, but she only wanted a piece or two at most and she didn't want to pay more than a few cents for them.
We were there to sell (naturally). A good day's take for me would be $200, and that's gross, not profit. I'd guess after all was said and done actual profit was less than $100 and that's counting my time at minimum wage.
My partner and I both sold, by the containerful, jars and baggies full of broken jewelry. Mrs. Brooklyn would open these (if we didn't catch her first), spill out the contents onto the table or into a dish, and select the one or two things she wanted. Then the haggling began.
Ay-yi-yi. If we pointed out she'd opened a container that said DO NOT OPEN and that we didn't sell by the piece, we were treated to a spiel about shoeless children and how she only needed a few, tam a lam a bing bam.
I miss my partner, who got smart and moved out of state, but I don't miss Mrs. Brooklyn or the Babushka Ladies.
