posted on August 9, 2002 02:53:11 PM new
It has been a long time since I have looked at Gold jewelry on eBay and I wanted to see what I should charge for a 14 Kt. Gold bracelet I was fortunate enough to buy at garage sale today for $2.
I am dismayed at what a crock of crap is for sale obviously trying to decieve people into beliving they are buying solid karat Gold jewelry when it is plate - filled - or maybe even just "gold" collored brass crap.
This just a venue stuff is stretched to the limit when you are approuching lending your buddy your piece so he can rob a liquer store. The government agency responsible for markings and standards should hang their head pretty low also.
I not only don't feel safe to BUY anything there......I'm not even sure I want to be assosiated with selling among these crooks.
posted on August 9, 2002 03:01:30 PM new
There's an old native American saying that goes something like "Do not judge a man until you walk a mile in his mocassins". What would you do if you were Meg Whaitman to try to combat purposeful or accidental fraud?
I've walked through several swap meets and heard incredible lines of BS and lies from the sellers there but I've never seen a swap meet owner do a thing about it. Swap meets and auctions both involve a gamble but something bought at Macy's can go back if it was misrepresented or whatever by Macy's.
[ edited by robertsmithson on Aug 9, 2002 03:03 PM ]
posted on August 9, 2002 03:27:24 PM new
It was beautiful workmanship diamond cuts on a matte surface and with an almost invisible latch and hinge and when it opens it has a safety strap to keep it from falling off. The 14 Kt. hallmark is inside on the safety strap. It was thrown in with a pile of costume jewelry and when I bought it the lady offered me any one of the others for $3 for two of them. She had no idea it was real jewelry instead of costume.
It does happen. I once bought a pavé diamond brouch in platinum at an estate sale for $5.00.
posted on August 10, 2002 08:10:26 PM new
Actually, gravid, you have a good point. I am a dealer in Asian antiques and actually started my business on Ebay. I now sell retail and at shows and am reluctant to offer antiques for sale on Ebay as the "competition" for the most part is extremely misrepresenting their merchandise, to put it politely. I hand select all the merchandise I sell from ethical dealers in China that I have a trusting relationship with and know first hand from travelling around Asia the depth of dishonesty. Did you know that in China that it is not considered illegal or dishonest to blatantly lie about your merchandise? The Chinese way of thinking is that is up to you to know what you are buying and if you get rooked, it's your fault. This mentality is well-ingrained in their culture and makes me wary of buying ANYTHING from a Chinese or other Asian or Middle eastern dealer on eBay as this mentality does not semm limited to to the Chinese. I just came back from a buying trip to China and I swear iIam going to start writing a book about the UNBELIEVABLE deceipt that is prevalent!
posted on August 11, 2002 10:27:09 PM new
[i]I not only don't feel safe to BUY anything there......I'm not even sure I want to be assosiated with selling among
these crooks.[/i]
That's a pretty broad brush you're tarring with thar, podner. As a jewelry dealer I sure appreciate being numbered among the crooks.
I had to smile when I read that you were looking on eBay for pricing on your "14 kt" gold bracelet. If you knew anything about precious metals, you wouldn't bother with eBay; you'd simply weigh the piece. Check the spot price on gold, then figure a discount for eBay cheapskates.
Many "14 kt" marks actually mean gold-filled or gold-plated, depending on the exact configuration of the mark. If you got 2 for $3.00, you paid too much.
posted on August 13, 2002 12:46:01 PM new
If it don't sell it goes in the scrap box. I am saving scrap instead of selling it because I want a rolling mill soon.
