Blog eBay Launches Authentication for Fine Jewelry

[Rockdiamond]

I feel like a little crybaby...but thankfully, it's ok to vent here.....
I would love nothing more than to tell eBay to stick it where the sun don't shine.
BUT- we're living in a world where big companies spend hundreds of thousands a month on google placements.
Small businesses need every possible tool in their arsenal to get buyers to find them.
Talk about mixed feelings....when we sell something on eBay of course I'm glad we made a sale....but I feel for the buyer who just paid about 15% more than they could have on our site......
Or- how about when someone writes from eBay asking about an item, and lets me know they've known about us- or even been a client...and I can't tell them to email us directly to save the money.
eBay does monitor the messages...so watch what you say on there kiddies......

 

[kenny]

It is gratifying for me to read all the disappointment with eBay, Instagram, Facecrook and such.

I've eschewed all of those things from day 1.
I don't even lurk.

 

[distracts]

Last year, I read horror stories of designer handbag sellers sending their items to be authenticated and Ebay folks actually folded a multi-thousand dollar handbag IN HALF to save on shipping costs for the box. The buyer let them know that is the way it was sent to them. Ebay should really retool, rethink and definitely stay out of lanes they haven't invested enough to be in.

I am cringing so hard at this

OMG. I legit winced. And now I’m laughing.

I gave up on eBay years ago. Too much crap to try to sift through. I’m close to giving up on IG too, too many resellers peddling bling who clearly haven’t any actual idea of what they’re selling.

Instagram is impossible. There's no way to search, whether to find items or sellers. There are no reviews. There's no way to know who is reputable or not without an outside source. There's no buyer protection. Plus I have to TALK to people in order to buy something, AND reels show who watched them so if I watch a reel then I get inundated with messages from the seller asking me if I'm interested in the item. I loathe it. And the one time I bought something on instagram from someone recommended on PS, then it turned out the seller was doing all sorts of dodgy things. My gem is finally at GIA and I am waiting to hear back if it is actually what I purchased.

I've almost completely stopped buying secondhand jewelry in the past five years. I used to love it and buy a lot. I use browsing for secondhand items as my "go to sleep" activity on my phone since it doesn't keep me awake the way reading does. But I have switched to fine books and handbags because doing so for jewelry has become so frustrating. I suppose the instagram sellers are making a profit though, so probably don't miss me at all.

Talk about mixed feelings....when we sell something on eBay of course I'm glad we made a sale....but I feel for the buyer who just paid about 15% more than they could have on our site......

IMO at least the price on your site is lower than the price on ebay... I have looked for many things off ebay only to find the seller's website has them at the same price and they won't take even 10% off, which makes me wonder why I should purchase directly from them rather than ebay with buyer protection.

 

[Rockdiamond]

IMO at least the price on your site is lower than the price on ebay.

No opinion necessary \We add about 15% to the prices when we list items on eBay.

I have looked for many things off ebay only to find the seller's website has them at the same price and they won't take even 10% off, which makes me wonder why I should purchase directly from them rather than ebay with buyer protection.

I totally agree!

 

[Karl_K]

Every piece of jewelry that is going thru eBay's Authenticity Guarantee carrier is tested by way of GIA specialists who look into the item to verify it's miles as described in the list.

Ah yes, I want my jewelry to be verified by GIA that it has less than 50000 miles on it!

edit: I removed the spam part of the quoted message from the spammer.

 

[distracts]

Ah yes, I want my jewelry to be verified by GIA that it has less than 50000 miles on it!

Look, Karl, we all know that the longer you drive around with a diamond, the more it shrinks. So it better not have many miles on it!

 

[Mrs_Strizzle]

I just 3 nights ago, 2 glasses of wine-while hubby snores- impulsively bid on a ring and won it . It already had a GIA report for the main stone in the ring. But as we all know the GIA reports say "white metal, numerous colorless brilliants" etc, when it's a ring and they only are asked to evaluate the main stone. I was told by the seller that it will not go to the Ebay authentication process because it already has a GIA report.

So what happens when someone buys what they think is platinum and diamonds but really it's sterling and CZ when it arrives?

I'm not worried in my case because I've purchased from them before and have never been disappointed. I'm just curious for others and if my purchase was made from an unfamiliar seller. I just assumed platinum and diamonds vs 10k white gold and moissanite would be confirmed by their authentication process.

 

[Rockdiamond]

But as we all know the GIA reports say "white metal, numerous colorless brilliants" etc,

What sort of GIA report is this?

 

[luvmysparklies]

I just 3 nights ago, 2 glasses of wine-while hubby snores- impulsively bid on a ring and won it . It already had a GIA report for the main stone in the ring. But as we all know the GIA reports say "white metal, numerous colorless brilliants" etc, when it's a ring and they only are asked to evaluate the main stone. I was told by the seller that it will not go to the Ebay authentication process because it already has a GIA report.

So what happens when someone buys what they think is platinum and diamonds but really it's sterling and CZ when it arrives?

I'm not worried in my case because I've purchased from them before and have never been disappointed. I'm just curious for others and if my purchase was made from an unfamiliar seller. I just assumed platinum and diamonds vs 10k white gold and moissanite would be confirmed by their authentication process.

When it is a transaction just between the seller and buyer, the buyer would file a not as described and be able to ship it back for a refund. I have not seen GIA reports indicate "white metal, numerous colorless brilliants." They only give the stats of the stone. Did you mean appraisal by chance?

 

[Mrs_Strizzle]

@Rockdiamond and @luvmysparklies

This is not the ring I just purchased, but the GIA report on my spinel ring I own that I have handy. The one coming also says this under item description.

 

[luvmysparklies]

Oh, I see.

 

[Mrs_Strizzle]

@luvmysparklies and @Rockdiamond it occurred to me I'm speaking colored gemstone ring reports in Rocky Talky. Sorry about the confusion.

 

[yssie]

@Mrs_Strizzle Nothing to apologize for, GIA does the same sort of thing with mounted/strung pearls and I’m assuming they do with diamond jewellery as well, just that diamond jewellery is much less commonly submitted (especially here on PS).

The point that GIA has issued a report for mounted jewellery and eBay apparently deems the existence of this GIA report sufficient, and doesn’t require that this piece go through the new verification procedure to confirm that what the sender mails actually matches the report - is just more precipitate at the bottom of this very sorry beaker.

Not to mention - which grading authorities will be accepted in lieu of this new procedure? Are we about to see a proliferation of garbage “labs” that cater specifically to bypassing eBay fine jewellery authentication?

I absolutely hate this phrase, but eBay should really just #StayInTheirLane on this one.

 

[DejaWiz]

I absolutely hate this phrase, but eBay should really just #StayInTheirLane on this one.

#StayInTheirClarityGrade

 

[lulu_ma]

Just came to gripe. I bought a little antique ring to look at on 1/12. It went from NY to GIA in Carlsbad, CA. Looks like I will get it here in Boston by 1/24 at the soonest. First world problems-I know. But I would have rather gotten the ring faster and made my own assessment!

 

[nala]

Just came to gripe. I bought a little antique ring to look at on 1/12. It went from NY to GIA in Carlsbad, CA. Looks like I will get it here in Boston by 1/24 at the soonest. First world problems-I know. But I would have rather gotten the ring faster and made my own assessment!

Wait. Does EBay actually send it to GIA??!!!

 

[lulu_ma]

Wait. Does EBay actually send it to GIA??!!!

Yep.

 

[nala]

Yep.

Wtf! Who is paying for this service? I sell jewelry on EBay—nothing over 499 recently. But I figured they would be sending pieces to GIA trained individuals working under EBay. I’m soo confused. This sounds costly. And like. Free appraisal for the seller, lol.

 

[lulu_ma]

Wtf! Who is paying for this service? I sell jewelry on EBay—nothing over 499 recently. But I figured they would be sending pieces to GIA trained individuals working under EBay. I’m soo confused. This sounds costly. And like. Free appraisal for the seller, lol.

I think it is built into the increased seller fees? Not sure…

 

[luckygreen317]

This is a great thread and I am learning a lot about the jewelry resale market!

Do you all think many eBay sellers will go to another site like ETSY? I have no idea what the % sellers pay on that site.

I live by GIA in Carlsbad. One of my friends who does construction work for them just told me there is now a special delivery door just for eBay authentication. GIA is like Fort Knox, so this was not an inexpensive construction project. That tells me there is a commitment to this type of service.

On a personal note, nothing is worse than buying something then realizing you got ripped off with no recourse. I have one such purchase with an IG site and bought a worthless stone. I love finding deals like most but would rather pay closer to market value knowing it’s authentic.

 

[denverappraiser]

I'm still confused over what they will, and won't, authenticate.

"Diamond ring owned by Elvis". OK, obviously they can't, but what do they do? That kind of thing can get expensive so it automatically flows into the system. Is confirming that it's a diamond enough?

How about: "Frankenwatch assembled from Rolex and other parts?" Assuming it's true, would that pass the authentication process? Why not?

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

Looking forward to finding out. Just bought my first eBay purchase that qualified. Oec natural color (champagne by vendor) diamond.

 

[fel]

So oddly enough I just bought a ring on ebay and it is indeed going to GIA for authentication. I wasn't shopping for it but I am unable to resist good star sapphires ... I'll let you all know how it is authenticated. It is fully returnable within 30 days, so we will see.

 

[fel]

Looking forward to finding out. Just bought my first eBay purchase that qualified. Oec natural color (champagne by vendor) diamond.

That was the one on "Someone has to buy..", right? I hope the pink tone is real!

 

[lulu_ma]

@Mrsz1ppy @fel keep in mind that returns ALSO have to be authenticated, too. I found that out earlier this month with another ring.

 

[fel]

@Mrsz1ppy @fel keep on mind that returns ALSO have to be authenticated. I found that out earlier this month with another ring.

What does that mean? They re-authenticate the item on the way back to the seller? So if the first evaluator says a diamond was a G, and the 2nd says it is an H, does the buyer get accused of switching out the diamond?

 

[lulu_ma]

What does that mean? They re-authenticate the item on the way back to the seller? So if the first evaluator says a diamond was a G, and the 2nd says it is an H, does the buyer get accused of switching out the diamond?

No, I think it’s more that they want to check at the diamonds are real versus lab, I *think*. This has to be lucrative contract for GIA.

 

[fel]

Here is a description of what they do and don't authenticate: https://pages.ebay.com/authenticity-guarantee-jewelry/disclaimer/

 

[denverappraiser]

Here is a description of what they do and don't authenticate: https://pages.ebay.com/authenticity-guarantee-jewelry/disclaimer/

I"m curious (Still). This seems to be the 'official' statement from ebay on what they do and don't authenticate, and it's omitting what I would consider some critical items. Like stone identification. (for example: Is it a diamond? Is it natural?). Surely this is included. They will verify that a 'ruby' has been heat treated, but not that it hasn't and not that it's a ruby at all (either natural or synthetic). How is this useful? Is there a more thorough list of what they are authenticating or is this it? What do the authentication cards include?

 

[lulu_ma]

They include nothing. Just the date that the item was authenticated.