My diamond is for sale on a website?

[greenpang]

My diamond (the one currently on my hand, which I am not trying/planning to sell) appears to be for sale on a website.

http://www.toprock.com/index.php?file=gemsdetail&gems_item_id=67925

I have the official GIA report, and I also have a loupe and can see my GIA number 1109112584 inscribed on the girdle. What is going on here?! How and why are they selling my diamond?!

I tried to add it to cart to see if there would be an error, but there's not. It appears that it would actually allow someone to buy this diamond. What happens if someone buys it?

 

[greenpang]

Apparently that's not the only place trying to sell my diamond. I've also found it for sale here: http://www.jewelsboutique.com/catalog/product/view/id/1127609

It's also listed on B2C Jewels, but there it is "out of stock": http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-2770537-1.52-carat-Round-diamond-F-color-VS2-clarity.aspx

 

[denverappraiser]

Out of stock indeed.

Is it a new purchase? It's possible that it just hasn't cleared out of the datafeed yet but you are pointing at one of the problems with 'virtual' diamonds. If someone buys it, my guess is they won't get it.
So what will they get? Maybe a polite apology, maybe an offer for something else, maybe nothing at all. Usually this is a sign of poor bookkeeping and dataflow on the part of the sellers than evidence of a scam but I suppose even that is possible. This process is one of the major irritations of Internet buyers.

 

[greenpang]

Out of stock indeed.

Is it a new purchase? It's possible that it just hasn't cleared out of the datafeed yet but you are pointing at one of the problems with 'virtual' diamonds. If someone buys it, my guess is they won't get it.
So what will they get? Maybe a polite apology, maybe an offer for something else, maybe nothing at all. Usually this is a sign of poor bookkeeping and dataflow on the part of the sellers than evidence of a scam but I suppose even that is possible. This process is one of the major irritations of Internet buyers.

It's not too new of a purchase -- bought it in May.

I have called both Top Rock and JewelsBoutique, who both have it listed as currently for sale. With both, there were "no live agents available," so I left messages. I simply said that I had a question about one of their diamond listings and left my phone number.

However, I also found it listed on eBay, and I'm afraid a scam may be likely.

The post has since been removed, but here is the original listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-52ct-F-VS2-Excellent-Cut-GIA-Certified-Round-Loose-Diamond-7-36-7-40x4-56mm-/310710052722?pt=Loose_Diamonds&hash=item4857c32772

I called the contact number, and this is what happened --

ME: Hi, I have a question about your eBay listing #310710052722.
SELLER: Let me see. Yes, that is a GIA-certified F VS2 1.52 carat loose diamond, correct?
ME: Correct.
SELLER: First I must ask, are you a store or an individual?
ME: I'm an individual consumer.
SELLER: Okay good, because we do not sell to stores. We only sell to individual consumers. Do you want to buy this diamond today?
ME: Can you confirm that the listing is correct? What is the GIA number of this diamond you are selling?
SELLER: Do you want to buy this diamond today?
ME: I would like you to answer my question.
SELLER: (angrily) Will you buy this diamond today?! I will answer your question if you answer mine.
ME: Excuse me?
SELLER: I do not want to play games here! You want me to answer your question? You answer mine first.
ME: I am asking you, the seller, a question about your product, and I have no obligation to commit to purchasing it without you answering my questions.
SELLER: What is it you want?!
ME: I would like you to confirm the GIA number of the diamond you are selling.
SELLER: I TOLD YOU F VS2.
ME: That is the color and clarity grades, not the GIA number. Could you confirm the GIA report number?
SELLER: I need to know if you are going to buy this diamond today.
ME: I am asking questions about your product. I expect my questions to be answered. What is the GIA number?
SELLER: FINE. Ends in 2584.
ME: To confirm, that is GIA number 1109112584?
SELLER: Yes, now I answered your question, are you going to buy?
ME: Can you confirm that this diamond is available for purchase today? You have in your physical possession a diamond inscribed with this GIA number?
SELLER: YES.
ME: I find that hard to believe because I'm currently wearing that diamond.
SELLER: SEE, this is why I asked you do you want to buy today? You want to investigate, not buy! You are investigating! Do you want to buy a diamond or not?
ME: I want my questions answered, and if you do not address them appropriately, I will be reporting you to eBay. How are you selling a diamond that you do not have, and why did you tell me you had it?
SELLER: I do have GIA F VS2 diamonds.
ME: I asked you to confirm you had this specific diamond, and you said you did.
SELLER: With thousands of listings, sometimes there is a mix up. I will check my inventory and call you back.
ME: Okay.

He called me back a few minutes later and told me he checked, he doesn't have it, it was a "mix up," and he will remove it from eBay immediately. Then he told me to contact him if I want to buy another diamond in the future...

 

[soxfan]

Out of stock indeed.

Is it a new purchase? It's possible that it just hasn't cleared out of the datafeed yet but you are pointing at one of the problems with 'virtual' diamonds. If someone buys it, my guess is they won't get it.
So what will they get? Maybe a polite apology, maybe an offer for something else, maybe nothing at all. Usually this is a sign of poor bookkeeping and dataflow on the part of the sellers than evidence of a scam but I suppose even that is possible. This process is one of the major irritations of Internet buyers.

It's not too new of a purchase -- bought it in May.

I have called both Top Rock and JewelsBoutique, who both have it listed as currently for sale. With both, there were "no live agents available," so I left messages. I simply said that I had a question about one of their diamond listings and left my phone number.

However, I also found it listed on eBay, and I'm afraid a scam may be likely.

The post has since been removed, but here is the original listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-52ct-F-VS2-Excellent-Cut-GIA-Certified-Round-Loose-Diamond-7-36-7-40x4-56mm-/310710052722?pt=Loose_Diamonds&hash=item4857c32772

I called the contact number, and this is what happened --

ME: Hi, I have a question about your eBay listing #310710052722.
SELLER: Let me see. Yes, that is a GIA-certified F VS2 1.52 carat loose diamond, correct?
ME: Correct.
SELLER: First I must ask, are you a store or an individual?
ME: I'm an individual consumer.
SELLER: Okay good, because we do not sell to stores. We only sell to individual consumers. Do you want to buy this diamond today?
ME: Can you confirm that the listing is correct? What is the GIA number of this diamond you are selling?
SELLER: Do you want to buy this diamond today?
ME: I would like you to answer my question.
SELLER: (angrily) Will you buy this diamond today?! I will answer your question if you answer mine.
ME: Excuse me?
SELLER: I do not want to play games here! You want me to answer your question? You answer mine first.
ME: I am asking you, the seller, a question about your product, and I have no obligation to commit to purchasing it without you answering my questions.
SELLER: What is it you want?!
ME: I would like you to confirm the GIA number of the diamond you are selling.
SELLER: I TOLD YOU F VS2.
ME: That is the color and clarity ratings, not the GIA number. Could you confirm the GIA certification number?
SELLER: I need to know if you are going to buy this diamond today.
ME: I am asking questions about your product. I expect my questions to be answered. What is GIA number?
SELLER: FINE. Ends in 2584.
ME: To confirm, that is GIA number 1109112584?
SELLER: Yes, now I answered your question, are you going to buy?
ME: Can you confirm that this diamond is available for purchase today? You have in your physical possession a diamond inscribed with this GIA number?
SELLER: YES.
ME: I find that hard to believe because I'm currently wearing that diamond.
SELLER: SEE, this is why I asked you do you want to buy today? You want to investigate, not buy! You are investigating! Do you want to buy a diamond or not?
ME: I want my questions answered, and if you do not address them appropriately, I will be reporting you to eBay. How are you selling a diamond that you do not have, and why did you tell me you had it?
SELLER: I do have GIA F VS2 diamonds.
ME: I asked you to confirm you had this specific diamond, and you said you did.
SELLER: With thousands of listings, sometimes there is a mix up. I will check my inventory and call you back.
ME: Okay.

He called me back a few minutes later and told me he checked, he doesn't have it, it was a "mix up," and he will remove it from eBay immediately. Then he told me to contact him if I want to buy another diamond in the future...

Wow, what a JERK.

 

[nowicanseethemoon]

Oy. I applaud your patience with that guy. I doubt I would have been as nice. Kudos to you.

This brings up the importance of dealing with reputable companies, whether online or in person. There are all kinds of scams and shady people out there (in and out of the jewelry business) and I'm sure a lot of people get taken advantage of even while they think they're being careful.

 

[greenpang]

Wow, what a JERK.

SERIOUSLY! I could not believe it! What kind of sales tactic is that...refuse to answer a prospect's questions until they commit to buy...?!

Anyway, I think this guy is scamming people. Like, his first question was whether I was a store or an individual? And he doesn't sell to stores? Why, because they'll check the girdle for the GIA number? Well, I would too.

I think that if someone bought it, they would receive some diamond (or something that looked like one!) that he'd claim was this one, but was actually far lower in value.

 

[VRBeauty]

It sounds like the MLS for diamonds, whatever that may be, forgot to remove the listing for your stone when it sold. Apparently B2C figured this out when someone tried to sell the stone through them. As for Mr. Ebay - - he's apparently selling virtual inventory. Just out of curiosity, how did his price compare to what the other sites were asking?

 

[04diamond<3]

Wow, what a JERK.

SERIOUSLY!!!!! What a total and complete JERK!!!!! And I agree with whoever said you had an impressive amount of patience!

 

[greenpang]

It sounds like the MLS for diamonds, whatever that may be, forgot to remove the listing for your stone when it sold. Apparently B2C figured this out when someone tried to sell the stone through them. As for Mr. Ebay - - he's apparently selling virtual inventory. Just out of curiosity, how did his price compare to what the other sites were asking?

He was asking 18.5; the two other sites are asking 19 and 17.5.

I got it at a brick & mortar for 16.5.

 

[delight]

The system's just slow and that some vendors don't know a diamond had been sold until they try to check and verify. Unfortunately, this is one of the reasons why customers think jewelers are using a bait and switch tactic when they inquire about the stone that appears to be available.

 

[VRBeauty]

It sounds like the MLS for diamonds, whatever that may be, forgot to remove the listing for your stone when it sold. Apparently B2C figured this out when someone tried to sell the stone through them. As for Mr. Ebay - - he's apparently selling virtual inventory. Just out of curiosity, how did his price compare to what the other sites were asking?

He was asking 18.5; the two other sites are asking 19 and 17.5.

I got it at a brick & mortar for 16.5.

Very interesting! And may I ask when you bought your stone?

 

[motownmama]

In the above post she says she bought it in May, fyi.

 

[jamespat]

This is actually one of the things I wondered/feared about buying from a no-name place. What is stopping an online entity from finding some random (or old/already sold diamond) with a published report number and then finding a fairly close match size/cut CZ and selling it online. I know it would be fairly easy for someone to identify but knowing lots of people purchasing things online, they may just assume it is all right without doing so (rather crazy). From the original OP I really wonder if this is what is going on as that sales person does not seem like they are from a real store.

 

[arkieb1]

Wow, its probably a mix up where the stone was not removed by the original diamond vendor from virtual inventory lists rather than something dark. You should name and shame that ebay vendor however, so no one else gets caught out by them!!!!