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Buyers states that gold necklace not real
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Buyers states that gold necklace not real

Original Post
medlinfirst (1426 ) View Listings
medlinfirst
(1 of 12)
Buyers states that gold necklace not real
Oct 9, 2009 08:42 PM
I sold a scrap 14k gold hallmarked herringbone necklace. I tested the item, had a friend who is a jeweler double check my results, and looked at the hallmark under a jeweler's loop. The buyer paid for the item, I shipped it and it was insured. The buyer now claims it was costume jewelry and they did not know why I was selling fake items. I have no way to guarantee that if I allow the buyer to send the item back I am going to get my same item. How can I keep paypal from issuing them a credit if they commit fraud...that is not fair?
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Buyers states that gold necklace not real

(11 Replies / 1,653 Views)
medlinfirst (1426 ) View Listings
medlinfirst
Buyers states that gold necklace not real
Oct 9, 2009 08:42 PM
I sold a scrap 14k gold hallmarked herringbone necklace. I tested the item, had a friend who is a jeweler double check my results, and looked at the hallmark under a jeweler's loop. The buyer paid for the item, I shipped it and it was insured. The buyer now claims it was costume jewelry and they did not know why I was selling fake items. I have no way to guarantee that if I allow the buyer to send the item back I am going to get my same item. How can I keep paypal from issuing them a credit if they commit fraud...that is not fair?
Last Post
Jun 20, 2012 06:02 AM
by bonjourami (1825 ) View Listings
elias11 (1190 ) View Listings
elias11
(1 of 11)
Re: Buyers states that gold necklace not real
Oct 9, 2009 11:37 PM
It's not unusual to have plated/filled yellow gold herringbone chains marked 14K. I have seen dozens - if not hundreds - of them over the years. They are fake gold chains and their manufacturers are routinely committing fraud.

All other factors being equal, a surface plated chain - usually with a base metal of brass or copper - will have a different weight (lighter) than a 14k yellow gold chain.

Therefore, if the chain you get back from the buyer looks the same - and has the same exact length, width and weight - as the chain you shipped, and if it doesn't test as 14 karat gold, there is a good chance that your chain wasn't 14 karat gold to begin with.

Hopefully, you have kept a record of the measurements and weight of the chain, as well as good pictures for comparison.

Elias
lady_got_rocks (8261 ) View Listings
lady_got_rocks
(2 of 11)
Re: Buyers states that gold necklace not real
Oct 14, 2009 10:22 AM
Always important when selling gold to list the weight in the listing and a photo of halmarks. Makes it much harder to pull a switch


save the date

jagwer (1568 ) View Listings
jagwer
(3 of 11)
Re: Buyers states that gold necklace not real
Oct 14, 2009 11:39 AM
Can anybody actually answer medlinfirst's concern? The answers so far skirt the issue, and only result in a disagreement between buyer & seller over whether the original item was returned or a swap was made. The issue is - what if the buyer actually SCAMs a SELLER by claiming the item received is not real (or even "not as described") BUT returns something different to the SELLER and keeps the VALUABLE ORIGINAL item? He then makes a claim to Paypal to get his $$ back. How in the world can Paypal make a fair determination of whether or not to honor the claim?
lexy143 (5065 ) View Listings
lexy143
(4 of 11)
Re: Buyers states that gold necklace not real
Oct 14, 2009 11:43 AM
The OP should take their question to a board that deals in situations like that, such as Seller Central or the Paypal board. This is a jewelry board so they got jewelry related answers.


Lexy's Lovelies
jeweler100 (0) View Listings
jeweler100
(5 of 11)
Re: Buyers states that gold necklace not real
Oct 14, 2009 03:13 PM
"friend who is a jeweler double check my results, and looked at the hallmark under a jeweler's loop."

Is your jeweler friend a GG ?
Did they notch and test with nitric acid and aqua regia?
Are they willing to write this on their signed letterhead for eBay/Paypal to verify during mediation if there is a dispute?
Also, what value did you declare when insuring the package?
owl4343 (743 ) View Listings
owl4343
(6 of 11)
Re: Buyers states that gold necklace not real
Oct 14, 2009 08:58 PM
"Can anybody actually answer medlinfirst's concern? The answers so far skirt the issue, and only result in a disagreement between buyer & seller over whether the original item was returned or a swap was made. The issue is - what if the buyer actually SCAMs a SELLER by claiming the item received is not real (or even "not as described") BUT returns something different to the SELLER and keeps the VALUABLE ORIGINAL item? He then makes a claim to Paypal to get his $$ back. How in the world can Paypal make a fair determination of whether or not to honor the claim?"

The answers do NOT skirt the issue. The point is, gold is heavier than brass, silver, and all other metals used to imitate it this way. If a chain is a certain width, length, and weight, than a non-gold chain will not weigh as much for the same width and length. The whole point is to keep the buyer from sending it back in the first place, by reminding them what is expected back - and that scams will be pointed out to Paypal by comparing the returned chain to info from the listing.
elias11 (1190 ) View Listings
elias11
(7 of 11)
Re: Buyers states that gold necklace not real
Oct 15, 2009 07:41 PM
elias11 wrote:
It's not unusual to have plated/filled yellow gold herringbone chains marked 14K. I have seen dozens - if not hundreds - of them over the years. They are fake gold chains and their manufacturers are routinely committing fraud.

All other factors being equal, a surface plated chain - usually with a base metal of brass or copper - will have a different weight (lighter) than a 14k yellow gold chain.

Therefore, if the chain you get back from the buyer looks the same - and has the same exact length, width and weight - as the chain you shipped, and if it doesn't test as 14 karat gold, there is a good chance that your chain wasn't 14 karat gold to begin with.

Hopefully, you have kept a record of the measurements and weight of the chain, as well as good pictures for comparison.

Elias


I forgot to mention that the thickness of the chain should be the same as well.

Elias
looking4something2.. (56 ) View Listings
looking4something2..
(8 of 11)
Re: Buyers states that gold necklace not real
Oct 17, 2009 06:55 AM
"Did they notch and test with nitric acid and aqua regia? "

Not necessary to test
jeweler100 (0) View Listings
jeweler100
(9 of 11)
Re: Buyers states that gold necklace not real
Oct 17, 2009 10:12 AM
Whay do you mean, "Not necessary to test" ?????
Sometimes only the clasp is hallmarked. Clasps can be changed. And, sometimes metals are mismarked.
jm2012us (4) View Listings
jm2012us
(10 of 11)
Re: Buyers states that gold necklace not real
Jun 20, 2012 12:43 AM

Its also a good idea to have an appraisal when your dealing with a sizable amount of gold. Paypal security is pretty slick tho. I have a friend who works for them and as you can imagine, they have seen just about every kind of scam there is. Its getting harder to tell the difference between legitimate items and fake anymore because of high tech methods and countries that actually encourage counterfeit....(China for one).
bonjourami (1825 ) View Listings
bonjourami
(11 of 11)
Re: Buyers states that gold necklace not real
Jun 20, 2012 06:02 AM

Hmmm..such an old thread to pull up..but looks like the op got negged for this gold chain being fake and  the buyer was refunded.


DEE
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