eBay gets a bad rap!!!!! Not me!

[operavopera]

Dear Pearl Lovers,

I just found this board yesterday and am impressed with the knowledge of many of the members. However, I do feel that eBay is being unfairly described and targeted.

I have found many excellent buys and beautiful pearls on eBay. One of the stores that was warned against on this board sold me one of my best Tahitian pearl rings - an 11mm peacock Tahitian, set in 18k WG and diamonds (the description said it was only 14k). This set me back a measly $214 and my jeweler (who always talks down about eBay) said that he could not believe it. His appraisal was for almost $1,600 - with a AA pearl and G color, VS-SI diamonds. That was one of my first purchases, and I have bought a few duds since then, but nothing that was fake and the great buys far outweighed the duds.

The truth is that in any sales situation, the buyer must be an intelligent consumer. I'm sure that on eBay there are unscrupulous sellers, but there are just as many rip off's in high end jewelry and dept stores, e.g. the Channel fake pearls that someone wrote about here and other overpriced designer jewelry. One must be wary of false advertising on eBay, but this is all part of doing one's homework and making intelligent buying decisions.

I realize that many of the members here are in the retail jewelry business. I do not feel that eBay is a threat to the retail business, as there will always be those who want to pay more and have the quality, luxury, convenience and privileges that a good retail store provides. They are 2 different markets. I shop at both ends - from Tiffany's to eBay (although I always feel I overpaid a ton at Tiffany's). Having bought incredible, huge South Sea pearls in the Philippines for dirt cheap (and I've had them all appraised here, so they're the real thing and great quality), I am aware of the mark up of jewelry in retail stores. Why is it so hard to believe that jewelry can be cheap when there is no middle man and no other expenses? Why can't someone find great quality jewelry on eBay? I and many others have, and there are many of savy pearl buyers there too!

 

[effisk]

One of the stores that was warned against on this board sold me one of my best Tahitian pearl rings - an 11mm peacock Tahitian, set in 18k WG and diamonds (the description said it was only 14k).

Please give us the name of that eBay seller. I would be interested to have a look at his products.

I do agree with most of what you are saying here, but many consumers are not educated. Some of the eBay sellers are honest and offer good quality pearls at very attractive prices. However, many of them are just selling overly priced junk. Many consumer are not aware of that practice. This forum is here to warn about such practices. If you know what you are looking at on eBay, then go ahead. If you're not sure about the seller or the quality of the pearls, I recommend you seek advice. Here is a good place to start.

Why is it so hard to believe that jewelry can be cheap when there is no middle man and no other expenses?

Well, most of the retailers on this forum actually source their pearls from pearl farms or have only one middleman.

Also, please be aware that eBay sellers are not pearl farmers. They mostly (if not all) buy their pearls from processors or manufacturers. They still skip a few middlemen.

 

[jshepherd]

The very major difference is that well over 90% of the pearl auctions on eBay are completely fradulent, and any company in the US making the claims those eBay sellers make would have the FCC and the JVC breathing down their necks. An educated consumer can do well on eBay, but how many educated consumers (in the pearl arena) are there? They are very few and far between.
This forum is a place to educate and protect consumers, not compete with eBay sellers. Sellers that are discussed here are called out on their scams. Those who are honest sellers on ebay havebeen described as such - on this forum.

Yes, it is possible to find a good deal on eBay. But you MUST know what you are doing, and you MUST be willing to weed through thousands of auctions that are packed with lies.

 

[purepearls]

I personally think Ebay is a great place to shop for many things such as art. Ebay does have a few great deals when it comes to pearls. Like Jeremy mentioned, the problem is the high volume of fraudulent activity. Because Ebay is so large, it's very difficult for them to keep the bad apples out. Many consumers aren't quite as lucky with their pearl purchases. You really have to do your research on the product and the company.

 

[Caitlin]

Hi Opera buff

I started my pearl education on eBay. I figured it was my ?education? to pay for mistakes. I got average stuff for average prices. When I found this site and really began educating myself, I quit looking for pearls on eBay and still use it only for educational purposes.

For instance, I follow the Mikimoto sales occasionally and examine the ads carefully. If you have good pictures and the clasp and paperwork and the box, you get more than if you don?t have them. Even the folks who use ?Mikimoto?? You read the ad and find there is no clasp, box, or documentation, but it belonged to the favorite aunt who SAID it was a miki?? it just doesn?t sell for much more than any other average undocumented akoya.

I have not yet gotten an incredible steal of a deal on eBay, I generally pay a pleasant enough discount to make the shipping a bit more than worthwhile. And, I don?t expect more. It is a free market and things on eBay tend to find their value.

I buy other things on eBay, just not pearls, because most people do not know cultured from faux pearls, let alone being experts on the type or quality of a pictured item. After personally seeing others use Zeide?s photos, I realize that photos may not even be accurate and certain sellers are more suspect.

Like that seller Zeide gave a link to. The necklace sold for .99. Even if that was an accurate photo, the shipping is almost $75 so the sellers make many times their money in shipping. It is one of the many scams perped by certain less than honest sellers.

 

[operavopera]

Okay, I'm with you re most eBay buyers being uneducated and the good intentions of many here to make people aware of what they are buying. On the other hand, I have read such blanket statements here that everything on eBay is junk, that there are not good buys on eBay, don't waste your time, etc. This is not helpful or fair to the many good and honest eBay sellers and savy buyers. I also was not aware of some sellers stealing photos. Making those sellers known is a great service to others. Sure, some sellers overcharge on shipping; I learned the hard way on that one.

I did visit some of your websites and while I had an interest in some, I found others to be way overpriced, according to my personal instincts. (I am not a pearl professional as some here are - just a pearl freak/consumer). I also saw 1 false advertising of pearls starting at a certain price, and then when I clicked on the category, the prices were all higher. This is no different than the misleading ads that some claim is on eBay.

Incidentally, I decided to compare all of my pearls this morning - the ones I bought in high end stores, the ones I bought at Macy's, down to the ones I bought at eBay. What I found was that there were good and mediocre in all categories. One of the most expensive Tahitians I have is a custom made pendant from my local jeweler with the dullest, milkiest pearl (but I didn't know better to complain then) and he charged me a ton! Then there are the mediocre 9 mm studs from Macy's, compared to the beautiful, lustrous 10mm studs I just bought from eBay (my jeweler said they are authentic). I would say that with the exception of the 2 duds that I got, the eBay pearls were nicer (or as nice) at a far more reasonable price. Sure, some of these are not the AAA quality pearls that I see on your websites, but they are still beautiful and work in my collection!

 

[jshepherd]

VR,
eBay does deserve the bad rap. Yes, you will find the occassional 'good buy' and decent piece, but you would be hard-pressed to find even 100 honest auctions (selling pearls) out of the thousands and thousands that are on there every day. Deception and fraud are the rule there, not the exception. For every 1 'good' deal, you have hundreds of consumers that have been ripped off and lied to. eBay does deserve the bad rap.

I did visit some of your websites and while I had an interest in some, I found others to be way overpriced, according to my personal instincts.

I think I have visited basically every Site that has a presence here on this forum, and I do not think any of them are overpriced. When comparing a reputable seller's AAA inventory is the 99-cent AAA stock on eBay, sure they are overpriced. But compared to retail, for quality jewelry, there is no comparison.

I also saw 1 false advertising of pearls starting at a certain price, and then when I clicked on the category, the prices were all higher. This is no different than the misleading ads that some claim is on eBay.

I think there is huge difference. One would be a typo, one would be deliberate deception and false advertising. I am sure the online seller you are referring to would be very appreciative if you were to point out the mistake.

 

[Caitlin]

Hi Opera
Not everyone over here has made blanket statements about eBay and we have several other differences of opinion as well.

There is no official point of view here and all are invitied to take a position, if they want to. You are welcome to make your case for eBay and I hope other potential eBayers can learn from you.


Pictures are very educational for a information forum like this. Can you post pictures of examples of your collection? Especially your Tahitians? Do you have the original eBay picture or link to the ad? If not, I hope you can point your camera at your collection and take some pictures that demonstrate your points. I for one always like to see pictures.

 

[pattye]

Hi All,

Here is another example of misinformation from ebay: I asked if item 8947738881 (copper bronze freshwater pearls @ 23.99) were dyed. I have purchased beading gems and pearls occasionally from this site.

The reply was "They are not dyed, the color is injected into each oyster as the pearl is developing so that the color is ingrained. This process is done with finer pearls and because it is done while each pearl develops, is considered 'natural'."

That is probably what they really think.

Pattye

 

[Pearls_by_Angela_Carol]

They may not be very familiar with the process of culturing pearls. I do see that they state the Freshwater pearls have "very thick" nacre instead of saying they are solid nacre.

 

[KAC]

This is not helpful or fair to the many good and honest eBay sellers

I could be wrong, but something tells me your are more then a simple consumer.

That being said I agree with Zeidi, Ebay is more of a gamble then a legitimate retail venue. Sure with experience you can pic out the gems from the garbage, but the average consumer doesn't have the knowledge to do this.

 

[Caitlin]

If Op will post pictures to show us, it will go far to help educate other wannabe eBay bargain hunters pick out good pearls from pictures on eBay--- assuming the pearls the buyer receives are the ones pictured in the eBay ad.

Opera may or may not know that studying pictures of pearls is an ongoing thing here. Look at a picture of pearls and describe what you know or guess about a pearl from what you see in the picture. And, we have some very advanced practitioners of this art inhabiting this board.

Learning this art can only be a help to buyers and therefore becomes an educational part of this forum.

 

[Satine De La Courcel]

E-bay is a great place to get stuff! however I am very wary of jewelry and purchasing any on such a site... Not everyone will be happy all the time... and those of us who have gotten taken at one point or another will have a bad taste and I do but only for jewelry on E-may due to my experiences.. I have gotten good stuff and been taken... it is a risk. as with any auction! and those who profess the loudest, and are not willing to back it up in any way shape or form usually know the least.. IMHO but we are all people.. some love e-bay some do not.. Par for teh course I guess...


Cheers
Ash

 

[operavopera]

Hello again, (LONG)


I have to laugh because, believe me, I am simply a pearl lover/consumer who got on the soapbox after reading some comments about eBay! I actually looked into how I could sell fine South Sea pearls that I am able to buy in the Philippines, but have not come up with a plan. I would love to get into that business, but don't think eBay is the right market for it and don't want to open up a store. All of my interest here is that of a pearl collector (who also enjoys shopping for a good buy). At the same time, I do pay full price if I like something, but that is always after I see it in person.

Ok, so eBay is fun! Yes, that is part of the intrigue. There will always be people who want that excitement. Things must be sold at a discount on eBay, or else, why would anyone take the risk? See, to me, it still all makes sense! Sure, I would agree that most of the items are on the lower end (not that they aren't nice either), but there are still those who want quality goods.

Well, you all have me curious now! My jeweler says that she will not charge me just to look at my different pearls in question and give me her opinion. I will let you know. Of course, I will not tell her which ones are from eBay so that it will not prejudice her thinking. I will report to you afterward. I was also thinking of making a purchase the next time around from one of your online stores to see if I can really tell the difference with one of your AAA pearls, knowing that I can return it if I do not!

Re posting pictures, I only got back into eBay recently, after a 3 year hiatus, so the original auction photos are gone. I have not made many purchases, but have been pleased with what I bought so far, with the exception of the 2 duds. I am not good with taking macro pix or uploading pix from my digital camera, so any photos I take would be bad. Also, all of the pearls that I liked from eBay looked MUCH better in person than on the auction photo. I did compare to the photos on some of your websites, and I think it is only fair to assume that many of the eBay sellers are amateur photographers who don't know how to photograph jewelry, unlike yourselves or your employees, once again, my opinion.

One thing about photos that I must mention. I read some posts criticizing how so many eBay sellers use the same photo over and over for different auctions. To me, that just makes sense. After viewing your websites, I can't imagine that if you have 20 pairs of earrings in stock, you are going to take 20 pictures. Every time 1 item sells, you are going to replace the picture?

 

[Susan]

Hi Operavopera

Is this your ebay identity? If so we should be able to view photo's of your purchases from your feedback on ebay.

Susan

 

[Satine De La Courcel]

Hello again, (LONG)

One thing about photos that I must mention. I read some posts criticizing how so many eBay sellers use the same photo over and over for different auctions. To me, that just makes sense. After viewing your websites, I can't imagine that if you have 20 pairs of earrings in stock, you are going to take 20 pictures. Every time 1 item sells, you are going to replace the picture?

I seee why you think what you think However this IS what is going on.

[U]stealing pictures from professional sites not your own and claiming they are your own [/U]is what people are refering to here. especially photos that from some people from this site know they personally took... that is stealing and fraud! that is what is being talked about here.

Ash

NOT that the same picture is used over and over....

 

[Taylor]

I liked eBay better when it was a big garage sale. I do think you can find good things if you know the category, from dolls to art to jewelry.
I also like being able to find things not available in small towns and having one standardized way to pay (Paypal).
I quickly gave up on pearls. I hate that so many new things are represented as antiques. Just wading through the junk was awful. I did buy some Roman pearls - those old pearls with the essence of orient on the inside of the glass ball - that have re-made into very pretty pieces after the ruined ones were removed. They were in the right age group but were advertised as naturals. Isn't there a federal law against that?But I would just have to kiss too many frogs to find a prince on Ebay.

 

[Caitlin]

Hi all!
I didn?t mean to sound rancid, just logical. With no pictures, all I have to go on is the logic of the arguments themselves. This is the same logic that I apply to eBay ads themselves.

Don?t get me wrong, I love eBay. My expert husband has a sideline where he buys under-priced historical posters on eBay then turns around and sells them at market value to off eBay private customers. Amazing how he ?sees? the good buys. He is a recognized expert in his field and his ability to verify authenticity is unparalleled, so the risk of buying from him goes down to virtually zero.

I do know there are pearl people, like Zeide and others here, who can pick out good pearls from pictures, even amateur pictures, on eBay?if it is a picture of the actual item. Take heed of Zeide?s list in above post. It is an advanced lesson in recognizing how the sales pitch can be spun so a less knowledgeable person could be fooled.

Opera sounds like a real pearl lover who likes eBay and that is a voice we need here~~ but with pictures! And Opera could add to the educational value of this forum with pictures. Without them, it is pretty much opinion, not educational.


On Posting Photos:
I did not know how to use my camera either, when I first came here. Now I point and shoot with the macro flower on. Then, I crop the picture down to the pearls with the default photo editor that came with XP. Then I resize it smaller until it is 400 pixels in its longest dimension. The default measurement under ?resize? is in inches, but there is a choice if you poke the drop-down arrow that displays the default. The resize makes it possible to upload to this site.

I can do this for anyone else on this forum who needs the help. Email me the pictures. Click on my name for that function.

 

[operavopera]

Hi Operavopera

Is this your ebay identity? If so we should be able to view photo's of your purchases from your feedback on ebay.

Susan

Yes, that is my eBay identity and I have nothing to hide! You will not see much, however, because many of my purchases were from 3 yrs ago and no longer available for viewing, and one of my recent ones is private (and the photo was not good, but MUCH better in person). I am still waiting for another pair of earrings (from China!) A couple of purchases are not even listed because the sellers didn't give me any feedback (after I gave them positives).

Here's what I will do. After I see my jeweler for her opinion, I will give you the item # of the last Tahitians I bought and you all can have a look. I will also let you know what she says about the other pearls. Maybe then I will try photographing with my digital if it comes out halfway decent or sending it to Caitlin (I think that's who it was) that offered to crop them for me.

I have enjoyed this discussion so far and I hope that you have too. This is all done with the best intentions and I am willing to learn some things if I am wrong in my assumptions!

 

[Caitlin]

Hi Opera V

You add a bright note and your POV was under represented, until you came along. Just be ready with evidence (pix!) to support your point of view and you will be adding to the depth of this forum.