Lpearls.com warning - they will rip you off - NOT akoya

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

The preserving chemicals..that would be EU wide ..same with postal restrictions on what you can ship...

The ad on Alibaba claims the oysters are treated with "edible alcohol", which is bogus. Apart from the confusion between edible and potable, I assume they are suggesting ethanol. To that end, I call BS because ethanol really smells of solvent, even when mixed with water in equal parts.

Besides that, ethanol is illegal to ship in samples, no less in the absence of MSDS.

There is no possible way mollusk soft tissues can remain in room temperature for weeks, even months without high level fixes. The stuff I use is made by the lab that receives the samples. It's really expensive, even in 1 gram vials. It's like USD $70/oz. There's no way I can remotely come close to the $1.50 cost per sample of a 30g object, which is still very volatile in open air. No less accompanied by the labor intensity of rearing a hatchery borne animal, inserting a small pearl, vacuum packaging and marketing.

All that said, I'm highly suspicious these are brominated.

 

[Katbran]

Exactly as CathyK said...the weight is concrete evidence that the box could not have contained what was ordered. I'm sure the police couldn't be bothered if they refused to take a complaint. You need to push this.

 

[CathyKeshi]

Sadly, unlikely any police will be interested in pursuing. However, Dave has made great points about pollution and contamination concerns and regulatory agencies who might have an interest in chasing this scam. More directly, both shipping companies and credit card companies used will usually get involved with concrete evidence in hand.

 

[MyPearls]

Video

Video

Yep, that's what we always do. We snap pictures, then start recording the outer box and continually while we weigh, remove items and check them off our invoice. I strongly suggest others do it.

MyPearls, I have 26 years in shipping and handling experience. I recommend you video and still photograph that package and label, on a scale, showing the package weight ... UNOPENED. That should document the weight of the package versus the contents in case of a dispute. Then do the same photographs of the box and the contents laid out next to the box. Good luck to you; please come back and let us know how you make out.

 

[MyPearls]

Our shipment was received and all contents were inside. Do you consider it a scam if these companies disclose said details in this thread?

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I'm glad you got your shipment, but the basic facts of the nature of the business are still that buyers are being misled.

 

[MyPearls]

Without seeing these posts I wouldn't know the difference, has anybody reached out to them?

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

I did a little surf on YouTube. Many of the people were actually quite nice, but either totally naive or simply don't care. NOT one person wore barrier protection. One was complaining, but laughing at the fumes. Most hosts dangerously shucked towards the fingers. One didn't even know how to locate the adductor muscle and literally broke the shell into numerous pieces. The pearl rolled off on the floor. Several hosts had awkward silences while they text messaged.

This one though, takes the cake.

Here's a pants-on-fire "Star executive director" Vantel consultant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhkzDK4BK8c

It's too brutal to watch entirely, so I highlighted the time line for the phony parts.

2:50 - False claim of origin and bogus grade. Her YouTube page claims they are from Ago Bay in Japan.
4:40 - Claims all jewelry is "custom made" exclusively for Vantel, all drilling done by hand no third party manufacturers or machinery.
8:45 - Wrong on every level. Gills are for respiration, not ingestion. Gills do not produce nacre.
9:10 - Six years or longer on the "ocean floor" is ridiculous.
9:30 - Denies any pearl is dyed, and claims they are "all natural". No intervention.
10:45 - False claim of making a "natural glue" that keeps the shell closed.
12:15 - Was that a fart?
14:00 - Bogus value appraisal.

 

[jshepherd]

I am guessing everyone goes straight to 12:15.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I had to watch the whole video. So much misinformation!

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Apart from the obvious nonsense, it's alarming to see these hosts handling oysters then touching their hair, lips, nose, phones etc. Several were sipping from drink containers and one was opening and closing a screw top water bottle.

What's worse? ... children handling these.

While the shell has nothing to do with an artificially planted pearl, many of them are using the term "sea grass" which is actually algae. Vantel is obviously instructing these hosts to use buzzwords to further the deception. Black stripes, white spots or every barnacle is mentioned. The hosts think they're being intelligent, but in reality sound like fools. The names they give the shells on those trays is even sillier. Seahorse, whale, mermaid, octopus etc.

The ONLY videos I saw where the hosts were wearing proper barrier protection were the Epcot kiosks. At those booths, there's no time to ask questions because of the over-the-top show.

 

[Marianne]

Gee, I hope she washed her hands before getting Little Precious a snack…
This can do nothing good for the increasing shallowness of the gene pool
And yes, I do believe that was a fart.

 

[CathyKeshi]

I suspect that's part of the hook for these young women ... "Be an internet star, make a ton of money, and work from home while you make your little one a snack ..." Sigh.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

I Google Imaged "Vantel Pearls"

I didn't have to look long or far to find an unauthorized use of an image from Josh at Kamoka.

http://allevents.in/island falls/brittanys-vantel-pearl-party/883476665061117#

The image appeared in this NatGeo article.

 

[MSC]

I don't understand how these folks can do all this and not feel at least a little icky about it all, even the ignorant and naive ones.

 

[JerseyPearl]

They have made it to Etsy as well.
Seriously, MSC....

 

[pearlescence]

In the UK trading standards are investigating. The dangerous nature of the preservative might be enough - Dave, can you give full details?

 

[Pareltje]

And yet, people don't stop looking for such canned oysters....

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

In the UK trading standards are investigating. The dangerous nature of the preservative might be enough - Dave, can you give full details?

Sure. I've been considering writing a report. A legal, expert opinion, as it were.

Perhaps a Facebook consumer alert page which could be stickied here.

In recent days, I've been getting emails asking to supply these oysters. The number of posts is increasing here too.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

That particular seller from post #48 says she started doing this when her husband lost his job. I understand people needing to make money but it's critical to research what you are thinking of getting involved in.