eBay should always Reach out to buyer if item fails authentication
There are many instances that eBay fails authentication for trivial reasons. For example, the ring was 13.4K and not 14K as stated, or 1 of 30 diamonds had a clarity grade lower than stated, or the estimated carat weight of 250 diamonds was .95cts not 1.05cts as stated. These are a few but there are many other examples. In these cases, if not all cases, eBay should reach out to the customer, explain what they found and let them decide if they still want to proceed with the purchase. By no means does this put any pressure on the buyer as they still have full return privileges. The reality is, there are many customers who buy a ring and dont care about these trivial discrepancies. For example, someone lost their grandmothers heirloom ring 30 years ago and they finally find it (or one like it) for sale on eBay. They are so happy and DO NOT CARE that its 13.4K they just want the ring. OR a customer finds a tennis bracelet for thousands of dollars less than they can get it for in the store but it gets rejected because eBay authenticator grades the color of the diamonds as "UD" - undetermined due to the setting. This seems crazy to me. If they reach out to the customer its a win, win, win. Customer gets their item, we get a sale and eBay gets their commission. Where is the downside? We have many customers that have been consistently buying from us for many years. They are confident in our grading, value and description of all our products.....They are NOT HAPPY when these situations occur. When your buyers AND sellers both agree, you should listen. Does anyone else agree? I would love to hear your thoughts.
idealgems1
·2 years agoCitrine for topaz is an egregious error, and one that is very easily detected with a simple refractive index test. With all due respect to where you purchased the ring, GIA would not have made this misidentification.
kensgiftshop
·2 years agoI think it would make more sense to list the item correctly, then you wouldn't have to worry about it not passing.
belluscioformals
·2 years agoI couldn't agree more. I am going through this nightmare right now. A 14k gold ring only tested at 13.5. the buyer still wants it. They notified me that it did not pass inspection two days ago but have yet to even send it back. I have removed all of my jewelry listings. I won't go through this again.It's ridiculous. I think it's a direct correlation of why Ebay market share has absolutely plummeted in the last eight months. They don't seem to understand the industry standards for gold testing. Like you said they should reach out to the buyer. My buyer still wants it, but depending on how long it takes to get it back.She might no longer want it. Horrible. I just hate this new policy. I understand why it's in place but it seems very flawed in its execution.
jklfindings
·2 years agoThe authentication program has a tolerance of .5 for gold karat. So if you stated 14k, and it tested 13.5k, it will pass but be noted. After reading your previous post, and dealing with the authentication program a lot, the most likely reason for denial was that you listed the ring as topaz, and then it tested as citrine.
The authentication program will on occasion reach out to the buyer and see if they still want the item, but its going to be on minor issues. I've had this happen once in the past. They are pretty cut and dry though when it comes to accuracy. Listing a citrine as a topaz is a big difference to the authenticators.
I think everyone's first go around with the authentication department is a pain, but once you learn the ropes it gets easier. If the buyer still wants the ring, just relist it with the changes once you get it back. Actually listing the karat as 13.5 in item specifics will circumvent the authentication program last I checked, so you're buyer wont even need to wait.
margaritalynn
·2 years agoI just bought a ring aquamarine, was the final bidder ot 44 bids, when to the authenticator turns out it was glass?? the store I purchased it is one of the bigest on ebay millions plus business and 100 percent good rating. Could the auth be wrong? they said the main stone was glass. Anyone can help?
idealgems1
·2 years agoYou are correct. A system designed to protect buyers, now currently harms buyers by blocking sales that would be tremendous deals the buyer could have taken advantage of. Ebay wouldn't have to even respond individually to the buyers. All they would need to do is, if the item is genuine and not a fraud, give the reason the item failed and let the buyer decide whether or not to proceed on a standardized communication.
I.e., item failed because gold tested at 13.2 karat rather than 14 karat. Item failed because gemstone measures 11.7 x 9.4 mm instead of 12 x 10 mm. item failed because we could not verify item was manufactured by stated designer (but the seller has paperwork verifying provenance). Etc., etc., etc.
A sale blocked because of an insignificant finding makes everyone a loser...including eBay. Allowing the sale with full disclosure is a win/win/win.