jewelry authentication failed!

[desdemona1013]

I've been here since 2006 with 100% feedback selling jewelry.  Clearly I am not scamming customers.  I am sure they take the stuff they buy from me to their own jewelers, who confirm that my descriptions are correct.

I had my very first diamond ring sent to the jewelry authenticators this week and it FAILED!  It was a big chunky vintage ring, hallmarked 14k.  It passed the 14k acid test with the stone and the acid.  They failed it, saying they put it into some machine, and it came back at 13.3K gold, not 14k gold.  This is SO FRUSTRATING.  The gold in vintage rings often had a bit of alloy mixed with the gold, but the standard was they could still mark it as 14k because it was like 98% of 14k gold.  Who is to say that their gold test is correct and ours is wrong, or that the stamp on the ring is false? We as sellers have no recourse if the authenticator kicks our items back.  Is anyone else having problems like this??

[desdemona1013]

I have heard of this happening as well.  A mutual seller told me that they include the GIA appraisal in the package sent to the authenticator.  Item passed, appraisal was not sent to the customer.  Customer is livid, wants the appraisal which was pictured for the vintage item.  Called eBay -- was told it was never sent in the package (I'm sure they trashed it). 

[jklfindings]

They will most likely be using an XRF gun, or similar machine.  It will tell you exactly what metals and percentage of said metal are in a sample.  They are VERY accurate.  They are also $20k each last I checked.... So most eBayers won't have one handy.

[ehoffmaster]

The whole program had good intentions but has cost our group over 20k in sales since all we deal in is vintage jewelry before purity standards were enforced. People buying these pieces want a beautiful diamond ring. They dont care if the purity is off by 1%. Instead these buyer being told they have been defrauded and to try and different seller verses working with the original seller. 

The email buyer are sent when an item fails no matter the reason:

We know it’s disappointing to not receive the item you were expecting. Cases like this are rare, but when they happen, Authenticity Guarantee has your back.

Here’s what happened: Our experts inspected the item that you ordered and determined it didn’t meet our standards. We reject items for a variety of reasons, including damaged packaging, missing accessories, not matching the seller’s description, or an inability to confirm authenticity. eBay will return the item to the seller and fully refund your purchase.

Almost all items on eBay pass our inspection, so we hope you'll order a similar item from another eBay seller soon.

[desdemona1013]

Those messages to buyers really make sellers look bad. Even good, honest sellers. And now when items fail, sellers will get a defect. It’s already started happening. Between the increase in final value fees on jewelry and now the authentication requirements, it’s probably really time to retire at least for me. 

[coutequecoute]

eBay’s Authentication program did this to me twice already. I have been selling jewelry on eBay since February 2000. I have 100% feedback. I sell fine vintage antique jewelry and have had no problems until now. They failed a diamond ring stamped 14K, acid tested to 14K and jeweler appraised to be 14K. Also a diamond bracelet stamped 14K, acid tested to be 14K and jeweler appraised to be 14K. One piece they claimed was 13.15K and the other 13.3K. They failed them both. Don’t know what to do. I appealed even asked for a supervisor. They said they would leave notes that I am upset. 

[desdemona1013]

I feel your pain!!!  I know you are a great seller.   I've even bought from you a couple of times.  Your descriptions are succinct yet detailed, and your photos are great.  That's the exact same thing that happened to me the one time they failed my item.  Big honkin' vintage ring came back at 13.3K.  We are using acid to test our gold, which is not as accurate (presumably) as these new machines which no casual seller can afford to buy!  Anyway, I don't know if this helps, but I've been putting this statement in my "authenticity guaranteed" gold items description.  Another high volume seller told me to do it. 

**Because of different gold testing practices, (traditional acid and stone test vs. eBay's Authenticity Guarantee electronic gold testing machine), items stamped 14k may read or actually be between 13.5k-15k gold.  Until 1981, manufacturers of jewelry could use gold that was 13.5 karat or higher and round off, thus still stamping it 14k.  Much of the jewelry sold on eBay is older than 1981. **

As for my diamond items, I'm taking out every reference to color and clarity, and approximating carat weight.  The less they have to dispute, the better.

Good luck!!  I've not had anything returned lately...I'm 8 for 9.

[downunder-61]

Ignore me.......

[nooni]

It's an XRF machine

[vintagecraze50]

Yep, that is correct. The only jewelry that is considered an exact content is plumb gold. Most have some alloy that would make them a slight bit off on the 14k 10k etc.

[vintagecraze50]

They are very picky I guess. Worse than a picky customer. LOL!

[vintagecraze50]

YOU GOT THAT RIGHT. PLUMB is the only gold that is 100 percent on the mark.

[vintagecraze50]

So go to someone with an XRF GUN or similar expensive machine and pay them first to get the exact gold content. Then list it.

[auntiekittys]

Vagueness is what makes Ebay a lesser player in the market, IMHO.  That's really a shame.  Ebay should strive to make listings more exacting, not less.  There are lots of other markets out there now, chomping at the bit to take Ebay's place.  A couple of them just might surprise them.

[celesmaxwell]

Welp - after 24 years as an ebay seller, I had a vintage jewelry piece go through the authentication system.

I paid over $90 to have an insurance appraisal done, and the signed/sealed certificate image was in the listing and the original was enclosed in the package.  Every last detail of the ring was listed as described on the appraisal.

I also included a little extra "thank you" gift.  It was a "free shipping" item so I covered the $26 out of pocket.

It was delivered; in just a few hours, the ring was determined to be "not as described", despite having the appraisal in the package.  I spent almost an hour on the phone with ebay and apparently the reason was because part of the gold was not exactly 14k - the listing said that the ring had been resized at some point.  I should get it back about a week from now.

My buyer is upset.  I am upset.  They didn't bother to take the time to contact the jeweler who appraised it.  My guess is that they tested the part of the band that was resized.

I told the rep I spoke with that I know it was not HIS direct fault, and he promised to pass my feedback on, but I am not hopeful.  I told him to pass this feedback to the appraisal team: DO BETTER.  They are going to lose a LOT of money on jewelry sales because the verification folks just do not put enough effort into checking the items they receive.

I hate to say it, but I am not surprised.  This was the FIRST time I've had an item be sent through the verification system.  Googling "ebay vintage gold didn't pass authentication" tells you all you need to know.

DO BETTER, EBAY.

[jewelsbyjackie]

Hi, what is your other platform that you sell on? I have been selling on Ebay for over 20 years and I feel like they are trying to put me out of business with this authentication dept. My customers are angry and want the merchandise that they bought!  Thank you, Jackie