Jewelry failed authentication

[longcreekherbs]

My first experience with automatic authentication for expensive jewelry was not a good one. I sold a paired "14kt" gold chain and pendant (from two different makers), which had been TWICE checked by a reputable jeweler for me, and verified as 14kt gold throughout. I described this in the listing, but when it sold, it failed authentication, and so was returned to me, but all I got back was the message, "the purity of the metal does not match the listing." I assume the customer receives the same message. From reading other community posts, I see that others have had gold items returned which were perhaps not "plumb," but within the normal range of what is considered acceptable in the jewelry industry. If this is the case, it would seem the people doing the authentications should be more specific in reporting their findings. Fortunately my customer has been very understanding, so I doubt this will hurt my 100% satisfaction score, but someone else might think they were being totally scammed. I sell a lot of gold jewelry, and before automatic authentication started some of those items would have had to go through this same authentication process. Because of my success, I've also had friends and relatives ask if I would sell expensive jewelry items on ebay for them. Unless this process changes, to have authentication failures reported with more specificity, I will be very hesitant to sell expensive jewelry items on ebay in the future.

[simba6]

It's a judgement call.  Experts will differ. It's like that with art, sports cards and coins.

[jewelbiz]

I have a diamond wedding band ring and I’m not going to sell it here on eBay like I used to do for decades.  It will cost over $500. Thus needing authentication.  Too many variables in determining the exact diamond weight, color grade and quality grade.  In the past I’ve placed it for sale here on eBay and described it as best within my power and a woman would buy it.  End of story.  She’s happy!

 But now I will have to send it away and involve a 3rd other person besides my buyer……

Too much can go wrong what with the mail, it can get lost, stolen, misplaced, etc.

And the authenticity guaranteed individual can be having a bad day and take it out on my diamond ring.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

I recommend not selling for family or friends. Too many things can happen that can create a bad relationship for the future.

1. tax reporting. You are stuck with the tax reporting of the sale when filing unless you take that out along with all eBay fees you have paid before giving the friend / family member their money.

2. This is the big one! You sell. You take out the fees and tax portion to cover and give the person their money. Weeks or a few months go by, and now the buyer is trying to open a false claim which you could lose depending on their claim, your response, and the eBay AI bots. 

It will be difficult to confront your friend or relative that you need the money back. Buyer opened a false claim and won. 

Best to tell them to sell on their own or buy the item outright yourself from them. 

[jewelbiz]

This is the diamond wedding band ring mentioned above.  Couldn’t attach it in above post!

[ckimodog]

@longcreekherbs 

From reading the many threads here with eBay's flawed authentication feature, especially in jewelry, it appears many of the authenticators are anything but.  They probably had to read "Jewelry for Dummies" & are given a list of things to look for in a piece.  My guess is non of them have a GIA either.   Just my opinion.

Sorry for your situation.

Happy Selling!

[albertabrightalberta]

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@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:

I recommend not selling for family or friends. Too many things can happen that can create a bad relationship for the future.

1. tax reporting. You are stuck with the tax reporting of the sale when filing unless you take that out along with all eBay fees you have paid before giving the friend / family member their money.

2. This is the big one! You sell. You take out the fees and tax portion to cover and give the person their money. Weeks or a few months go by, and now the buyer is trying to open a false claim which you could lose depending on their claim, your response, and the eBay AI bots. 

It will be difficult to confront your friend or relative that you need the money back. Buyer opened a false claim and won. 

Best to tell them to sell on their own or buy the item outright yourself from them. 

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@sextons-sweet-deals 

Are you responding to the correct OP? I don't see where the OP said anything about selling for a friend or needing money back.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

yes

very last comment on post: , I've also had friends and relatives ask if I would sell expensive jewelry items on ebay for them. Unless this process changes, to have authentication failures reported with more specificity, I will be very hesitant to sell expensive jewelry items on ebay in the future.

[longcreekherbs]

I will mention again, to highlight from my original post, it was the lack of specificity in the authentication rejection which bothered me, most of all.

[slippinjimmy]

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@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:

yes

very last comment on post: , I've also had friends and relatives ask if I would sell expensive jewelry items on ebay for them. Unless this process changes, to have authentication failures reported with more specificity, I will be very hesitant to sell expensive jewelry items on ebay in the future.

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Apparently some improvements are in the works......

https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2023/09/29/buyers-can-proceed-with-purchase-even-if-ebay-authenticato...

[ckimodog]

@slippinjimmy 

Thanks for posting!