Sellers offering allegedly natural rare gemstones at absurdly low prices -- how is this permitted?

[pithecanthropus4152]

I know that eBay policy absolutely and positively prohibits the listing of knockoff/dupe apparel and accessories even if the facts are fully disclosed, so how is it OK to list a supposedly natural premium quality 30-carat topaz--and not yellow quartz, but a real imperial topaz, for less than $40?  A topaz of such quality, size, and color is something you would see in a museum. Or another example currently offered is a colorless sapphire of over 50 carats.  I can't be absolutely sure, but it looks suspiciously like a CZ as it seems to have too much dispersion ("fire") to be a sapphire.  

Those are just two examples of the very many that I've seen, and I'm curious about this for one reason in particular.   I have one or two stones that I would like to sell, and I'm wondering if the abundant supply of fakes, whether openly listed as such or not, has driven the prices of natural stones into the basement.  If that's the case, then it isn't worth the trouble I won't bother trying.

[heckofagame]

I know that eBay policy absolutely and positively prohibits the listing of knockoff/dupe apparel and accessories even if the facts are fully disclosed

Yes, because that is called counterfeiting. 

[richard1rst]

Well, I do not doubt your expertise but how do you PROVE it is a fake - especially to eBay?

[inhawaii]

Offering items at "absurdly low prices" is not a violation.

[evelyb30]

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@richard1rst wrote:

Well, I do not doubt your expertise but how do you PROVE it is a fake - especially to eBay?

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Short form: eBay says it's he said/she said and refuses to step in.   

[bonjourami]

Sellers can list their items for any price they want, are these stones listed in China or India?

[onefootflipper1]

You don't even appear to sell gemstones. 

Worrying about fake stuff on ebay in categories you don't sell in could easily turn into a non-paying full time job.

[pithecanthropus4152]

No, I don't sell gemstones now but it's something I would consider getting into.  I've always been interested in them and I have some knowledge about the subject.  Given a jeweler's refractometer I think I could start since I already have some inventory.  

But when I see so many listings that appear to be either dishonest or just ignorant  (e.g. "I found this "topaz" (unknown yellow stone) so I'll list it as a real topaz", I have to wonder if entering the trade, so to speak, is worth the trouble.  One thing about the gemstone trade is that an abundance of similar looking but much more common stones can indeed drive down the prices of the rarer stones they are intended to simulate.  And I'm troubled that an established platform like eBay seems content to look the other way.

[ckimodog]

@pithecanthropus4152 

Probably fakes from China and inexperienced sellers from elsewhere.  Wouldn't give them a second look. 

Happy Selling

[pithecanthropus4152]

Many of them are, yes.  Or Southeast Asia.

[bonjourami]

Gemstones are such an over saturated category, with almost two million listings. Those kind of sellers stay in business because a lot of buyers want cheap..not quality. Then they are shocked when they get a piece of glass.Bots scan new listings, not gem experts, so these scammers can stay in business, most of them with thousands of sales of their junk.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1313&_nkw=gemstones&_sacat=0&_nls=2...

[dbfolks166mt]

     As with any item listed on eBay what the eBay policy states about counterfeit/fake/knockoff items is subjective and eBay has no way to validate/verify the authenticity of  anything that is posted. They do have the authentication services after the sale but no before. 

    Regardless of the type of listing a buyer can never be 100% sure the item they receive will be exactly what was described/pictured unless it does go through the authentication process. However, the buyer is generally protected under the MBG and or by their CC company. 

     With a gemstone if I was to purchase one upon receipt the first place I would take it would be to a gemologist for authentication and verification. If it did not pass it's a simple matter to open a return request for NAD. As inhawaii stated just because it is priced low does not mean it is counterfeit or fake although that may be a yellow flag. A lot of gemstones can be purchased internationally much cheaper than they can be purchased in the US. 

[evelyb30]

The sellers of fakes figure if they sell cheaply enough it won't be worth the buyer's time to open a return.  Most probably  don't.