Greetings All,
First let me make clear that I WILL also be contacting eBay about this issue asap; I am bringing it up here because I would like to have the "take" of others on this as well, and to possibly learn whether others have noted the same type issue or not, as all I'm hearing from eBay is that it's got to be a problem at "my end"......but on each and every PC I own?? I don't think so, and have thoroughly checked my account contact preferences/settings, etc. and found no answers. Here's my problem, and the problem within my problem, so to speak:
I purchased a gemstone from an international merchant, listed and described as being a genuine, natural stone, which included a gemology lab certification. On receipt of the "gemstone", I knew instantly just with visual inspection that this was not the genuine article. In looking at the accompanying Gemology Lab certification card, I first was caught by noticing that the report details on the card carried the very same mistakes the merchant had in their auction listing- the shape of the stone as 'oval' when it should have stated 'cushion', and an incorrect set of dimensions. (In the listing, the dimension set in the 'Item Specifics' did not match the dimension set given in the actual item description section, which also happened to be the gem's actual dimensions, thus the dimensions listed on the certification were in fact incorrect.) The gemology certification was dually supposed to be verifiable online by visiting the gemology lab's website and entering your certificate number; in attempting this, their site stated the certificate number entered was invalid, and no certification by that number existed. The certification 'card' itself is merely a card-sized laminated paper stock printout which was not only poorly cut out, but also lacking any form of watermark/hologram, etc., no signature, and entirely blank on the back side, looking very much like a photocopy of the face from a valid certification, with the item details then added/edited 'to suit'. Further investigation/research online led to my finding numerous articles/warnings of 'buyer beware' regarding a recent 'rash' of falsified certificates from this and several other gemology labs turning up. In considering that the certificate is not found as valid by the gemology lab's records, and even moreso that the certificate describes the gem's dimensions as those from the listings 'item specifics' entries which are the incorrect set of dimensions, as well as the incorrect shape reference, I can't help but feel quite certain that the certification card has been falsified. As to the actual "gemstone" received, which was stated as being genuine and a 'natural' earth-mined gem, beyond it's visually being near blatantly different in looks from the genuine article, with a very pale lilac pinkish-purple coloration as opposed to what should have been a pale blue to the most common "caribbean blue" coloring with a distinct leaning towards a greenish-blue shade, I left final conclusions to science, and tested the stone numerous times with a professional digital gem refractometer. The genuine gemstone will return a reading between 1.810-2.024; this material returns a reading of 2.165. In terms of the refractive scale, this is far above what will be read from a natural gem of that variety, but registers well-centered in the known index found in Cubic Zirconia, 2.150-2.180. Satisfied that I am accurately assessing the received stone as an imitation and not the natural gem described, I began the return process, citing the item to not be what was described, and the certificate to be false documentation. The merchant agreed to the return, however, then added that due to the nature of their shipping they were unable to provide a prepaid return label. In relaying this to me, eBay stated that the merchant was still obligated to cover the cost of return, but given the postage issue I would need to contact the seller to discuss/make alternate return post arrangements with them. I sent them a message asking that they provide other instructions or inform me of alternatives they might propose, but without reply. On the last day before I was required to make shipment, I contacted eBay about this, and the issue was moved to Resolution Center, with a status of awaiting response from the seller. In checking on the status, it notes that the case is on hold, as follows:
"eBay Customer Support has placed the case on hold until Feb. 16 to allow time to provide additional documentation. We have sent you an email requesting further information to allow us to investigate your claim. Please provide this information before to assist with the process."
And this brings in my 'long-term' issue.... "what email?" I have NOT received an email or eBay message system correspondence requesting further information from me. Nothing in an INBOX, nothing in JUNK or SPAM. And this is not the only instance in which I was supposed to have received a message from eBay but haven't. When recently selling several items, I should have received notification from eBay telling me that a item had sold and I needed to package and ship the item, but never received such. My account preferences are set to have said notification, but it doesn't happen.
Anyone else out there seeming to have issues with not receiving scheduled notifications from eBay? Anyone resolve such issues and maybe wish to share how they resolved the trouble?
And of less gravity, but with curiousity, anyone have any thoughts on my 'case' and what sort of "further information" I could/need provide them to facilitate their making a decision? (short of obtaining a jeweler's affidavit, costing a minimum of 4-6 times the total value of the case) Thanks for any input!
