eBay Gemstone Sellers w/ certificates

[Marcus Aurelius]

So I have noticed some eBay sellers offer sapphires at surprising discounts, but have GIA/GRS/AGL certificates. Please clue me into how this scam works?

 

[JackTrick]

Got an example?

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

eBay is rife with them. Many certified gems at seemingly below market (wholesale prices). Some vendors have high eBay seller ratings, but that isn’t always a guarantee

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

Not to besmirch any honest dealers, but there are a ton of scams online.

 

[minousbijoux]

If you provide us examples of gems with lab reports from reputable labs and extremely low prices, it would help us answer your question. Thanks.

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

So I did a search of the vendor(s) (which I should have done at the outset) and at least in appears to check out.

 

[PrecisionGem]

eBay is rife with them. Many certified gems at seemingly below market (wholesale prices). Some vendors have high eBay seller ratings, but that isn’t always a guarantee

There is no such thing as a certified gem. A lab report is a report from a lab where they give their opinion and findings on what type of mineral the stone is. That doesn't mean the stone has a higher value, or quality, just identifies in the opinion of the lab what it is.

A $20 amethyst sent to a lab for a report, comes back as Amethyst, is still a $20 amethyst, just one with a report from a lab stating their opinion that it is amethyst.

 

[Polyhex]

How do you know what wholesale pricing is for the gems you are looking at?

While you are right to be ALWAYS wary of scams, I have bought gemstones direct from the source where western professionals have told me they couldn't buy the rough for the price/ct that I got the finished gem. With the internet expanding to get more people in source countries online, source dealers and cutters are selling to the public for the same or close to the same pricing they sell to western dealers.

 

[fredflintstone]

How do you know what wholesale pricing is for the gems you are looking at?

While you are right to be ALWAYS wary of scams, I have bought gemstones direct from the source where western professionals have told me they couldn't buy the rough for the price/ct that I got the finished gem. With the internet expanding to get more people in source countries online, source dealers and cutters are selling to the public for the same or close to the same pricing they sell to western dealers.

Yep. No such thing as wholesale pricing anymore due to all the source country dealers selling to the public now.

While there are wholesaler that still only sale to the trade, their prices are much higher than the source dealers & many small independent dealers in the USA and other first world countries.

The internet has changed the business. Turned it upside down onits head, which is good news for the consumer and a mixed bag for the seller, especially bad for the traditional wholesaler.

 

[Polyhex]

Yep. No such thing as wholesale pricing anymore due to all the source country dealers selling to the public now.

While there are wholesaler that still only sale to the trade, their prices are much higher than the source dealers & many small independent dealers in the USA and other first world countries.

The internet has changed the business. Turned it upside down onits head, which is good news for the consumer and a mixed bag for the seller, especially bad for the traditional wholesaler.

Yup! I personally LOVE knowing that I am putting my money into the source communities, who have had historically less opportunity to fairly leverage their own natural resources, but I can sympathize with the impact on western wholesalers. I really appreciate all of your posts and perspectives, and feel they are very educational, thank you for sharing them!

 

[fredflintstone]

Yup! I personally LOVE knowing that I am putting my money into the source communities, who have had historically less opportunity to fairly leverage their own natural resources, but I can sympathize with the impact on western wholesalers. I really appreciate all of your posts and perspectives, and feel they are very educational, thank you for sharing them!

Thank you for the kind words!


There will always be people who will buy from American dealers. Just because they trust Americans. I'm not trying to disrespect the source dealers, but it is true.

There will always be jewelers that buy from traditional wholesalers because they can do it on memo.

Then there will be the adventurous consumer who'll take a chance with the source dealers.

i'm not advocating for either one as it is up to each & every consumer.


Do want you feel safest about,

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

I have no such qualms with dealing with non-Americans, who are as much of a risk of being scam artists. Just have to be careful all around. As discussed elsewhere, I have found many of the “preferred” vendors to be unreasonably expensive. Better to take my chances with some of the off track suppliers who are now e-accessible. I do wonder if retail prices (and margins) are going to have to come down. If the preferred vendor list is any indication, prices are going to have to come down considerably here.

 

[Bron357]

I’m an eBay veteran buyer of 17 years.
Yes, there are reputable sellers on eBay, there are loose gemstones from reputable sellers with recognised lab certificates BUT there is a zillion sellers, mostly Indian / Chinese based who sell total rubbish with scam lab certificates.
A proportion of eBay sellers are “bricks and mortar” businesses who also use eBay (and Facebook and Instagram) to also sell their items. These sellers can be trusted.
As with any online purchase, care and caution should be exercised. Ask questions, ask for additional photos (to be sure it’s not a “stolen” photo - yes, scam seller do this) and only Pay via credit card or PayPal so you have protection if the item received is not as described.
As for pricing, eBay / PayPal costs a seller around 13% of the price. This for many small sellers is cheaper than having a shop and/or creating their own website.
And pricing / valuing sapphires is difficult.
Are the prices actually “cheap” or actually reflective of a less desirable tone, a “native cut” or inclusions or undesirable color zoning? Are the gems treated with BE or flux filled?
Many factors that take experience to assess affect price but bargains can be found on eBay. I find them.

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

Thank you! Yes, there is higher initial risk (gambling on a vendor being good or not) but there are some seemingly nice stones available for much better prices than I am seeing from some of these retail vendors. But yes, the risks are higher.

 

[Bron357]

Thank you! Yes, there is higher initial risk (gambling on a vendor being good or not) but there are some seemingly nice stones available for much better prices than I am seeing from some of these retail vendors. But yes, the risks are higher.

As a buyer on eBay you are well protected.
buying on eBay can be pleasant and successful If you follow these suggestions
Only buy from an established seller. That means previous sales, over 100 sales is better. Feedback score is important. It need not be 100% (some buyers a pains), 98 /99 is normally fine but read the negative and neutral comments. Some people complain unreasonably like the shipping took 2 weeks, that the item “looked bigger in the photo” though dimensions were provided in the listing!
Also feedback score can be all from purchases. This isn’t helpful if they are now “selling”.
Check the previously sold items, are they similar type and price some sellers might have a history of selling lots of low value items and now this one costing hundreds or thousands. Be cautious.
Connect with the seller. Ask a question, ask for another photo ie outside on the hand in sunlight. If a seller wants a sale they will oblige, if no reply from the seller (and give them a day or two, most sellers have day jobs and lives) perhaps avoid.
If an item has a “best offer” option, be reasonable with your offer, usually a 20% discount is a place to start. An offer is binding for 48 hours. It stays valid for 48 hours then lapses. In that time period the seller might accept, reject or counter offer a price. you don’t have to accept a counter offer. Be aware that you can only make a total of 3 offers on an item.
Be aware of shipping costs, check this before you buy.
Be aware that If the item is coming from another Country, what import taxes and fees might be payable by you, the buyer? you need to check this before you commit to buy.
Check return policy. Most sellers do NOT accept returns for change of mind or other frivolous reasons. A part of this is because PayPal changed their seller agreement. When a seller receives the buyers money via PayPal, 3% has already been deducted by PayPal for Paypal fees.
Previously if a sale fell through ie a cancel or return, PayPal would also return the 3% they took.
Now they keep it.
So if you want your $1,000 back, the seller only has $970 to return. What seller wants to have NO sale AND be out of pocket $30 for not having a sale?
so buy on eBay with the intention of keeping it. Check before you buy.

 

[fredflintstone]

I have no such qualms with dealing with non-Americans, who are as much of a risk of being scam artists. Just have to be careful all around. As discussed elsewhere, I have found many of the “preferred” vendors to be unreasonably expensive. Better to take my chances with some of the off track suppliers who are now e-accessible. I do wonder if retail prices (and margins) are going to have to come down. If the preferred vendor list is any indication, prices are going to have to come down considerably here.

The only true retail prices anymore are what you see in brick-and-mortar jewelry stores. That is true retail. Though I must digress, there are internet vendors, mostly on Esty that are popular here that are full retail too.


So, as I wrote, buy where you feel most secure. Just know that may cost you 5 to 10 times as much.