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Sometimes, Titles get Dicey...

a hybrid or a chimera...
 
TSAVORITE GREEN TOURMALINE EMERALD

What on earth is that? Tsavorite, tourmaline or emerald? :sick: I guess one has to read all the way down the page to realize it is a tourmaline.
 
Some eBay'ers think they have to put every keyword in the world in the title of the auction in order to get eBay's search engine to focus in on their's. My guess is they were trying to focus in on anyone looking for a green stone.
 
only somewhat confusing... :roll:

I guess their theory is throw everything in there and someone will hit on it!
 
Im sorry but really...just read the description and it will tell you exactly what it is...a Tsavorite-Green colored Tourmaline in an Emerald cut.

Maybe because I'm selling my 'extra' stones on eBay I am becoming more defensive of the vendors, I don't know. Its hard to summarize a stone in the few amount of charachters that eBay allows.

Also, lets say I know very little about stones, but my friend has a Tsavorite and I really liked it, and want one for myself. So I go on eBay, and I search for an emerald cut tsavorite. That stones comes up. Then I think, "wow, I can get a tourmaline that is the same color, for way less money". Im now happy, because I didnt know that I could get a stone the same color, and save a bunch of money in the process.

Now, I'd hope that someone about to invest $$$ in a gemstone would do the research to learn the different options, and their pros and cons, but not everyone is like me. So, I have zero problem with the title and listing.

lets try to cut these vendors some slack. They have to deal with people ranging from gemstone experts to someone that just wants a pretty green stone and knows nothing else. They have to deal with eBays limited charachter space, and so on.

Just my two cents. And hey, if I found out by reading one more sentence down in the listing that its not what I want, then I just move on. It literally requires one more sentence of reading.....come on guys.
 
Lighten up, Chris! No one was attacking the vendor over this, we were just finding it amusing. She is a great vendor with excellent stones and is active on several boards. I just thought it was funny that three descriptors ran together and made it ambiguous to someone at more of a beginner level to discern the stone type.
 
I'm not fired up about it, Minous...just that sometimes I feel bad for vendors, and they don't really ever are able to defend themselves..now, you meant nothing really by this thread, but what if someone new reads this and now thinks that Weblorn is a decietful seller and won't buy from them? Like you said, she's a great vendor with awesome stones and is great to work with...but a thread like this read by the wrong person, could cost her a sale or sales.

Im in sales myself (not gemstones, lol) and so yes, I am sensitive to vendors. I don't know how these guys do it....I could never be a gemstone dealer. Not to call someone out, but the young lady with all those Tsavorite Garnets, and while I respect that she wanted the 'perfect' one, I feel so bad for the vendors that only have a 1/20th of a shot of making that sale. I think that a buyer should do the best job they can at picking 'the' stone and if its not it, then return it and try again. I am fully against "buying only to return" where you buy 3 examples from 5 vendors with intention of keeping only one stone from one vendor. Drives me crazy. Pick a vendor that you like, and work with them until they find a stone that you like. If they have exhausted what they have and cannot satisfy you, move on to another vendor. But buying to return....I would be so mad if someone came into my store and bought what I sell, and then one from the place across the street, and then one from down the road, to see which one was best and then returned mine for some (possibly) obscure reason, when what I sold I took a lot of time, effort, and expense to sell them. Ugh.

I guess thats just me though...maybe I am not as particular as some others. Enough said...
 
If I am truly picking Welborn apart (which I really don't want to because I know she's great and I've even purchased a green gossular garnet from her once), I could get more detailed with my comment.

The title: TSAVORITE GREEN TOURMALINE EMERALD

1. Tsavorite is green but how many casual readers know this? Tsavorites also come in a huge variety of hues so it could be yellowish, straight green or slightly bluish green. I don't see how such a descriptor is helpful.

2. Green tourmaline - I think this description is sufficient. It is indeed a tourmaline and it is green!

3. Emerald? Quite misleading because one might think it is a green beryl (emerald). Actually, it isn't even an emerald cut, or to be precise, a step cut. It is a scissor cut. For those who may not be familiar with it, then perhaps she can call it a modified step cut is a better choice of words?

But in all honesty, just reading the blurb to the right will clear everything right up. Minous did not start this thread in the mean spirit that some might misintepret.

With regards to free enterprise, this happens all the time, not only for internet businesses but also brick and mortar stores. Why else do you think stores offer "if you see this exact item advertised for less elsewhere, we will pay you the difference"? This is just the way businesses are run these days and why pricing is competitive in the open market. I am not loyal to just one vendor; I will buy from whoever has what I am looking for at the price I am willing to pay. If you don't want the stones to come back to you as a vendor, then it is your perogative to have a "no return and no refund" policy.
 
Chrisa222|1346256256|3259180 said:
.... I am fully against "buying only to return" where you buy 3 examples from 5 vendors with intention of keeping only one stone from one vendor. Drives me crazy. Pick a vendor that you like, and work with them until they find a stone that you like. If they have exhausted what they have and cannot satisfy you, move on to another vendor. But buying to return....I would be so mad if someone came into my store and bought what I sell, and then one from the place across the street, and then one from down the road, to see which one was best and then returned mine for some (possibly) obscure reason, when what I sold I took a lot of time, effort, and expense to sell them. Ugh. ....
Click to expand...

Although off-topic, I will step up to say - I have no problem abiding by vendors' return policies - and I tend to gravitate to vendors with a "return for any reason" policy of a reasonable duration. I have in the past purchased, and will continue in the future to purchase, several stones from several vendors of a specific color and size to examine at length in the privacy of my home, and to inspect in all the lighting schemes of all my regular spots -- and even to compare with gems I already own which may be similar in color - and at times to see which of the stones may better suit a particular setting I may have in mind.

While I respect the choice of those who prefer to work with only one vendor at a time, I prefer being able to personally examine my top couple of stone choices and either select among them or return them (following vendors' return policies) to continue the search. I do not view this as "buying to return" but instead as a legitimate method of ensuring I end up with the best item for me. I have 6 to 8 vendors I buy from, and I have kept stones from each of them... and I have returned stones to each of them. Nonetheless, I believe I am a welcome purchaser at each of these vendors as I respect all of their policies.
 
Thanks Chris, for taking it the right way...I had a feeling you weren't too "fired up," just speaking your mind, especially given your recent foray into ebay sales. And sorry if I came across as snarky or humorless - I meant this thread only as an example of the pitfalls of trying to "please all of the people all of the time" kinda thing, since it was a funny heading...
 
Chrono...not really about just sticking to one vendor if you want to buy something. I get that..I do that all the time, who doesn't! What I don't "get" is what I was saying before..buying something/things, knowing that you are going to return them. Now, I don't mean calling on a vendor and asking for 3 of his best Spessartites, and picking the best one. I am talking about buying Vendor A's best three, and vendor B and C's best three, all at once. I just think thats just not right. Order Vendor A's best, if none suit you, send them back and try vendor B. By "Ordering" three stones from three different vendors all at the same time....I will never understand that. Sure, its America, you can do what you please with the way you spend your money, and hey, like mary says, vendors have return policys. You could buy every spessartite on eBay and return the other 2,356 if you want. But I will never agree that it is fair to vendors.

Thank God Im not a vendor ;-)

Mary, agree to disagree...I just wanted to explain what I meant, thats all.

Minous, not fired up, I got what you meant when you said it :-)
 
There are some excellent vendors out there, but the majority you will find on ebay or discover through ebay or similar resources are businesses that prey on the uneducated consumer. Often they offer real goods but trump up the worthiness of their wares with fantasy photos and mind-bending hyperbolic metaphors. While legitimately it may be un PC to make fun of their linguistic idiosyncrasies, calling vendors on exaggerated descriptions has been a tradition on this and other forums. Rarely are linguistic hurdles seen in the same light as willful dissemblage and search term salting. In the spirit of good fun many an ebay listing has been deconstru(ct)ed in these pages providing both amusement, and a lesson in cautions to many. Publicly declaiming an especially fertile listing affords a delightful détournment around our common interest in the interweb. I am sorry if anyone actually needed an explanation.
 
FWIW I think the best vendors actually encourage buyers to purchase multiple stones from multiple vendors at the same time, so that buyers can do whatever comparisons they see fit to pick out the most suitable stones. That has certainly been my experience with vendors who are confident in the quality and selection of their offerings. A PS favorite even offered to pay for return shipping if I decide to return the stone, just to get me to look at the stone first before making up my mind. I have yet to buy anything from the vendor, but it'll definitely be one of my first stops when I'm looking for my next stone.

IMO whether the practice is fair to vendors or not is really up to vendors to decide. They are free to adjust pricing and return policies to mitigate any potential financial impact as they see fit. Some have introduced restocking fees on returns from new customers and shortened return periods in attempts to discourage the practice.

But I think vendors who encourage the practice realize a couple of points:
1. Buyers who can afford to purchase and return multiple stones at the same time tend to have the deepest pockets and are potentially repeat customers.
2. Discerning buyers who comparison shop tend to become loyal customers over time if their expectations can be consistently met, and will refer new customers and give strong testimonials.
3. There's a smaller chance that any potential business will be lost simply because buyers bought and kept something good enough from other vendors and becoming their loyal customers, before getting around to your inventory that is actually better and more suitable.
 
VapidLapid|1346286941|3259525 said:
There are some excellent vendors out there, but the majority you will find on ebay or discover through ebay or similar resources are businesses that prey on the uneducated consumer. Often they offer real goods but trump up the worthiness of their wares with fantasy photos and mind-bending hyperbolic metaphors. While legitimately it may be un PC to make fun of their linguistic idiosyncrasies, calling vendors on exaggerated descriptions has been a tradition on this and other forums. Rarely are linguistic hurdles seen in the same light as willful dissemblage and search term salting. In the spirit of good fun many an ebay listing has been deconstru(ct)ed in these pages providing both amusement, and a lesson in cautions to many. Publicly declaiming an especially fertile listing affords a delightful détournment around our common interest in the interweb. I am sorry if anyone actually needed an explanation.
Click to expand...

VL, as usual, you made me laugh! If I was the marrying type and you were the marrying type, and you were single, I would ask you to marry me in a heartbeat :praise: [where's the huggy icon when you need it?!]

-MB
 
Haha, I have seen that exact listing in my ebay searches before.
 
VapidLapid|1346286941|3259525 said:
There are some excellent vendors out there, but the majority you will find on ebay or discover through ebay or similar resources are businesses that prey on the uneducated consumer. Often they offer real goods but trump up the worthiness of their wares with fantasy photos and mind-bending hyperbolic metaphors. While legitimately it may be un PC to make fun of their linguistic idiosyncrasies, calling vendors on exaggerated descriptions has been a tradition on this and other forums. Rarely are linguistic hurdles seen in the same light as willful dissemblage and search term salting. In the spirit of good fun many an ebay listing has been deconstru(ct)ed in these pages providing both amusement, and a lesson in cautions to many. Publicly declaiming an especially fertile listing affords a delightful détournment around our common interest in the interweb. I am sorry if anyone actually needed an explanation.
Click to expand...


Can I quote this in my signature?! Awsome response VL!
 
Minous, you never know what strange twists the future will bring

Sarahbear621, you may use that quote anyway you wish.

I thank you both
 
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