Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Buying Loose Gemstones Online

Introduction

The online gemstone market offers a wide variety and great convenience to the buyers as they can browse different websites and purchase gemstones without the hassle of physically visiting the stores. But this allure of online shopping can turn into a nightmare as there is a high risk of scams in online shopping. So, it is essential to know what to look for when buying loose gemstones online.

This article explores some of the common mistakes to avoid when buying gemstones online:

Fake Reviews 

Some websites get fake reviews by paying or offering rewards for reviewers. Such feedback does not reflect genuine opinion and is misleading. For buying gemstones online safely, you need to follow these tips:

• Look for detailed and specific comments.
• Check date and timing of reviews. Multiple reviews at the same time could be suspicious.
• Verify credibility of the reviewer. Contact the reviewer if possible.
• Use multiple reviews platforms.
• Reviews with overly positive language that seems unnatural may be fake.

Photo-edited Listings

Some product images have been edited in such a way that all the product flaws are concealed. Such images could give rise to unrealistic expectations. To avoid such scams,    

• Look for clear well-lit high quality images.
• View the product from multiple angles in the image or look for multiple photos.
• Read the product description carefully. Understanding gemstones' treatment and disclosures of treatment is essential for authenticity.
• Videos can provide a better representation of gemstones.

Sellers without secure payment gateways 

Payment gateways without encryption may put customers at the risk of financial loss. Following tips can help reduce this risk:

• Ensure secure connection of website, check for Https.
• Look for trust badges and verify certification.
• Avoid clicking on suspicious and unfamiliar links.
• Keep monitoring your financial statements.
• Avoid using payment methods which cannot be traced e.g. cash purchases.
• Use trusted and secure payment methods e.g. paypal, bank transfers etc.

To-good-to-be-true Price Deals: Gemstone Pricing and Market Value

If the price of a gemstone is unusually low as compared to the market value, it could be a fraud. The seller might manipulate customers because low prices usually attract them and they easily fall a prey to such scams.

In order to stay safe from fraud,

• Do research and compare price ranges of different brands.
• Avoid those deals which seem too good to be true.
• Read reviews of customers. Also check ratings.

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Counterfeit Certifications: How to verify Gemstone Authenticity Online? 

Some sellers provide counterfeit certificates of their gemstones to make them appear genuine. For avoiding scams when buying gemstones, here's a guide for how to check gemstone certificate:

• Confirm that the gemstone is certified by a reputable lab e.g. GIA, IGI
• Certificate must include security features of gemstones e.g. serial number, watermark or hologram.
• Make sure that the gemstone properties mentioned on the certificate match the actual gemstone.
• Be careful of the documents with poor quality printing and spelling mistakes.

Case Studies: Real Buyer Experiences 

Success Stories 

Here are some real buyers’ experiences on IGS forums:

1. One user, Royjohn has 27+ years faceting experience and has been buying rough gemstones online primarily from Pakistan and Thailand. He has vast knowledge of market prices owing to his experience, negotiates prices with sellers and pays via PayPal keeping the purchases under $1000.
2. Another user on the same platform who is a buyer of finished beads shares his perspective saying that after the experience of several years, he has developed expertise and has become well aware of the value, quality and authenticity of gemstones.
3. Skyjems share their experience of buying gemstones on Gem Rock Auctions. According to Skyjems, Gem Rock Auctions is a reliable platform which is much more reasonable than directly contacting the dealers.
4. DennisH24, another user, shares his experience with Gem Rock Auctions, saying that he has used this platform more than 40 times and never faced a single problem.   

Lessons learned from scams 

There have been incidents when users purchased a product on Etsy but the actual product was on eBay, so they never got their parcels delivered though they had already paid for them.  

Necessary tips to follow in such scam cases as provided on Etsy forum are given below: 

1. Check tracking no. on USPS website and not on app, check “product information” and see the postal service used, tracking information and insurance. Then compare the postal product information with the order details and tracking updates.
2. File claims with PayPal, Etsy and bank or credit/debit card companies. You might have to wait a bit longer but such proactive steps help in resolving the issue.
3. If fraud is confirmed, file a report with USPS, Etsy or local authorities (police etc.), so that a legal action can be taken. 

Conclusion 

In today's age of online shopping, it is crucial to stay aware of the common pitfalls and scams which are very common these days. To ensure a safe transaction, don't rush, take your time, ask questions from the seller and trust your instincts if something feels off.

Visit trusted marketplaces like Folkmarketgems where you can find authentic certified products with detailed description, and enjoy customer friendly service which is available for you 24/7.

FAQs about Avoiding Scams while Buying Loose Gemstones Online

1. Are cheap gemstones fake?

Cheap gemstones might be fake but this is not always true. Some cheap gemstones can be low quality gemstones with imperfections. Synthetic and lab created gemstones are also cheap. Heating or high pressure high temperature treatments also reduce the value of gemstones.

To ensure authenticity, read the product description carefully, check reviews of customers and look for certification from reputable labs.

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2. How can you tell if gemstones are fake?

• Fake gemstones are usually too perfect in their appearance. They seem to be absolutely flawless, with no inclusions at all and unnatural glassy luster.
• Price of fake gemstones is usually low as compared to market price or there may be extreme discounts.
• Fake gemstones may be overly saturated and have strange or uneven colour. Gemstones which are made of glass have small air bubbles inside them.
• Fake gemstones do not have genuine laser inscription.

3. What is the difference between real and fake stone?

4. What is the difference between natural and genuine gemstones?

References

1. GIA Reports of Colored stones https://www.gia.edu/gem-lab-service/colored-stone-analysis-report-service
2. IGI reports https://www.igi.org/reports/
3. IGS forums https://forums.gemsociety.org/t/a-little-advice-on-valuation/23018
4. Etsy Community https://community.etsy.com/t5/Technical-Issues/Seller-has-created-a-scam-need-advice/m-p/143225979/highlight/true#M797132

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3. 5 Common Mistakes Gems Buyers do during Buying Gemstones Online
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6. Common FAQs About Buying Loose Gemstones

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