Don't get stuck!

I like to think of myself as a pretty savvy shopper; the thrill of scouting out the perfect item is nice, but for me the most enjoyable aspect is feeling like I've struck a good bargain. It's no good to shop like my budget is endless, because it's not and I'll only end up broke or disappointed that I can't get what I want. On the other hand, it's not good to shop only at the cheapest retailers because then I'll end up overwhelmed by random rubbish and still unsatisfied with the way I've spent my money. The answer is to shop with patience and always do your due diligence. This means coupons, sales, rebates, and yes, Ebay! 

One category of items I love to hunt for on Ebay is Tiffany  jewelry. I love their classic timeless designs, I love the Tiffany heritage, and let's face it, I love their marketing. What I don't love is their pricing. I understand that they invest a lot of money in branding (and it's works! Like I said, I love their marketing and ad campaigns!) but it comes at a cost, and if you're a magpie like me who loves shiny baubles, the expense can add up very quickly. This is where second-hand shopping comes in. Whether it's designer shoes, handbags, or jewelry, the internet has given us all a great way to sell the pieces we no longer want, and of course to also shop for "pre-loved" items at a fraction of their original price. Sometimes the discounts to be found can be quite significant!

However, there is an danger to shopping for pre-loved items as well; the ever present fear of getting scammed out of your money or fobbed off with a fake. Luckily resale sites like Ebay, Poshmark, the RealReal, etc have various protection measures to make sure you don't get scammed, and if you use Paypal properly you will always be protected. However, these sites will only know there's a problem with your purchase if you know there's a problem with your purchase. If you purchase a fake item but you don't realize it until months (or years later), there's very little that can be done for you. That's why when buying second hand items online, it's very important to study the photos carefully, know what you're buying, and pay attention to the details!

Now let's get down to the nitty gritty. This photo shows two Tiffany bracelets. The heart tag bracelet on the right is authentic, purchased on ebay earlier this year. It's beautifully made, sturdy despite it's delicate appearance, and I saved about 40% by buying second hand. I've worn it nearly every day and it's been such a pleasure, I got to thinking about adding a second bracelet. So I've been watching and waiting, and a few days ago I saw a listing for the bow bracelet. The photos looked pretty good, the price was good but not too-good-to-be-true, so I went for it. For several days I waited in eager anticipation for my new pretty to arrive.

Alas, as soon as I opened my package and held the bracelet in my hands, it felt "off". I'm definitely not a Tiffany expert, but I own enough pieces that I think I have a decent sense of what they should feel like. Several things about the bow bracelet I received made my spidey-senses tingle. First of all, the weight. My heart tag bracelet is very lightweight, but it feels strong and sturdy just the same. Comparing it to the bow bracelet I received, they seem to weigh about the same when I hold them in each hand, but somehow the newcomer feels flimsy. It doesn't sound right when I shake it either, as the jingle it makes is the slightly tinny sound I associate with cheap costume jewelry. 

Look at the loops attaching the charms to the ball of the bracelets. My heart tag bracelet has a tiny slim little loop, whereas the bow bracelet has a much larger clumsier looking loop. This is strange, as the Tiffany bead bracelets are pretty much all exactly the same except for the charm. I would have expected the loops to look the same as well, or at least near enough in appearance to be reasonable.

The color of the metal seems off as well; polished silver can be very bright and shiny when it's clean, but it's not so bright white. Silver has more of a grey undertone, whereas the very bright white undertone of the bow bracelet is a color I associate with rhodium plated jewelry (and Tiffany definitely does not do that to their silver). Furthermore, this bracelet was marked as "used" but it appears to have no sign of wear at all. Properly cared for silver jewelry can certainly look brand new after a cleaning, but the appearance of this bracelet looks too new. Suspiciously new...

Aside from all of the above, the most critical issue I noticed is the quality of the bow charm. Compare my silver bow earrings (authentic) and mini bow necklace (authentic) to the bracelet I received. Look at the thickness of the metal, the way it's an even thickness all the way to the ends on the authentic pieces. Then compare to how thin overall the bow on the bracelet is, and furthermore how it tapers out to be rather pointy at the end. I imagine the reason for this is to conserve metal, whereas Tiffany's has no reason to skimp and economize like that. My bow earrings are tiny and delicate, but they feel strong and well made despite their small size. The bow on the bracelet feels thin and weak, like I could easily bend it without much effort. That's definitely not Tiffany quality.

You'll notice I haven't discussed hallmarks. That's because unless you have an authentic Tiffany piece of the exact same model to compare, it's not always easy to determine where a hallmark should be. Also, just because something is hallmarked, that doesn't make it automatically authentic. In the case of this bracelet, I do believe the back side of the bow should be hallmarked, but I'm not 100% sure. Even without that information, I'm pretty sure my vote of no confidence is appropriate given all the other things that don't feel right.

So, now I've got a bracelet that I'm strongly suspecting is not authentic and the seller has my money. What to do? Ebay's buyer protection system is the answer. I will file a claim that the item is not authentic, and the process will go forward from there. This isn't my first rodeo with filing a claim on Ebay so I'm very confident I'll get my money back in a timely manner, but I'll be sure to post an update after it's all resolved. Hopefully, someday an authentic Tiffany bow bracelet will come my way!

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