Complaint / Review
Ethnic Silver, Marlene Ponce Gallone
Con artist misrepresented age quality source & value of ethnic jewelry. Grossly overcharged No refund Internet

I purchased a silver pendant of Central Asian tribal orgin (or so I thought). My wife was unable to wear it so I decided to sell it.

To help me do that I emailed the seller for historical information about the pendant. She never answered. (I understand now that she couldn't provide what didn't exist.)

In the course of investigating the origin and value of this piece, I consulted several experts in the area of Central Asian jewelry. They informed me that the pendant is not old, not silver (in the accepted sense), not rare, not from Central Asia (in the accepted sense), and not worth anywhere near the $140 I paid for it.

I have no doubt the pendant was deliberately misrepresented in each of these particulars in order to sell it to me, and I fell for it.

I was willing to accept that I made a mistake in buying it and was ready to suffer the loss I might incur in selling it. But I am not willing sit still and be defrauded, and that is what I was.

I wrote to her in complaint and told her I would report her dealings if she didn't refund my money. She wrote an indignant reply but promised to make an adjustment that would be satisfactory to both of us. Another lie. I haven't heard from her since.

Do not deal with this person unless you want to lose your money.