I am an educated consumer when it comes to buying gemstones and jewelry online. It bugs me when online sellers through online auction sites obviously do not know about the product they are selling or purposely misleading consumers to buy "genuine" gemstones when they clearly aren't. I love the stones that go by the names of Sitara or Goldstone. These stones are strictly manufactured by man and are not natural. That doesn't stop me from buying them since I am not a jewelry snob that only buys natural stones.
Www.ioffer.com has a seller that goes by the username: certifiedrocks and is selling the Sitara stones as genuine when they are strictly man made. According to the FTC, gemstones that are manufactured (article 23.24) cannot be sold as or passed off as a genuine stone. I have brought this to the individual seller's and the website www.ioffer.com. Nothing has been done, and this seller is allowed to keep calling this gemstone genuine. This seller has been really nasty in her replies.
Www.ioffer.com actually prints messages asked about a specific item in the listing. I guess they are upset that their deception or ignorance was pointed out. This person obviously doesn't know their gemstones or is purposely misleading consumers. I do not know which is worse. This seller states that they have over 600 positive feedbacks. That's because most consumers just take the seller's word for it when buying online. Don't get me wrong, I have bought from very honest sellers on online auction sites. They do exist!
I know since I know how to examine stones. This isn't the only time this has happened. I know most jewelers and online sellers are not Graduate Gemologists or Registered Gemologist, but many have gone through some kind of training and know their stuff. PLEASE ask questions when buying through online auction sellers and storefront jewelers before buying. Ask them what type of education they have and ask questions about the stone. I decided not to buy from this seller or website due to the misrepresentation of the stone, but many consumers won't be so lucky. This should be a warning to all when buying jewelry -online or through a storefront.
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