Are Sellers Misleading Consumers with 'Sterling Silver' Claims?
Ask a Question
I will never buy jewellery from Amazon again as all trust has now gone. On my last purchase I contacted Amazon Customer Services about it because I'm so fed up and frustrated.
I ordered a 'Sterling Silver' necklace which was a good deal, down from £44.99 to £19.99. It came, I wore it for 2 days and not only did it discolour my neck, the necklace itself tarnished and had brought my neck out in a rash. After explaining the issue & providing the agent with photos, I asked how sellers can get away with saying items are hallmarked silver when they are not? she told me that sellers can describe products as S925 Sterling Silver so long as it is partially Sterling Silver. E.g :
- Earrings can be sold as Sterling Silver even if it's only the butterfly backing that is actually S925
- a necklace can be sold as Sterling Silver even if only the fastener is actually S925
I just think this is so wrong and wanted to know other people's thoughts as well.
To be fair most of us have realised this for ages . Chinese "tat" with unfeasible "original selling prices" massively reduced by discounts and voucher codes to a supposedly amazing price !
Most of the Amazon "jewellery" advertised on here every day is not even fit for a cheap Christmas cracker , whilst it is obviously buyer beware , I really think Latest Deals should do more to protect it's members from the profusion of these adverts for known "tat" ? Particularly as most of the adverts (dozens a day ) are posted by LD Hunters .
skmoskmo212 - I personally wouldn't trust Amazon for buying jewellery regardless of the price it is sold for. Amazon UK has gone to the dogs. Anybody can advertise anything without any consequences whatsoever.
I only buy my jewellery from Argos (the staff open the box and shows it to me) or H Samuel.
I only buy from shops who have a 30 days guarantee policy.
I would never buy 'Sterling Silver' anything from Amazon. They regularly get around the issue in the small print stating it's plated. I have a nickel allergy so I can detect a fake silver piece within five minutes.There are many sites explaining the problems with purchases of the authenticity. (always best to swipe left on these)
Here's an example:- 'Nearly all pieces of Chinese export silver are stamped with the marks of the workshop, or with pseudo hallmarks in imitation of English hallmarks'.
It's wrong, I won't ever buy jewellery or electronics from amazon as they are not held to the same standard as physical stores. It really needs sorting as it's not fair on customers or shops that actually believe in maintaining reasonable standards.
I think Amazon generally has gone downhill in recent years and their prices are no longer that competitive, they just price match others also their customer service is non existent anymore , they are just not interested when you contact them .
Yeah I think it showed just how u bothered they were when they admitted to me how "sellers get away" with their Sterling Silver claims. If that was an ordinary shop, they'd be fired on the spot
I didn't know this, I haven't bought any jewellery beside costume jewellery from Amazon, but would have assumed like you for if it says Sterling silver it would be.
So sorry to hear that you came out in a rash my partner once had the same thing happen we would never buy any jewellery from amazon or eBay only from the shops even year s ago argos even got done selling fake gold
Just because the neckless tarnished, discoloured your neck and caused a rash, does not necessarily mean it isn't sterling silver.
Sterling silver is 92.5% silver... the other 7.5% is usually copper but can be nickel or other metals.
Nickel can be the source of a contact dermatitis often caused by jewellery.
Having said that I wouldn't buy some things on Amazon - especially when those things are offered at a fraction of the cost of their supposed worth,
I've never bought jewellery from Amazon before. There are certain things I won't buy online and jewellery is one of them. Even if it is from a reputable jewellery store, I still like to see them in person. It is very rare that I buy jewellery, so want to make sure I'm happy with it first. Definitely won't be buying any on Amazon now.
Earrings on Amazon? That's something I never thought about buying from them.
Neither a large batch of food, I'd rather buy from a grocery store.
Unless it's got proper stamp I won't buy it anyone can put 925 on there jewelry but to be far my other half got me some earrings from Amazon and when I got them I took them to my local jewelry guy and they was actually sliver
I won’t buy from Amazon or Warren James as seems to cheap 925/very thin 925. I get a allergic reaction if it’s not sterling and I can no longer risk it anymore
EBay is about to introduce more restrictions on jewellery sellers hopefully others will too
I do think that if you’re buying jewellery you do really need to see it in the flesh to ascertain quality
Join for free to get genuine deals, money saving advice and help from our friendly community
Chief Bargain Hunter