Buyer wants a refund on a gold item

sams247

Hey all.

I sold a ring, it is hallmarked as gold, I bought it from a jewellers a few years ago as gold, I listed it as gold. Now the buyer has it she says it isnt gold and she wants her money back.

What can I do?

RealWelshWizard

ask the buyer to send it back via a recorded method, and then refund?

spacey2012

Did you check it with a powerful magnet ?

soolin

sams247 wrote: »

Hey all.

I sold a ring, it is hallmarked as gold, I bought it from a jewellers a few years ago as gold, I listed it as gold. Now the buyer has it she says it isnt gold and she wants her money back.

What can I do?

Is it definitely hallmarked? if so if buyer does return it's would check it has not been switched. If he is claiming the hallmark is fake then that is very serious as it is an offence to fake a hallmark, so check what exactly he is saying.

If not hallmarked then it isn't gold and I would just get it back and refund.

sams247

soolin wrote: »

Is it definitely hallmarked? if so if buyer does return it's would check it has not been switched. If he is claiming the hallmark is fake then that is very serious as it is an offence to fake a hallmark, so check what exactly he is saying.

If not hallmarked then it isn't gold and I would just get it back and refund.

Yes it is hallmarked. The buyer says they will take it to be assayed. It looks as if a reluctant refund is looming. Not a lot else I can do

soolin

sams247 wrote: »

Yes it is hallmarked. The buyer says they will take it to be assayed. It looks as if a reluctant refund is looming. Not a lot else I can do

It all sounds very odd and I am concerned they think this is fake as if it goes to an assay office with a fake hallmark it will be retained.

I'd just insist they send it back, properly tracked and insured , so special delivery for a full refund.

cootuk

Did you take a photo of the hallmarks, or just state hallmarked gold?
British gold or foreign as the marks differ.
If it's something like white gold, then the white can wear off which can look a little fake.
Maybe it's just the wrong size for them or they've changed their mind.
Whatever, just refund after they have returned it by a tracked method.

tbh they won't take it anywhere to be assayed - that involves actual chemical/physical testing of the gold purity.
They might take it to a jeweller for a quick appraisal.

sams247

I listed it as gold ring, did not mention the hallmark or carat or call it solid. Mainly as I couldnt make out the tiny details of the hallmark, I could see it there but couldnt see if it was 9 or 18ct, so I thought it safer to just say gold ring.

I've asked for it to be returned but they say they want to wait till a jeweller looks at it.

vodkacokebloke

if you merely said it was gold then is any refund due? - would the fact that it is simply the colour gold be adequate?

A longshot possibly but one worth considering if you made no claims about the quality or type of gold.

sams247

vodkacokebloke wrote: »

if you merely said it was gold then is any refund due? - would the fact that it is simply the colour gold be adequate?

A longshot possibly but one worth considering if you made no claims about the quality or type of gold.

Well thats what came up in the chat I had with a guy from ebay, he said as I hadnt stated it was carat gold then gold may not be enough for a claim, but he also said that the buyer would have to file a claim for ebay to make a decision on it.

soolin

vodkacokebloke wrote: »

if you merely said it was gold then is any refund due? - would the fact that it is simply the colour gold be adequate?

A longshot possibly but one worth considering if you made no claims about the quality or type of gold.

Unless it was pure gold then it must be sold as yellow metal.

OP, are you completely sure it is a hallmark in the correct format and not a mark indicating a plated silver item or anything else? Some marks placed on yellow metal, or 'gold coloured' silver look like hallmarks until you look at them under a loupe.