thepearlsource.com issue

[tahitian xmas]

I’m writing to ask for advice about a Tahitian baroque necklace purchase I just made from thepearlsource.com. Background: Searching on the internet on Mon. night 12/5, I ran across what appeared to be a beautiful strand on their site:

go to thepearlsource dot com and then: 8-10mm-Dark-Tahitian-South-Sea-Circle-Baroque-Pearl-Necklace_10_collection_92 (sorry, but this forum seems to limit urls in posts...)

I thought the AAA rated quality, color, and very high luster of the heavily circled pearls were perfect, and what completely sold me was the statement directly underneath the picture: “The photographed necklace is the EXACT strand you will receive”. I ordered it that night and immediately received an email confirmation.

I went back on the website the next morning, 12/6, to show a friend what I thought would be a similar, but not the exact strand and was surprised to find that “my” strand that I had ordered the night before was still for sale! I immediately called thepearlsource and spoke with a salesperson, who told me that “95%” of the photos on the site were of the actual strands, and that I would in fact be receiving the strand I had viewed even though it was still at that point on the website for sale. I immediately went back on the site and made several screen captures of the page with “my” strand, moving the magnifier on the page around to get several different up-close views. This is one of the four screen shots I took:

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Note the “The photographed necklace is the EXACT….” wording underneath the necklace in my screenshot above from this morning. Now click on the link at the top of my post again. The wording is gone (gone as of 12/6 around 4pm), but the necklace pictured is still “my” necklace.

So what do you think is actually in the box that was shipped to me Wed., to arrive on Friday? Will it be the “EXACT” strand I was told I bought or a different one? Would you be concerned about this retailer after reading this? Any prior experiences with thepearlsource dot com? Any advice?
Thanks!

[Caitlin]

I think if it says so, and you called and they said so, it will be so. Let us know if it isn't. I have not bought from the Pearl Source. Did you search for other posts with their name?

Looks like a fantastic choice!

[Admin]

Is this image the same?

http://web.archive.org/web/20100204021314/http://www.thepearlsource.com/8-10mm-Deep-Green-Tahitian-South-Sea-Circle-Baroque-Pearl-Necklace_10_collection_92.htm

This is a screen shot of the page nearly two years ago.

This is a screen shot of the page more than three years ago.

http://web.archive.org/web/20080715143021/http://www.thepearlsource.com/8-10mm-Deep-Green-Tahitian-South-Sea-Circle-Baroque-Pearl-Necklace_10_collection_92.htm

If the images match your strand, I think it's safe to assume that the strand was sold years ago and it is not the exact strand you'll receive.

[Marianne]

Amazing how one company could have so many identical, um, unique Tahitian strands for so many years......

[Caitlin]

Good Call. They also say they give 60 days to return. So if it isn't the one in the picture, it will be recorded here for others to find if they search for this name.

[mausketeer]

yup, it's still there too...... they've had more than enough time to update the website now....... don't like this....... it still says "in stock" too........

well anyways, it's a lovely necklace IF it's the one you end up with! can't wait to see what you get!

- jodie -

[Bodecia]

I just checked them out and don't like what I see. They also are eBay sellers (as many of you know I am an eBay seller) and if an eBayer checked them out they would not like what they saw. One of the good things about eBay (yeah, I know there are problems) is that if you don't get what you are promised you will get your money back plus the postage it cost you. Actually eBay is fairly safe for buyers these days. As long as the return postage doesn't cost you an arm and a leg as you do need to register it because otherwise you can't prove a seller had the item returned to them.

But if you look at there site on eBay and their feedback you will see that something is really wrong. Apart from their high prices that is. Buyers obviously don't trust them. Very few sales. Very little recent feedback. Their prices would be enough to put me off but if you look further then you know there is something rotten in Denmark.

Have a look at their eBay site and see what I am talking about http://www.ebay.com/sch/pearlsource/m.html?hash=item1c2142ad8a&item=120817102218&pt=US_Fine_Necklaces_Pendants&_trksid=p4340.l2562 if you can't find them on this do an advanced search for pearlsource as sellers. Or look up item no. 120772410918 for a start.

eBayers do want bargains but they are also willing to pay for quality items and it seems to me have started to realise that it gives them access to items all over the world. But they want what they pay for and can get very angry if they don't get it. I do if I buy and don't get what photos showed and the descriptions doesn't fit.

Look em up. Obviously not trusted.

tahitian xmas I do hope you get what you paid for but I always hate it when photos are not of the exact items. Good luck. If you don't do let us know. There are things that you can do if they don't give you a refund.

Dawn - Bodecia
eBay Seller ID dawncee333 - natural pearl collector and all round pearl lover.
http://shop.ebay.com/dawncee333/m.html

[KarinK]

Toolhaus.org is an excellent resource for cheking out eBay sellers. You can see what is being said about Pearlsource here:

http://toolhaus.org/cgi-bin/negs?User=pearlsource&Dirn=Received+by&ref=home

- Karin

[jshepherd]

Their eBay feedback looks pretty good to me. Am I missing something? I know Wendy has purchased from them and was happy with her pearls.

Tahitian xmas,

The strand in the picture is not the strand you will receive. I can think of no reason why they are stating it on their Website. We state it. But only because it is true - every Tahitian and South Sea has to be individually photographed, in my opinion.

The reason I am certain you won't receive the same strand is because that exact strand was discussed here in early 2008, and the picture is identical. You can see the thread here:
http://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/tahitian-pearls/2275-can-these-two-baroque-necklaces-compared.html

This is what was told to Hanaleimom when she asked about their Tahitians.


The answer was that they have lots in inventory and can create an identical strand to the picture. I was also told that the one he currently has in stock is not the exact one in the picture. So you may not receive the same thing pearl by pearl.

[KarinK]

Their eBay feedback looks pretty good to me. Am I missing something?

If you check the toolhaus link, you'll get feedback information that goes further back than the last 3 months listed on the sellers eBay profile - often very informative. Though of course one needs to consider the unhappy buyers compared to the number of transactions.

- Karin

[lilliefuzzysocks]

I was also told the same thing Hanaleimom was in the above post at The Pearl Source. Back in 2008 I saw a huge AAAA (his grading scale) multi color Tahitian necklace on his site. It cost over $10,000.00.

To get the price down, I called and asked if it could be constructed with smaller pearls 10-15mm in AAA+ grade with the Aubergine pearl in the same spot on the necklace and pistacio like the necklace shown on his site. Leon told me yes , and that is exactly what I recieved.

I also asked for three multi colored Tahitian necklaces to clone something else featured on his site. All the Tahtians were placed in the same spots and the same colors. I have purchased thousands of dollars worth of pearls and was only displeased once with a freshwater strand which was over processed.

[KarinK]

That's good to know, lilliefuzzysocks. Thanks for chiming in.

- Karin

[Caitlin]

Their regular web site is very professional for buyers. They are BBB members and all looks good. It looks like not too many people find them on eBay.

I don't know why they don't just photograph each strand, as Jeremy does. Using the same one for years really indicates a lack of impeccability since they claim it is the one you will get.

But Wendy is a very savvy buyer and they have a return policy. I do not think they can match that center pearl with another just like it, though.

[lilliefuzzysocks]

Caitlin, Leon left ebay when the economy downturned. It seems he only comes back for Chirstmas for a few weeks. That is why his feedback has lapses. It's hard to sell high priced tahitian strands, which is what he used to fill his ebay site with. At least ebay leads you to his website to view his collection. Perhaps that is his selling tactics.

[pearlescence]

Not me wendy
These guys hired a photographer and don't want to waste it...?
I agree Jeremy, individual strands not stock photos

[jshepherd]

I was referring to Lilliefuzzysocks Wendy;)

[Caitlin]

I was referring to Lilliefuzzysocks Wendy;)
ditto.....

[Frye01]

a 4 star bbb rating can be purchased, there has been a few investigative stories about that fact lately....after researching and reading posts here I just yesterday purchased my wife a black Tahitian pendant from Pearl Paradise. I hope she will be pleased with the purchase..

[pearlescence]

Ah, thought there must be another Wendy out there, but had not spotted 'socks as she.
surprised to read that a 4 star bbb rating can be purchased. I know little of consumer law/protection over in America but thought that that was independent and uncorruptible.

[LouiseH]

I had something similar happen to me recently with an eBay seller of Chinese kasumi-like pearls. Purchased a strand based on the photo, then noticed several days later that the exact same pictures were being used to sell another strand.

I had been shopping several different sellers' inventory, and in my excitement about this strand had not done my usual due diligence about reading the feedback scores. Not that it would have helped a lot; he's pretty new to eBay.

When I pushed back on the seller about the duplicate photos, he claimed that selling on eBay was "hard" and "expensive" and the photos came from his supplier so it's not his fault. Hmm. He also stated that I was the first buyer of this particular size and color combination and that the photos were of my actual strand.

I received the necklace this week, and they do, indeed, appear to be the same pearls. I love them, and will upload more about them on the "Show Us Your Pearls!" forum. But I'm now not willing to recommend this seller, which is too bad because the pearls are lovely and the price was very, very good.

-Louise

[tahitian xmas]

Well, you guys called it. Not the same strand. Not really close, certainly not the same high luster and color. Perhaps a workable piece though, maybe after the replacement of several of the pearls that seem to lack color on one end, if they'd do that. There are two that are obvious in the pic, maybe a couple more as well that are less obvious. Length including clasp was the specified 19". Let me know what you think for $560. Disappointed but not surprised I guess. Not sure how I feel about using it as a Christmas gift for the girlfriend...

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[ms.angeni]

i am not an expert,but just because they lied about getting the exact strand i would send it back.i also think you can get for the money another necklace from pearlparadise or other onest sellers.i have an necklace from pearldistribuitors,and they send the exact piece.
decide soon...cristmas is near.good luck

[pearlescence]

Hi, you don't say what size the pearls are or whether the clasp is white gold or silver...but that looks to me like a fairly low end sort of a necklace. The nearest I have is $506 at today's conversion rate and is this one
http://www.pearlescence.co.uk/product_info.php/cPath/127_185/products_id/2722 - (and that is def the one you would get!)
Where are you?

Update: I've made some Christmas special offers including some Kamokas and the above necklace (now just over half price at $280)

[Adeline Leigh]

Hi Tahitian X'mas, I can imagine you might be pretty upset now. If I could offer you some advice; shop with the vendors who post on PG - they'll give you a far better deal than that; their personal reputations are at stake and they do deliver on their goods.

All the best!

[waimeamomi]

Send them back. They did not deliver as promised. Where are you located? You can do much better, believe me.

[Caitlin]

I agree. Send them back. I think you can do better.

Try this one: http://www.pearlparadise.com/18inch-AAAA-88110-mm-Baroque-Tahitian-Pearl-Necklace-4181.aspx

Or these guys have nothing but Tahitians......
http://www.tahitianpearls.biz/tahitian-pearl-necklace/dark_tahitian_pearl_necklace_tnmz.htm
http://www.tahitianpearls.biz/tahitian-pearl-necklace/mixed-color-tahitian-pearl-necklace-tnmm.htm At $270. this one is a real favorite of mine. I LOVE the colors

[NolaG]

Good luck returning the item. You need to get an RMA from them in order to return an item, but getting that RMA isn't easy. The same is the case with laguna pearl. According to paypal statement is the same company as pearl source. I hope you have a better time.

[Ash]

Yes, if you are not happy, send them back. You can do much better from a vendor here on Pearl Guide!

Cheers
Ash

[Caitlin]

Laguna pearl. Never heard of them, either. But if they are PayPal related, you'll get your money back. They were not the pearls in the photo, as advertised. PayPal does not mess around in such a case. You can use PayPal to buy from Tahitianpearls.biz links above- a big plus in my mind.

[Sea Urchin]

Oh, let me tell you about Laguna Pearl. I had a similar experience with Laguna Pearl. And yes, it is the same owner as the Pearl Source, and one more company that I found but cannot think of now. There could be more as well, who knows.

I bought a ring, and what I received was not what was pictured at all. I don't mean just not the particular ring I purchased, I mean it was not even the same model. The picture had completely different proportions, it showed the pearl to be much larger in relation to the flower setting and so on.

I was given the runaround on the phone, then told I'd be called back by a certain time the next morning but never received a call. I was told I had to get a special code in order to return the ring for a refund, but then nobody would give me any code. Etcetera.

So, I filed with PayPal and the BBB. I gave them bad reviews on a couple of ratings sites as well. The owner tried to discredit me to PayPal/The BBB, claiming that I had "started a smear campaign" against him, when all I did was state my experience with them accurately. He then claimed that his own testimonials on his own site were proof of his wonderful record. He also said he did not have any idea what I was complaining about, as if I was simply filing on him for my own amusement. Um, yeah right, when I had receipts, emails, photos vs. pictures on his website, a record of the phone calls, plus a record at PayPal of trying to work it out with him (through them) before I stepped it up to a formal complaint.

I told the BBB and PayPal that he had just shown them why the problems could not be resolved with him. It's because after misrepresenting what is sold, he continues to twist the truth, and he does it in ways that are easy to disprove or that nobody with any sense would buy, like he just isn't "all there."

PayPal ruled in my favor and refunded my money. My complaint is on file at the BBB as well, and I am not the first one to complain there, either. I think that anyone dealing in expensive jewelry, and especially online, needs to have the highest integrity. It's all about trust. But perhaps operating under several different business names is a way around some of that. Avoid!

[Caitlin]

Thank you for recording your experience! These probelmatic reviews are as important as the good ones, which we also like to see.

[Sea Urchin]

Thanks, Caitlin. I was wondering if my post would get deleted, but they made me so mad I said it anyway, on the theory that the truth is its own defense... I usually don't like it when people are too quick to state negatives about a company any more than about a person. After all, there's usually a big gray area there called "misunderstanding," and that is someone's livelihood. However, when I have to go through several *levels* of trouble with them and every layer is BS, then I am done. Grrr!