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 Replies: 16 / Views: 3,920 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1177 Posts |
a few days ago I won an auction for a 1.4oz Sterling Silver Ice Cream Spatula, my technique (at 5:30am) is to always check "ending soon" in the Bullion>Silver category, with 32 seconds left I put in my bid and won the auction, when I received this spatula today, I tested and ripped it apart... total outcome. = 2.3g of sterling silver. the handle was wrapped with a thin layer of sterling silver while the rest was silver plate. good thing I only paid .99 cents for this item, I am curious as to why no one else bid on it, maybe they're more fimiliar with the spatula! The title said "1.4oz of sterling STAMPED" and the handle was stamped. I'm glad I didn't pay close to spot for this item, gained a bit. oh well! just sharing my experience, curious though, please share your stories about buying sterling online ( ebay). any good or horrifying stories? |
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Valued Member
United States
141 Posts |
did the description of the item say that it was just plated or something? or did the seller blatantly lie about its purity?
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
1177 Posts |
"Unusal Vintage Sterling Silver - Pie - Ice Cream - Fish Server
This is a beautiful serving piece. I don't know the pattern and it isn't marked with a name, only: "sterling" on both front and back of the handle. But it is delightful. A nice, slighted scooped serving part, about 3 3/4", with a handle of about 5 1/4" for a total length of 8 3/4". I know this doesn't add up, but the piece is slightly curved so difficult to measure exactly! The pictures show the very good condition. The serving piece weighs about 1.4 ounces. It is not monogrammed.
Paypal only. Positive feedback is greatly appreciated upon safe arrival of your item and I will do the same for you!
Thanks for checking out my items."
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Valued Member
United States
376 Posts |
I just made 2 sterling purchases on ebay last week. Both labeled SOLID STERLING & STAMPED. I paid next to nothing for both of them so I sort of was testing them. One was from US the other was from Hong Kong lol. Got them both Monday, neither are Sterling. One might have been plated but. I acid tested both of them, and since I paid $6 for both of them shipped, I didn't care about returning, so I tore them apart also. One was plated copper. They other looked to be some sort of nickel. Emailed both sellers one responded, saying it has been tested to be silver. That made me laugh. I'll be messaging ebayer customer support about these sellers as they are "Power Sellers" and apparently everyone else on the planet seems to be oblivious to what they are buying. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1177 Posts |
i totally hear you. I drilled 2 holes in the spatula and tested them, massive green fizzing and bubbling, it doesn't hurt to take a chance, spend 2$ on Acid and actually have 100% feedback
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Pillar of the Community
Japan
666 Posts |
if the item is other than described start a claim, return this crap, and get refund.
easy.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4989 Posts |
Sterling "private mint" coins often sell for a small fraction of melt. Safer buy than silverware since you can do a bit of research on the design, and usually match it up to a marketing campaign, prior to purchase. Most privately minted coins advertised as being sterling are that alloy.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3670 Posts |
I once bought a silver medallion at a local dealer, via a 1982 Worlds fair piece, which was either .999 or sterling, and man it had an amazing tone color. I got it for 25 bucks, weighed right at 31.108 if memory servs me right. I live in east T.N. and attended the 1982 Worlds Fair, and understood what the piece was so I bought it and sold it later.... Anyhow, I spotted another just like it on ebay, CLEARLY labeled metal medallion, no mention of silver or anything. Seller clearly stated it was what it was, NOT silver.... They were asking 15, I offered 10, and they accepted.... I figured it had to be silver as it was just like my piece, distant picture with little to zero color. Figured I was getting silver, WRONG.... Turns out the seller's IQ was higher then 62 and they knew exactly what they had.... I didn't take into account that the Worlds Fair minted no telling how many, made out of no telling how many different metals. So now I got a nice 10 dollar keep sake.... My IQ shinned bright at 62, and I know why my old hockey team always called me Rainman, lol. Potential for big things, but often couldn't tell you if a candy bar is 50 cents or 50 thousand dollars in cost, lol.... Morale of that rant, often when you try an cut a corner and think you fooled the world, you end up just fooling yourself, rof  .... Edited by Silverhawk74
08/29/2012 11:06 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2335 Posts |
Quote:
"Unusal Vintage Sterling Silver - Pie - Ice Cream - Fish Server
This is a beautiful serving piece. I don't know the pattern and it isn't marked with a name, only: "sterling" on both front and back of the handle. But it is delightful. A nice, slighted scooped serving part, about 3 3/4", with a handle of about 5 1/4" for a total length of 8 3/4". I know this doesn't add up, but the piece is slightly curved so difficult to measure exactly! The pictures show the very good condition. The serving piece weighs about 1.4 ounces. It is not monogrammed.
Paypal only. Positive feedback is greatly appreciated upon safe arrival of your item and I will do the same for you!
Thanks for checking out my items." I'm assuming this is the ebay listing. Without seeing the picture I would have assumed this was an auction for a piece with a sterling handle. With pics it probably would have been obvious to anyone that has seen pieces like it. That is why the piece didn't receive any bids. IMO the seller should have pointed out it was only a sterling handle. I also think the buyer should know what they are bidding on. |
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Pillar of the Community
Mexico
1304 Posts |
Unfortuantly, I have to agree with trdhrdr007 on this one. Most folks who are buying sterling on ebay know their stuff and sterling goes for near spot. If it doesn't have any bids, I have learned there is probably a good reason for it. Personally, I don't buy unless I have had the time to do the research, find the pattern, find a similar piece with more details etc. |
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Pillar of the Community
1283 Posts |
I sold some homemade sterling bars on ebay for dang near the spot on the sterling. |
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Valued Member
United States
376 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
1283 Posts |
colu41,
PM Sent I have a couple questions. Thanks for the help.
Kyle
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Valued Member
United States
376 Posts |
Sent you a few back. lol....let me know if you got any more questions. Will be happy to help
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
815 Posts |
I think sites like ebay should have strict rules on how precious metal items are listed. Also, any seller dealing is mis-stamped items should be banned from dealing. |
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Pillar of the Community
Mexico
1304 Posts |
colu41, those are some great looking bars as far as I am concerned. Did you shoot a video of the process? Pictures? I would love to see it. Would be a nice way to get some of the sterling scrap I have picked up into something other than...well...scrap.  Edited for typo Edited by harrison2
09/12/2012 09:11 am
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Replies: 16 / Views: 3,920 |
Posted 08/29/2012 7:22 pm
