the PANDORA Thread
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I was thinking over buying couple of charms not available in USA, but the fake/real dilemma bother me. I have all the real charms and getting a fake one would not be fun...I do that as well. I buy only one silver or murano bead every few months, but I love going to a store to pick it out and get it all wrapped up! I'm sure I drive the clerks bonkers with my fussing, hemming and hawing, and inevitable modest purchase.
I don't think they do feel the need, and that was my point. They have very strict rules for their authorized dealers, about where they can sell, what other products they can sell in their store besides Pandora, and they never permit sales and discounts. Nordstrom sells Pandora for instance but their frequent sales and coupons never seem to apply. Perlen gets by with the discount prices only because of their country's unique trade laws that prohibit Pandora from dictating their prices, and Pandora is obviously not happy with Perlen and has tried to end their relationship.
So when you see eBay sellers with great volumes of Pandora charms, most listed as "new," advertised with Pandora stock photos, as opposed to photos of the actual charm, and sold at a discount off Pandora's retail price, well, you have to wonder. Where did they get their merchandise? Did it fall off a truck?
The bear charm definally has added a nice balance to your lovely bracelet especially for the carriage charm. You've got some really good friends who really know what you like.So my friends gave me my belated birthday gift. And I was not expecting pandora.they are the best. My bestfriends. They got me the bear my heart charm. I've wanted it for a while so I'm really grateful. Now that it's filling up I'm loving it more and more. Love my besties.
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I don't think they do feel the need, and that was my point. They have very strict rules for their authorized dealers, about where they can sell, what other products they can sell in their store besides Pandora, and they never permit sales and discounts. Nordstrom sells Pandora for instance but their frequent sales and coupons never seem to apply. Perlen gets by with the discount prices only because of their country's unique trade laws that prohibit Pandora from dictating their prices, and Pandora is obviously not happy with Perlen and has tried to end their relationship.
So when you see eBay sellers with great volumes of Pandora charms, most listed as "new," advertised with Pandora stock photos, as opposed to photos of the actual charm, and sold at a discount off Pandora's retail price, well, you have to wonder. Where did they get their merchandise? Did it fall off a truck?
Yes, I was agreeing with you.... Totally.
If it was me, I would contact ebay and not go through with the purchase based on the sellers negative feedback and potential for selling fakes.
Sorry, a little late replying, I have been away for a few days. I have seen that seller as well and there are a few red flags. First of all, all of their images are all PANDORA stock photos, so you don't know what you are getting. Second, it sounds like they never correspond with the buyer when there are issues, they just refund money. Thirdly, there seems to be an issue with shipping costs.Hello! My first Pandora post
A lot of newer charms don't look like traditional charms; there are no threads in a lot of new ones, like winter whisp, light as a feather, and some like butterfly garden, etc so some people, expecting a threaded charm immediately think they are fake. Also, a lot of the newer charms have the ALE and S925 in different places than older charms and lastly, some newer charms, as previously discussed on this thread are a bit different in colour, kind of like a gun metal blue grey which I personally don't like at all.
This seller has sold a huge amount of charms and all those negs haven't affected their feedback that much. There are other sellers that don't deal with such huge quantities as collectabead whose feedback may reflect more accurately what their product is. Personally, I would avoid this seller.
Actually, that is a very classic way to sell on line; slide fakes in with authentic pieces. I have seen it done with purses such as Coach and Dooney and Burke so I don't see why Pandora would be exempt from this.
I have seen with my own eyes, fake Pandora mailed directly from Chinese wholesalers, that are pretty good fakes right down to the ALE and Pandora engravings, but they are definitely fake. So if you don't know what you are looking for you can be scammed. The best fakes I have seen are the Murano beads, the SS ones never seem to have the crisp detail that genuine Pandora charms have.
I used to feel the way you did because I was under the impression that Pandora was as strict internationally as they were in the US and Canada. You know, absolutely no sale merchandise, promos only, and only authorized sellers could sell online and even those were only allowed to sell within there own country.
I don't think they do feel the need, and that was my point. They have very strict rules for their authorized dealers, about where they can sell, what other products they can sell in their store besides Pandora, and they never permit sales and discounts. Nordstrom sells Pandora for instance but their frequent sales and coupons never seem to apply. Perlen gets by with the discount prices only because of their country's unique trade laws that prohibit Pandora from dictating their prices, and Pandora is obviously not happy with Perlen and has tried to end their relationship.
So when you see eBay sellers with great volumes of Pandora charms, most listed as "new," advertised with Pandora stock photos, as opposed to photos of the actual charm, and sold at a discount off Pandora's retail price, well, you have to wonder. Where did they get their merchandise? Did it fall off a truck?
I am not sure whether the EU have different rules. They regularly have sales on Pandora merchandise, most of it is older and retired stuff, but it is still authentic. I have since bought from Jewel First in UK and this stuff is genuine. I have saved lots of $$ doing this and if I don't like what they sent me I can return it back since they are a bricks and mortar store in Durham UK (my old stomping grounds!).
I have serious reservations about Collectabead, but one thing bothers me. They seem to have been around for a long time and if they are fake, why hasn't Pandora shut them down, it would be easy for them to do it. All the little ones that pop up with a hundred charms (new style, new charms) worry me, I think they are fake. Then there are the ones that are selling their own pre owned collections, which I get, but when someone has been selling their own stuff for the last four years, I am thinking, just how many charms did you have since it looks like you've sold over 3000!
It's all a crap shoot when ordering this type of product on eBay I guess, you just hope if you aren't comfortable you'll at least get your money back.
I emailed the seller and asked for an actual photo of the bead and still no response... Something just doesn't sit right. I'm going to ask ebay to cancel my purchase. Thanks ladies for your advice, I really appreciate it
Thank you for mentioning this. I didn't think that British stores could sell Pandora outside the country. I've seen some nice discounts offered by U.K. jewelers but assumed they couldn't sell to those of us in the U.S.
I emailed the seller and asked for an actual photo of the bead and still no response... Something just doesn't sit right. I'm going to ask ebay to cancel my purchase. Thanks ladies for your advice, I really appreciate it
I hope everything works out. If you run into any problems with the seller or getting ebay to cancel the sale you should post a message over in TPF's ebay forum. There are some incredibly knowledgeable and helpful gals over there. They have counseled me out of anguish several times over the years.
Thank you for mentioning this. I didn't think that British stores could sell Pandora outside the country. I've seen some nice discounts offered by U.K. jewelers but assumed they couldn't sell to those of us in the U.S.
I hope everything works out. If you run into any problems with the seller or getting ebay to cancel the sale you should post a message over in TPF's ebay forum. There are some incredibly knowledgeable and helpful gals over there. They have counseled me out of anguish several times over the years.
They can't sell outside of the country. Jewel first do because they're not authorised, pandora say have never been authorised either.
Same rules, but they have recently introduced the Boxing Day and summer sales, where retired charms are reduced. There are "sales" in the US too, rue la la regularly has lots of retired pandora, and there are a couple of outlet stores! Although no sales as such in concept stores. That's because the pandora office in each country decides which sales/promotions to run.
About jewel first, I wonder how they get their stuff. Pandora say they were never authorised, and that pandora don't supply them. I placed a couple of orders when I was new to pandora, but both were bad experiences! I wouldn't personally recommend them, and know of countless others who wouldn't, but equally I know many who have ordered frequently and have been very happy with them.
I agree about collectabead and the sellers with multiples of new release charms for sale, I wouldn't risk buying from these sellers. Many ebay sellers will sell some genuine and some very good fakes, it's a common method!
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I emailed the seller and asked for an actual photo of the bead and still no response... Something just doesn't sit right. I'm going to ask ebay to cancel my purchase. Thanks ladies for your advice, I really appreciate it
Good idea
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