posted on March 18, 2006 03:59:22 PM
I almost had bait and switch this week ( i know 100% i sent her the correct item )
i think i scared her off when i called ebay to alert them of situation and they made her a NARU 1-2-3.... she called me panicing as to what i did ot her ebay account...
thus, knowing i was not going to fall for her game and refund her $ so quickly (and that i would persue her fraudulent switch thru the proper authorities ) she sent me back MY obviuosly tricolor marked ring (which she stated upon her initial email - was certainly NOT) and all worked out OK but i could have been out the ring and the paypal payment....
anyway.... got me thinking... to mark expensive hard to mark items somehow (things with serial numbers are easy to note in auction description ) ... but ...
i was thinking some sort of invisible stamp like the amusement parks use on your hand but you need machine to see the marking ( i guess the people at PSA /DNA do something like that when they certify baseball authentics etc)
or some sort of machine like stores use to put one of those plastic tags on
any ideas
do you guys use something you like ? and if so , what ? and where did you purchase it ?
posted on March 18, 2006 04:10:27 PM
Sparkz mentioned a few months ago a pen that comes with an ultraviolet teeny flashlight. His liquor store was selling them for $2.99, and he got one for me and sent it. I don't use it a lot, but it's very handy to have. It's exactly what you could use, I think. Our liquor store in our little mountain town had never heard of them, but you might inquire locally.
Or, if you're lucky, Sparkz will come in on this discussion and give you further tips on finding it.
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posted on March 18, 2006 04:13:32 PM
One thing that I don't think works for rings, but does well for others, is marking items with a UV pen (it's not visible unless you shine a UV light on it). They're available on eBay.
I'm going to order some holographic stickers with serial numbers that self-destroy when you remove them. I intend to use them mostly for electronics, where harvesting occurs every now and then (for example, open it up, take out the good power supply and replace it with your old broken one). I've been jerry-rigging stickers like that and using UV, but I think that I will buy some stickers. I might look for some that work with handbags and other soft items also.
posted on March 18, 2006 06:05:15 PM
Stacyp...Here's a pic of what Roadsmith was talking about. I apologige again for the quality of the picture, but it was an impromptu shot using flash which I rarely use. These may be available at any well stocked Stop 'n Rob or possibly a toy store. The markings on the package indicate they may be trying to market these to small children as toys. They actually work, and quite well I might add.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
[ edited by sparkz on Mar 18, 2006 06:32 PM ]
posted on March 18, 2006 06:58:00 PM
Mike...Those "Void When Removed" labels are really cool. Just imagine the look on the crooks face when he removes it to pull a switcharoo
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
posted on March 18, 2006 07:08:44 PM
Neat idea but you know, they last thing I want on merchandise that I purchase is a 2" sticker that I cannot remove.
Want to see something really fun. See the expression on a legit buyers face when they find out they have to do battle with that little piece of joy and the resulting email that comes along with it.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
posted on March 18, 2006 07:11:41 PM
I had someone try to pull the old switcharoo on me once and have been using these blank VOID stickers ever since. They are dirt cheap when compared to the other custom labels that run around 70 cent's each, YIKES. Had a guy about a month ago emailed me about sending a item back. I told them I would be checking the item to make sure it had my security label that has a magnetic security code embeded in it and never heard from them again. The stickers of course don't have magnetic barcodes in them but they don't know that
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein
posted on March 18, 2006 07:17:55 PM
fenix03 - That's true. But I only use these stickers on some products like electronics and some large tools. Sometimes I don't use the whole sticker, I just cut off a 1/4 and use a small piece of it. No one ever said the whole sticker had to be used. With these the label can be stuck on the back or bottom of the product with no harm and just left on it. No they won't work for small items like ring's, jewlery and other small thing's but it does help on the larger items. I have probably plastered these little VOID stickers on over 300 items in the last year and never gotten a complaint yet. And considering what I stick them on none of them have probably been removed and are still in place. There one of those out of sight, out of mind deal's.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein
posted on March 18, 2006 08:14:25 PM
Many, if not most, new computers come with security stickers bonding the case and chassis. If you have a problem with it, take the case off and tear the seal and your warranty is void. The last thing a computer manufacturer wants is to try to correct a problem under a warranty after a shade tree "tech" has had a screwdriver in it.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
posted on March 18, 2006 10:34:41 PM
I use an ultraviolet marker (like sparkz mentioned) but topic got me to wondering...will it work on metal/jewelery? I've used it on other things (and it's AMAZING how many problems automatically work out when a buyer is told that I've marked an item and will verify it's the one I sent...) but never on jewelery. I bought an el-cheapo ultraviolet light and the system works like a charm...but what about jewelery/metal?
posted on March 19, 2006 03:55:07 AM
I use mine on glass all the time, so it should work fine for metals. Just make sure you give it time to dry.
Mark your item, wait a few seconds and then check the mark under the light. If you are worried about it being wiped off easily, wait a few minutes then rub the mark and check it again with the light.
The mark will wear off easily, so try to place it somewhere on your object that will not receive much wear from initial inspection.
On rings, I would probably just mark around the rim of the band. On bracelets or necklaces, you could mark them just about anywhere except the clasp.
Since the marks will not show in normal light, I always mark the item in multiple places with my signature mark. Simple lines are too easy to duplicate. Use something you can do easily but that your buyer is unlikely to duplicate. Remember, they may have a UV pin also.
I sell expensive essential oils and supplements that are sealed in glass bottles with either plastic or metal caps. I mark the cap across the seal and then mark the bottle on the bottom, the label and the neck. That way I can identify my product if the buyer claims it was damaged or broken in shipment.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein