Victim Location 02860
Total money lost $745.35
Type of a scam Online Purchase
I take no pleasure in writing bad reviews but I feel it necessary to inform the public of my experience because noone should have to go through what I have gone through for wedding rings with the Etsy vendor Sea Babe Jewelry.
I received my rings from Seababe and initially I really liked them at first glance, but both of the two rings were sent in the wrong size. Seems like two minor errors. The seller went to great lengths to argue that it was not his fault due to ring sizes being a matter of interpretation. Ring sizes are an internationally standardized unit of measurement of the ring diameter. It appears the seller is extremely negligent with ring sizing or does not understand how to size rings. The seller offered to resize the rings but I didn’t bargain for resized rings, which alters the rings in a way that makes them more breakable, decreasing the integrity and value of the rings especially soldered wire rings). The seller argued relentlessly.
So, if you are reading this and you notice your rings from this seller do not fit, be aware of your Etsy consumer protections (in accordance with US consumer protection laws), and don’t hesitate to file a claim with Etsy or Paypal. Don’t take any bullying from this seller, just file a ‘not-as-described’ claim. Additionally, you would be wise to file a complaint with your Attorney General.
Due to the rings not fitting, we went to the nearest jeweler to find out what sizes the Sea Babe rings were. Both rings were larger according to this jeweler, and 4 more subsequent jewelers (including a GIA Gemologist and a RISD Jewelry Professor) who looked at the rings. But all 5 of the jewelers made some other problematic observations with the rings. The rings were so poorly made, with scuffs along the inside and a dull finish, that they appeared to be used for years. The first jeweler I went to found the color and the 14k questionable partly because of the poor manufacturing and partly because the rings lacked the Federal Trade Commission required signature. He advised me to contact the Attorney General.
I immediately took pictures and sent them to the Sea Babe seller. Guess what the Sea Babe seller did when I showed him pictures of his own craftsmanship? He argued relentlessly that all of the damage occurred in my possession. (See a trend here?) Besides trying on the rings, I haven’t been able to wear the Sea Babe rings since they were the wrong size and the rings have been sitting in their gift boxes waiting to return to Sea Babe who refuses to admit any wrongdoing. I ultimately sent the pictures to several academic jewelry/metalsmithing departments who settled my confusion and explained the marks were typical of unfinished rings. Go to https://flic.kr/s/aHskKsX2aT to see the rings I received or search ‘seababe’ on Flickr.
I DO NOT recommend Sea Babe being that they are more skilled at being dishonest to insure their customers have no recourse than actually making jewelry, or soldered gold wire shaped into wrong sized rings and scuff marks all over. Here I am 2.5 months after ordering from Sea Babe, with no wedding rings on our fingers. The seller was ordered to refund due to their sizing policies so he argued with the Etsy person. After I returned the rings, Sea Babe did not refund $700+ and he continues to harass me daily.
*UPDATE*
Up til I received my refund six weeks after my initial request, the seller never once answered me as to whether he would refund me. It only took one phone call from the Attorney General’s office on 1/11 for the seller to tell her a straight answer that he would refund me, after which he didn’t even fully refund as per Etsy policies and he closed the Etsy dispute. The unrefunded return shipping difference is petty compared to the daily harassment from the seller, costs of time/travel, and stress during the holidays to meet Paypal’s impossibly absurd process and submission deadlines.
I am not here to "railroad" a small family business, as I was accused. That is simply not representative of my character, and I have better things to do over the holidays. I am far from a snob for material possessions like jewelry. Showing the rings Sea Babe made for my wedding rings to 5 jewelers in person, I was told by every one of them that the rings are not only the wrong size, but that they were in absolutely unacceptable condition, that I should try get my money back, and that the seller was being unethical/unlawful with his policies to me. And, I have to agree with the several Jewelry professors who have viewed the pictures via e-mail and expressed how the Etsy vendor has given the whole industry a bad name by his poor quality and practices. I can only say Mr. Rutledge has "railroaded" himself.
What the seller has objectively proven without any doubt, all of which is now documented by the Attorney General, is his unprofessionalism, including: disregard for Etsy’s policies/customers, US consumer protection laws, and especially the quality of his products. The seller has never hesitated to make excuses, failed attempts to close my case several times, or harass me with some vile attack. Yet he has only prolonged and made excuses to refund me now going 2.5 months after my order. Mr. Rutledge has denied being a scammer, but his behavior and actions sure are consistent with one. Which I hope will be documented appropriately by Etsy to ensure what has happened to me does not happen again in the future for someone else’s wedding.
Ordering anything important online has its risks, especially if you are not savvy about what you are buying. Support a local jeweler that you can trust they know what they are doing.