HiBid review: Fake jewelry

Bought $2633 of jewelry from Assured Asset Exchange (AABids) on HiBid, most of it counterfeit diamonds by cost. Below is a series of deceptive tactics ultimately facilitating what I believe is the intentional sale of counterfeit merchandise (i.e. fraud).

When I received the items, it was clear some were not as pictured. I was told directly by the auctioneer that they only use stock images (of other items)! Imagine buying jewelry based on a picture, being sent something else, and them then just shrugging that they use different pictures. For example, one item was a "6ct diamond" bracelet for $680 (before various surcharges). Imagine buying a bracelet for nearly $1000 and being sent a different bracelet entirely!

I then tested it and realized the bracelet is not only different than the stock picture, it was counterfeit with the diamonds testing as moissanite. They use fake appraisals from a fake company called Precious Gem Laboratories using the same wrong stock photos and then claim, even though it's an entirely different image, that the appraisal is still for "your item!" No surprise, the diamond then tested as fake because of the likely intent to defraud customers with counterfeit items with fake appraisals. I even saw the exact same appraisal listed (same SKU / Appraisal Number, everything) listed on another auction the next day! How did you have my item appraised when the picture in the appraisal doesn't look like my item and the same appraisal is on other items? No reputable third party lab would do this.

When I pointed this out that it is fake and the only evidence they provided to its authenticity (appraisals) are clearly also fake or otherwise not an appraisal for the item I was sent, the auctioneer that admitted to using fake stock photos and reusing appraisals for multiple items told me I was wrong. He claimed the appraisals can be reused because the items are identical - even down to their impurities/imperfections being somehow perfectly replicated - and with the items not the same bracelet pictured. When I pointed out I'm a PhD scientist, I know how research gemstone testing, he just called me a "vigilante looking for wrongdoing" and various other insults. After considerable other misinformation, he then bluffed by telling me I could get it appraised and he would refund me double the cost and reimburse appraisal fee, if my dual thermal and electrical conductivity tests turned out correct and that the diamonds appraise again as fake. He said arrogantly, "but we both know this won't happen," but I said I would get it appraised by a licensed appraiser. He then began walking his claims back and saying I had to send it to GIA themselves (the highest ranking gem testing lab) - even though their fake appraisals are from a barely existent entity called Precious Gem Labs with a very suspicipusly simplistic website. Essentially, while he asks some watered down lab with a barely functioning website, I have to ask Jesus himself if the items he sells are real.

So he's essentially tried to misinform, dupe, and intimidate a PhD scientist with bluffs in everything from what types of diamond tests exist, to that it's the customer's job to get his fake merchandise tested (even beyond buying a $200 dual thermal and electrical tester), and ultimately has tried to obligate customers to get his fake merchandise appraised themselves, even though he claims to already have stock-photo fake appraisals! When his bluffing fails, he walks it back, and only when completely backed into a corner after a PhD scientist has spent 20-30h researching and hundreds of dollars on tests does he offer to return the merchandise. Others are not so lucky: the same offer he made me regarding double-refunds if a GIA-certified appraiser determines my items are fake was not respected for another Better Business Bureau complaint dated 06-28-2023; in that instance he completely ignored it and claimed his own likely fake appraisal trumps it - the exact opposite of what he said to me.

So unless you're a PhD scientist, have time and ability to do 20h of research, extra money to spend buying both your own tester and getting everything reappraized, or you for some reason like getting counterfeit merchandise that isn't as pictured and tests as fake, I suggest you do not shop with them. You will otherwise likely struggle to get even the offer to refund your purchase. I am extremely skeptical that even I will be able to actually get the refund suggested.

HiBid's representative even stated this is a common issue with them, citing that even "another auctioneer bought $10k of their items and is furious," and she believes HiBid is simply awaiting enough complaints to kick AABids off the platform. I suggested they do so ASAP as it wards people off of HiBid entirely. I certainly will not be purchasing from it again.