will this be a fake marble ebay tale of woe?

will this be a fake marble ebay tale of woe?

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Discussion

isee

Original Poster:

3,713 posts

182 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Bought this "Italian Solid Marble Fireplace" on ebay for £50.
Eamailed the seller to ask if the items is as described and was told yes.
Arranged for a delviery (£100) and this arrives.

I am no expert on marble and didn't know they made fireplaces hoolow nowadays, however here is why i think it is fake:

  • Room temperature to the touch (expected this to be cold, like any other stone)
  • the inside, though it does seem to have some veins/marks looks like it was made using a cast, with seams and bubbles visible (I'd expect the marble just to be cut out crudely.
  • "marble" chippings did not fizz or make any bubbles when submerged in vinegar (see pic)

E-mailed the seller and was told I should be glad I got it for 50, when their parents paid £800 for it and that they are sure that they sent off a solid marble fireplace with teh deliveryman, but can't guarantee (guarantee what? that it magically transformed into a fake whilst with the deliveryman?) that this is what arrived to me.

I need your help PH. I need your help with two things:
1. Tell me how i can be absolutely sure that this is or isn't marble
2. if it isn't what to do? a simple refund is not exactly going to make things fare and square now.

See pic attached








Meoricin

2,880 posts

168 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Are you sure that's not marble? Looks totally legit.


rofl at least you shouldn't have a problem getting ebay to refund you.

Roo

11,503 posts

206 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Where's that "Not sure if serious" picture when you need it?

OldJohnnyYen

1,455 posts

148 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Wtf? You do know what real marble looks like don't you?

john2443

6,325 posts

210 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
I'm no expert, but I don't think you can, or would, carve marble that thin.

Looks like it's been cast in a mould so is some sort or resin, maybe with marble bits in it?

I think that real marble would have another 0 on the price, you probably paid the right price for what it is.

Buster73

5,043 posts

152 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Marble for fifty quid ? Ha ha.

A fool and his money are easily parted.

bigTee

5,546 posts

220 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
You REALLY tested it?

4key

10,752 posts

147 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Lost your marbles?


getmecoat

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Jesus Christ....

As said above, at least a refund will be easy given one look at the thing!

isee

Original Poster:

3,713 posts

182 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for the resplies even the mickey taking ones. And yes I know what real marble is, though i only had small statuettes and trinkets to compare and none at hand in this moment of doubt.

Galileo

3,145 posts

217 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
isee said:
will this be a fake marble ebay tale of woe?
Yes. Yes, it will. Doesn't look too bad for £50 though.

Mobile Chicane

20,740 posts

211 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
It's some kind of moulded composite.

Still, for £50... scratchchin

isee

Original Poster:

3,713 posts

182 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Galileo said:
Yes. Yes, it will. Doesn't look too bad for £50 though.
Well from the outside and without touching it, it doesn't even make you wonder if it is real or not. Looks very convincing. and is unexpectedly heavy. Though I am trying to justify my foolishness.

On the other hand, the ad said solid italian marble and I popped a bid on it, simple as. Can't really be blamed for going with the description can I? smile

Tyy

268 posts

142 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
doogz said:
That's a casting.

How heavy is it? Can you lift it on your own?
I was just about to say this, actual marble would weigh a lot.

isee

Original Poster:

3,713 posts

182 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
doogz said:
That's a casting.

How heavy is it? Can you lift it on your own?
I can. though I am powerfuly built and hold a directorship smile

isee

Original Poster:

3,713 posts

182 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Mobile Chicane said:
It's some kind of moulded composite.

Still, for £50... scratchchin
That's the kicker though it was £150 with the delivery, and sadly my first opportunity to check it out for myself was when it got delivered biggrin

In all likelyhood ebay will side with me with the refund and the original owners will not pay to have the item collected, so it will be a £100 purchase.

maxdb

1,533 posts

156 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
What would you expect for £50 lol. It's not marble btw.

Pothole

34,367 posts

281 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
isee said:
Galileo said:
Yes. Yes, it will. Doesn't look too bad for £50 though.
Well from the outside and without touching it, it doesn't even make you wonder if it is real or not. Looks very convincing. and is unexpectedly heavy. Though I am trying to justify my foolishness.

On the other hand, the ad said solid italian marble and I popped a bid on it, simple as. Can't really be blamed for going with the description can I? smile
I have no idea what ebay's rules are about describing things properly, but if the first pic is one from the ad, you should have known it wasn't marble.

That said, that's not really the issue, is it? The item was misdescribed so you'll need recourse through ebay. I hope you've left very negative feedback for the seller, too.

isee

Original Poster:

3,713 posts

182 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Pothole said:
I have no idea what ebay's rules are about describing things properly, but if the first pic is one from the ad, you should have known it wasn't marble.

That said, that's not really the issue, is it? The item was misdescribed so you'll need recourse through ebay. I hope you've left very negative feedback for the seller, too.
nope the pic was one that i made.
here is the auction in question

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160889773906?nma=true&am...

Tyy

268 posts

142 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
To be honest £50 doesn't seem too bad for what it is, if it looks ok I wouldn't worry too much.