eBay is a great place to purchase Chico's jewelry (necklaces, earrings, bracelets, etc.)  at a deeply discounted price; however, not all sellers are good community members and some will market less desirable products as Chico's goods because they typically command a premium price. Other sellers may be naive, unknowingly passing off counterfeit merchandise for the real thing.  Regardless of the reason, both unscrupulous and uninformed sellers continue to operate with impunity because,  unlike designer bags, these transactions are typically under $50 and they know that most buyers will not pursue the matter further because it is not worth their time.


If you are looking to buy Chico's jewelry at eBay, here are some tips that will help you get what you are paying for.


1.  Familiarize yourself with Chico's products...

... by either visiting the company website or looking at its merchandise in local stores.  Chico's usually assigns catchy names for its jewelry designs such as  Braita earrings or theAgnessa bracelet.  Look for these in the seller's description.  If they aren't there or if it's a name you don't recognize, this is not necessarily a bad thing.  It could be that the seller doesn't know the item's assigned name, or the design is more than a year old.  If the listing describes the item as NWT or NWOT, be somewhat wary.

2.  Look for the Chico's stamp in the seller's images.

These are typically etched into the backs of the medallions or decorative charms.  If the jewelry item is primarily composed of beads, look for a metal Chico's tag usually affixed to the lobster claw fastener of bracelets and necklaces. Earrings are tougher, but the earring backs are generally hypoallergenic. If you are in doubt about anything you see or read in this listing, write to the seller for more information.  Chico's earring cards and sales tags can be easily transferred, so don't rely on these alone.

3.  Avoid listings that contain the following phrases:

"Our brand name jewelry is purchased through liquidation and shelf pull buyouts. Hang tags and markings are removed to prevent store returns."

"Brand new without tags, stamps or markings."

"All items are brand new from the manufacturer."

NOTE: Hang tags are sales or descriptive tags containing the Chico's logo,  not the metal Chico's tag affixed to the fasteners.  Most Chico's medallions will have the name etched into the back. And store clerks recognize their own merchandise and certainly WON'T take anything back that isn't in the store's current inventory!

4.  Compare listings.

If you can find several listings of the same item from different sellers using different pictures, this is one more useful tool in your authentication process.

5.  Look for the seller's ratings and his or her money back guarantee.

If the seller has a high volume of sales, good ratings, and a money back policy, then you're probably dealing with a legitimate seller, but not always.

6.  Nothing is foolproof.

Some Chico's jewelry is difficult to authenticate, especially those pieces that are older, used or composed of mostly beads.  If you feel that you've been ripped off,   contact the seller first with cordial email that identifies the problem without assigning blame. Your next move -- contacting eBay and/or PayPal, for example -- should be based on the tenor of the seller's response.

In conclusion, good luck and happy hunting!