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Macy’s Gold Jewelry Class Action Lawsuit
By Matt O’Donnell
A federal class action lawsuit claims Macy’s deceptively advertises its jewelry as “fine gold” when it is actually gold-plated sterling silver, tricking customers into believing they’re buying jewelry more valuable than it actually is.
Lead Plaintiff Natalya Barsukova alleges in the Macy’s jewelry class action lawsuit that she purchased earrings in April 2010 from a Macy’s store in Burlington, Massachusetts, that were labeled as “fine gold” and were confirmed by a salesperson to be real gold, but were in fact sterling silver covered with a thin layer of gold or gold alloy.
Two years after she bought them, the earrings “showed signs of tarnish and discoloration, with the middle loop on the earring turning from a gold color to almost completely gray,” the class action lawsuit says, so Barsukova took the earrings to a jeweler. That’s when she discovered they were gold-platted sliver and not real gold.
Barsukova believes “thousands of consumers” have been affected by Macy’s alleged false advertising of its “gold” jewelry, and wants Macy’s to provide them full refunds and pay punitive damages for its alleged breach of contract.
According to the class action lawsuit, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rules prohibit the use of the word “gold” or any abbreviation to describe all or part of any product not composed entirely of gold or a gold alloy. The use of the word “gold” or its abbreviation is permitted only if the product is “adequately qualified” to indicate that the product or part is only surface-plated with gold.
A similar class action lawsuit was filed against JC Penny earlier this year, which accuses the retailer of falsely advertising that its jewelry is more valuable and of a higher quality than it actually is.
Barsukova is seeking to represent a proposed class of all Macy’s customers who purchased jewelry from Macy’s labeled and sold as “Gold” or “Fine Gold” that was in fact gold-plated silver or sterling silver.
The Macy’s Gold Jewelry Class Action Lawsuit case is Barsukova v. Macy’s, Inc., Case No. 12-cv-11892, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts.
Updated October 23rd, 2012
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23 thoughts onMacy’s Gold Jewelry Class Action Lawsuit
We purchased a gold chain for our son at Macy’s. It was labeled as gold jewelry but when I had it checked at another jewelry store they told me it was gold plate. Less than one t year later there’s hardly no gold tone left.
I needed money took my necklace and earrings (jade and pearls 14k gold) worth 600.00 . Well it is not more than 30.00 dls
I was sold a 423 dollars bracelet than I was told was gold. It was originally priced at 1100 dollars, but was on sale. I now found out that it is worthless. I have all the receipts calling it precious metals. It’s not precious at all. I would love to sue them for false advertisement, or at least get some of my money back. Bought it in Septemeber.
I have returned a “white gold diamond cut 18” to Macy’s 2 times as it was suppose to be 1.1 mm in diameter as advertised and they continue (3 times now) to send me a 0.9mm chain. Now I am not sure if is really 14k gold and not gold plated.
Just spent 850.00 on earings and a ring. They are suppose to he 14k rose gold with original opals. I have had them on since last night ( less than 24 hiirs) my ears lines are killing me and my ring finger is gree.
I cant wear cheap jewelry as my body reaches to it as it is now. So now I have supposedly 2000.00 in jewelry I cant wear! I have been scammed by MACYS!!!!
I just found out today that the diamond stud earrings I bought from Macy’s several years ago are CZ! I paid several hundred dollars for 1/4 quarter studs. The posts for the earrings was not silver. It was worthless metal!
After 6 months, the diamond came out of my macys engagement ring. Low quality, cheap craftmanship.
My daughter brought me a $300.00 ring from Macys in Virginia, and the so called gold started peeling off, I am very dissappointed in Macys because, I shop online and in the stores all the time.
Well, I have got engagement ring , 1 ct, platinum, 12 years later, went to upgrade the ring, went to jewelry shop, and just today learned my so called 1 ct diamond ring isn’t real! This threw me off big time! Will seek lawyer asap! As this was $5,000 cash paid ring!
I am a hobby jeweler of some 40 years standing. I hate to pop some bubbles here. 14k gold is 14 parts gold and 10 parts other alloy metals. The karat system is a measure out of 24, so 24kt gold is pure gold (sometimes referred to as fine gold). The alloying metals are usually silver, copper and zinc. 14kt gold WILL turn, the pawn broker was wrong. Your skin can react with the alloying metals. 24kt gold is never used to make entire pieces of jewelry as it is too soft, it would rapidly wear away to nothing.
So not true. Jewelry is made out of 24k gold all the time. They even sell it on TV at the big shopping network. Please do not spread misinformation.