Today was my first "proper" stand at a show, I did a small village hall thing earlier this year but this was our local agricultural show which I believe is the largest 1 day show in the UK.
About 3 hours in I had a badge thrust under my nose and yes he introduced himself as trading standards.
Now as a silversmith (before I fell in love with glass) I thought I knew the "rules" anything I sell over the weight limit carries a hallmark but what I didn't know was if I am stating that components are silver, over weight or not, then I need to display the official notice which he advised me can be downloaded here http://www.bis.gov.uk/britishhallmarkingcouncil/new/dealers-notice (http://www.bis.gov.uk/britishhallmarkingcouncil/new/dealers-notice)
What was annoying is I have an old style notice in my studio but I thought as it was out of date I would potentially get "told off" for displaying it and thought I'd be better of not displaying anything.....wrong! He said that would have been better than nothing at all.
He asked or a business card :o :-\ so I'm now hoping there is nothing incriminating on there :-\
Blimey !!!!!!!!!!!!
I had heard this actually and was planning on downloading the thing for my next market day at Hatherleigh, seems a bit extreme for a bit of silver wire in a pair of earrings! Hope it went well otherwise though. :)
Awgh Helen thats such bad luck on your first big outing you poor love ... I am sure nothing more will come of it , but its not nice none the less .. off to download now xxx
Did you do well otherwise ?
What i don't understand is the notice says Ask if its Hallmarked .its your guarantee .. well it won't be will it if its under a certain weight ?
Does this mean that any of us who sell anything with the smallest amount of silver in it need to display the notice?
So apart from the mean old man Helen, how was it?
oooh er. I had heard they like to visit and demand to know where that poster is.
the poster does state that items over 7.78g have to be hallmarked, so presumably people will have to work out for themsleves that a pair of earwires does not weigh as much as that.
hope it went well otherwise! :)
Yikes. There are so many things to learn about selling, if I didn't need to do it I would be totally scared off.
I have now downloaded and printed. Thank you so much for the warning.
I hope the rest of the day was a success.
Julia x
Ooh Helen....that doesn't sound like a very nice experience! :o :o
I have only sold at local village fairs and didn't know anything about displaying a notice. Thanks for the warning.....I had better download it now! ::) ::)
I bet that was a bit of a shock Helen. Thanks for the link I have downloaded it now.
I hope you had a good day in the end.
I did OK thanks ladies, I set myself a target and went just a little over it and considering the old regulars said it was quieter than normal I think that was good.
I mr trading standards that i had my own hallmark registered with sheffield assay office (which i do) and none of the items for sale were over 7.78g (which was a slight fib as 2 bracelets with Bali beads are over :-[) to let him know i had made an effort to conform but what he said to me was "the minute you use the word silver (I had a notice saying Sterling silver chains) then regardless of weight you need a notice" so faith you're there.
I'm not sure about the mixed items though as I once made a woven pendant with copper and silver returned unmarked by Sheffield because of the copper content - although there was more silver than copper ??? But on the other hand when I had a gallery and bought jewellery from a lady that used lots of monkume gain (may not be spelt right :-\) which for those who don't know is layers of metals, usually copper and silver, domed in places and then filed down in areas to look kind of marbled, it was always hallmarked! ???
Aww Helen sorry this happened to you. Hope that nothing to heavy comes of it.
I knew about the notice from the long hallmarking discussions here, I display it regardless. I took it into one of the stores that stocks my jewellery and she didn't know about it even though there are others in there selling over weight silver items.
They do need to make it clearer. I would never have found out if I didn't come here.
I use silver wire and some of George's sterling findings - way under 7g per piece - and I don't usually describe as sterling silver - but I think I'll print the notice and put it up with the one about lampwork beads "just in case".
I remember a real fuss at Alexandra Palace a couple of years ago - guy was selling what said they were silver and gold chains - not sure what happened but the police came and hauled him away on the Saturday - left his stand cordened off with black and yellow crime scene tape! Always assumed they were nicked but who knows . . . .
Years ago I was at an Agricultural Show and Trading standards stopped to talk to me, they introduced themselves, were very pleasant and gave me advise. That I needed a hallmark display card, how to get it( it cost at least £20 then) checked that I had sterling silver marked on things that were, and prices. They took my card and I received a Business info pack from them.They were very pleasant and trying to help.
I always have a notice up at bead fairs, even though none of the Hill Tribe Silver items I sell are over the weight.
Knowing my luck I'd be picked on if I forgot the blighter!
Quote from: sea-thistle on August 04, 2011, 10:37:37 PM
Years ago I was at an Agricultural Show and Trading standards stopped to talk to me, they introduced themselves, were very pleasant and gave me advise. That I needed a hallmark display card, how to get it( it cost at least £20 then) checked that I had sterling silver marked on things that were, and prices. They took my card and I received a Business info pack from them.They were very pleasant and trying to help.
This guy seemed to be fairly reasonable so hopefully I'll get a business pack and not a fine :o He gave me the link for the notice :)
I think they are after the really bad guys! counterfeit goods, items that look like silver and are not, the ones you see on tv, Fake Britain! lol
hope a pack and not a fine arrives, ;)
thank you for giving us the "heads up" and the download,
best wishes ,
sandy x
You'll be fine, they just need to keep a record of who they've seen. Might check you are registered for tax and class 2 NI, often the different agencies work together on this sort of thing. I find people either ignore the posters, and they take up a lot of space on a 6' stall, or you get some geek who wants to know more about hallmarks than you'll ever know and then not buy anything. I paid a lot for my original one, but did finds the free download one which I have laminated and usually pin to the front of my stall, obvious but not taking up space.
That's a good idea Sue, pinning it to front so as not to take valuable stock space!
hmmm, must introduce mine to the laminator. dont know where either is atm though!
what a good idea!
Quote from: faith on August 04, 2011, 10:21:03 PM
Helen I would imagine all the assay offices use the same guidelines but I can only speak for Edinburgh - if I send off anything with copper & silver mix it has to be listed on a seperate hallnote and marked with the sterling mark and the other metals mark. The reason for the weight issue and separate marks is apparently so that nobody can be fooled into thinking that the whole item is silver - seems a bit OTT to me but what can you do? Its the reason I stopped making my maille bracelets in copper & silver mix - its just not cost effective to have the odd bracelet hallmarked seperately.
If I make copper with silver accents I just dont write down that it contains sterling!
just checked out my assay offiice and found the rules changed for items of mixed metals in 2007 and I would have sent this for hallmarking around 1998!
Sure you will be OK Helen :) I am wondering about all the other stalls at the market I go to, lots of people sell antique silver jewellery, but I have never seen a sign up anywhere. Think laminating would be an excellent plan, have to find a friend I think.
You can buy cold laminating sheets, a bit like sticky back plastic; Smiths or Rymans will have them. I laminated mine and bought some cardboard stand thingies from Retif to stick on the back so I can pin or stand.
Quote from: Blue Box Studio on August 05, 2011, 04:22:20 PM
You can buy cold laminating sheets, a bit like sticky back plastic; Smiths or Rymans will have them. I laminated mine and bought some cardboard stand thingies from Retif to stick on the back so I can pin or stand.
Ah, brilliant, will have a look.
I have a question. There is a local farm shop who is going to be selling my jewellery (should have got it there by now to catch the visitors, but been a bit tied up with other stuff). Presumably, she will need to display one of these signs too?
Yes. If it's being sold it should have a hallmark card. I paid a fortune for my proper one years ago, so free download is good in my book. I'm not sure I've ever had anyone obviously stop and read it though. Anyone else ever stopped and read one?
No I've never had anyone stop and read one! Also as someone has just said I have seen quite a few stalls selling sterling silver jewellery without one of these cards. Like you I paid a fortune for mine. Glad to see you can print one off now.
Just downloaded mine.
I think it is very unlikely you will be prosecuted. If he had that in mind he would have been taking photographs to use as proof that you were not displaying one.
I always put my Hallmarking sheet up, also I down loaded it.
Quote from: Blue Box Studio on August 08, 2011, 10:56:30 AM
Yes. If it's being sold it should have a hallmark card. I paid a fortune for my proper one years ago, so free download is good in my book. I'm not sure I've ever had anyone obviously stop and read it though. Anyone else ever stopped and read one?
I have had one person (in 3 years) read it, it was the first thing they looked at and the first thing they said to me was 'so are your pieces all hallmarked' i then had to explain the weight thing (but I pointed it out on the sign too.)
I am sure that I read a thread on this forum - regarding a change to Hallmarking in the near future? Didn't I?