ebay's authentication service - looking at more than just authenticity

[cgjackson222]

That is super-interesting, and I think it is a valuable service ebay is providing.

This would give me more confidence in purchasing from a seller that has a "No Returns" policy.

I was under the impression that the only thing ebay had been doing was verifying the accuracy of the listing's title/description and then sending the card off to verify it's authenticity. I didn't realize they were also checking to see if the listing's title/description OMITTED anything important, such as a defect that was not shown in the pictures.

[Lordstan]

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

That is super-interesting, and I think it is a valuable service ebay is providing.

This would give me more confidence in purchasing from a seller that has a "No Returns" policy.

I was under the impression that the only thing ebay had been doing was verifying the accuracy of the listing's title/description and then sending the card off to verify it's authenticity. I didn't realize they were also checking to see if the listing's title/description OMITTED anything important, such as a defect that was not shown in the pictures.

Just to clarify, a "No returns" policy is not enforcible for a mistake in the listing issue. EBay will side with the buyer every time if that is what is claimed. Buyer's remorse can be impacted by no returns policies, but not listing errors. I am curious how buyer's remorse issues will be handled by the authentication process though.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

[BobC]

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

That is super-interesting, and I think it is a valuable service ebay is providing.

This would give me more confidence in purchasing from a seller that has a "No Returns" policy.

I was under the impression that the only thing ebay had been doing was verifying the accuracy of the listing's title/description and then sending the card off to verify it's authenticity. I didn't realize they were also checking to see if the listing's title/description OMITTED anything important, such as a defect that was not shown in the pictures.

Maybe Ebay is in a sense verifying the accuracy of the listing's title/description by ensuring that there are no hidden errors or omissions being kept from the buyer. For example, showing just the front of a card and listing it as selling "as is", with no mention of back damage nor an image of the back included in the listing, is a definite (and likely intentional) inaccurate listing in my book. A seller not mentioning or showing such an obvious flaw, and then trying to hide behind the "as is" clause, is just the kind of crap I can see Ebay not wanting to get stuck in the middle of, or really wanting to be a party to. I can see Ebay giving money back to disgruntled buyers, and not always being able to get it back from the sellers due to their "as is" description and listing. The savings Ebay can thereby realize from such an authentication program may be one reason why they haven't needed to start charging for it.............yet.

[philliesfan]

Interesting for sure.

Also, I have questions about how this service works
.
If I sold a PSA or SGC card for $3,000.00, I have to send it to ebay for authentication.......correct?

Then ebay inspects all aspects of the card, slab tampering, label, item description in the listing including front and back scans for hidden damage and everything is perfect. Then they send the card to the buyer.....correct?

Now if the buyer wants to return the card, is it returned back to ebay for inspection to return back to the seller or does the buyer return directly to the seller? What if the card was switched by the buyer? How is that handled? I would not want to be on the hook especially if ebay handled and approved everything.

thanks,
Bob

[G1911]

Originally Posted by philliesfan

Interesting for sure.

Also, I have questions about how this service works
.
If I sold a PSA or SGC card for $3,000.00, I have to send it to ebay for authentication.......correct?

Then ebay inspects all aspects of the card, slab tampering, label, item description in the listing including front and back scans for hidden damage and everything is perfect. Then they send the card to the buyer.....correct?

Now if the buyer wants to return the card, is it returned back to ebay for inspection to return back to the seller or does the buyer return directly to the seller? What if the card was switched by the buyer? How is that handled? I would not want to be on the hook especially if ebay handled and approved everything.

thanks,
Bob

If the card is already graded, eBay has you send the card to PSA who then authenticates the slab. They do not look at the card at all in the already-graded version. If it passes, it is sent along to the buyer.

[steve B]

Nobody has a thought about the authenticator saying the paper loss won't affect the grade?
That seems wrong unless it was claimed to be a low grade to begin with.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by steve B

Nobody has a thought about the authenticator saying the paper loss won't affect the grade?
That seems wrong unless it was claimed to be a low grade to begin with.

I was assuming that it was in rough shape to begin with. Maybe a 1.0, or Authentic…

Certainly if it was otherwise in good shape, then stating that paper loss won’t affect the grade would be crazy.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by steve B

Nobody has a thought about the authenticator saying the paper loss won't affect the grade?
That seems wrong unless it was claimed to be a low grade to begin with.

What is there to say? The common sense answer is that it’s a low grade card regardless and there is nothing nefarious here.

[Exhibitman]

First of all, on a raw card it is CSG, not PSA.

Second, looking for undisclosed flaws is part of the service:

"Items that display the Authenticity Guarantee badge in the listing are first shipped to an authenticator who inspects the item prior to delivery to the buyer. This inspection ensures that the item purchased matches the listing description and verifies the item's authenticity." [emphasis added]

An undisclosed paper loss that CSG spots will result in either a rejection or the choice outlined in the OP (which is a new one to me and, frankly, I like it). This is because...

Third, a no returns policy is enforceable with the AG service cards:

"For Authenticity Guarantee purchases, eBay Money Back Guarantee does not cover returns on the basis that an item is not as described, when the item is considered final sale."

Translation: if the seller lists it as a final sale with no returns and it passes the authentication process, the buyer owns it, period. The whole point of the service is to take away the buyer's remorse return option for sellers who do not want to accept returns.

If the item gets wrecked in the mail from the authenticator to the buyer, eBay handles the refund. The seller's delivery duty ends when the item reaches the authenticator intact. This is not new. If you sell under eBay's Global Shipping program, for example, your delivery is considered complete when it reaches the eBay shipping center.

[Cmvorce]

Originally Posted by steve B

Nobody has a thought about the authenticator saying the paper loss won't affect the grade?
That seems wrong unless it was claimed to be a low grade to begin with.

Yep, low grade to begin with. I would expect it to grade a 1 with or without the paper loss. Doesn't matter to me - it's going right into my t206 binder!

[philo98]

Originally Posted by G1911

If the card is already graded, eBay has you send the card to PSA who then authenticates the slab. They do not look at the card at all in the already-graded version. If it passes, it is sent along to the buyer.

Im in this process for the 1st time for 2 cards authenticated by PSA and 1 by BGS. The sellers are located in VT and NY and it appears the cards are sent all the way to CA for authenticating. Im located in PA and they will then need to be sent back across the country. If Ebay is going to expand this service, it may make sense to open one authentication location on the East Coast, or even in the middle of the country to service all regions. Two of the cards were purchased on October 18th and the estimated delivery date to my home is November 9th.

[Yoda]

IMO this whole Ebay authentic and vault service (still optional) facilities are a hinderance on us collectors. The delays and over examination on graded cards takes some enjoyment out of Ebay purchases, and as others have pointed out, authentication of raw cards opens a whole new can of worms.