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

[raulus]

That is definitely interesting.

I recently purchased a card graded by SGC that went through the eBay authentication process. When it got to the 3rd party, they noticed that the case had popped open, although the card was undamaged. They gave me the option of proceeding with the purchase, or rejecting it.

I also recently sold 2 PSA graded cards on eBay in 2 separate transactions, within 24 hours of one another. One for $3k, and another for $1.95k. The one for $1.95k was a tallboy case, and went to the authenticator. The one for $3k was a jumbo case, and didn't go to the authenticator. Not sure if the size made a difference, or if there were other features that caused one to go through the authentication process, and the other to skip it. Obviously it wasn't the price that drove the different outcomes.

Personally, as a seller, I would have preferred that they both go through authentication, just to avoid having the possibility of the buyer claiming that they never got their item, or that there was something wrong with it.

[jamest206]

I am still waiting for a month on a payment from eBay for 2k, since they needed to authenticate me. Never mind I have been able to still purchase and bid, and pay within 12 hours of winning. So finally, after three attempts, was told needed to show license, and copies of receipts and invoices to people that purchased from me last month. Sent a front and back of drivers license, as well as screen shots of information off my iPad of everything they wanted, per what they told me. We will see if I get my money they have sat on for a month as of today, in the next few days. Glad they are actually doing some work on their end finally, but need to still step their game up for those of us who make them money.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by jamest206

I am still waiting for a month on a payment from eBay for 2k, since they needed to authenticate me. Never mind I have been able to still purchase and bid, and pay within 12 hours of winning. So finally, after three attempts, was told needed to show license, and copies of receipts and invoices to people that purchased from me last month. Sent a front and back of drivers license, as well as screen shots of information off my iPad of everything they wanted, per what they told me. We will see if I get my money they have sat on for a month as of today, in the next few days. Glad they are actually doing some work on their end finally, but need to still step their game up for those of us who make them money.

Is this your first eBay sale? Have you been on the platform long? Have you been buying for years?

I did find that when I made my first major sale of $10k+, eBay held onto my cash for a while until the buyer got the item. But that only lasted for a few days, and definitely not for a whole month.

[jamest206]

Originally Posted by raulus

Is this your first eBay sale? Have you been on the platform long? Have you been buying for years?

I did find that when I made my first major sale of $10k+, eBay held onto my cash for a while until the buyer got the item. But that only lasted for a few days, and definitely not for a whole month.

No, I have been selling for a couple years, and buying. This sale was of individual items, none individually sold for over $300. I sold earlier this year as well. So the amount, after taxes AND eBay skimming, is $1700.

If anyone else has this issue, after the third time doing a live chat, I finally got the simple answer I needed. eBay has some flaws they still need to work on.

They claim every seller is having to do this.

[Pat R]

Originally Posted by jamest206

No, I have been selling for a couple years, and buying. This sale was of individual items, none individually sold for over $300. I sold earlier this year as well. So the amount, after taxes AND eBay skimming, is $1700.

If anyone else has this issue, after the third time doing a live chat, I finally got the simple answer I needed. eBay has some flaws they still need to work on.

They claim every seller is having to do this.

One of the biggest flaws they need to work on is if you have your mail delivered to a PO box the item doesn't go through the process but the no return policy is still in affect so if there is something wrong with the item the buyer can't return it even though it didn't go through the process.

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by raulus

I also recently sold 2 PSA graded cards on eBay in 2 separate transactions, within 24 hours of one another. One for $3k, and another for $1.95k. The one for $1.95k was a tallboy case, and went to the authenticator. The one for $3k was a jumbo case, and didn't go to the authenticator. Not sure if the size made a difference, or if there were other features that caused one to go through the authentication process, and the other to skip it.

Was the buyer for the one that didn't go through authentication either international or used a P.O. Box for shipping address? I believe neither of those will trigger authenticity check.

So if anyone feels strongly about opting out of this process and you buy enough, I guess you could get a PO Box and have AG purchases shipped there instead.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by swarmee

Was the buyer for the one that didn't go through authentication either international or used a P.O. Box for shipping address? I believe neither of those will trigger authenticity check.

So if anyone feels strongly about opting out of this process and you buy enough, I guess you could get a PO Box and have AG purchases shipped there instead.

Turns out both addresses were domestic, and neither was a PO Box. So that wouldn’t explain the difference either.

[John V]

How does the authentication process impact seller (or buyer) fees, if at all?

[trdcrdkid]

Originally Posted by John V

How does the authentication process impact seller (or buyer) fees, if at all?

Right now it doesn't, but eventually they're going to start charging for it.

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by trdcrdkid

Right now it doesn't, but eventually they're going to start charging for it.

Or not.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Gorditadogg

Or not.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

We’ll definitely see. I think the wording on their website suggests that they don’t currently charge for it, which seems to suggest that they might charge for it later.

Given that sellers already pay about 16% for selling fees and payment processing, it would be nice to avoid paying more.

[EddieP]

Originally Posted by raulus

Turns out both addresses were domestic, and neither was a PO Box. So that wouldn’t explain the difference either.

There are several ways a seller can bypass the Authenticity Guarantee. The most well-known one is putting “ Set Break” in the title. Other ways are: 1) Cards ( plural) is in the title,2) “ Free Local Pick up” is offered, 3) Signed cards are exempted ( this also occurs if Signature is marked yes/original in the detailed description even if the card isn’t signed, 4) it also has to be sold under Sports Cards ( e.g. if you sell an Exhibit under Post Cards it won’t go through the Authenticity program).

It would be helpful if you show us the Titles ( or some fascimile of them) to find out why it didn’t go through the process.

The below won’t go through because it has “Sets” in the title and algorithm reads it as Multiple cards.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/39430471677...Bk9SR8zGr_CDYQ

Whereas, this one doesn’t have “ Sets” in the title and it’ll be authenticated

https://www.ebay.com/itm/19541297223...3ABFBMvsbO8INh

[raulus]

Originally Posted by EddieP

There are several ways a seller can bypass the Authenticity Guarantee. The most well-known one is putting “ Set Break” in the title. Other ways are: 1) Cards ( plural) is in the title,2) “ Free Local Pick up” is offered, 3) Signed cards are exempted ( this also occurs if Signature is marked yes/original in the detailed description even if the card isn’t signed, 4) it also has to be sold under Sports Cards ( e.g. if you sell an Exhibit under Post Cards it won’t go through the Authenticity program).

It would be helpful if you show us the Titles ( or some fascimile of them) to find out why it didn’t go through the process.

The below won’t go through because it has “Sets” in the title and algorithm reads it as Multiple cards.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/39430471677...Bk9SR8zGr_CDYQ

Whereas, this one doesn’t have “ Sets” in the title and it’ll be authenticated

https://www.ebay.com/itm/19541297223...3ABFBMvsbO8INh

It’s possible that I checked a box or used a word somewhere in my listing that inadvertently resulted in the authenticity process being inapplicable.

But if you want to dig in further, here’s the first listing that went to PSA for authenticity confirmation:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13377172387...mis&media=COPY

And here’s the second that went straight to the buyer:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13420181499...mis&media=COPY

[EddieP]

Originally Posted by raulus

It’s possible that I checked a box or used a word somewhere in my listing that inadvertently resulted in the authenticity process being inapplicable.

But if you want to dig in further, here’s the first listing that went to PSA for authenticity confirmation:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13377172387...mis&media=COPY

And here’s the second that went straight to the buyer:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13420181499...mis&media=COPY

The 2nd listing has the word “Pack” and that throws off the algorithm to believe there are multiple cards involved.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by EddieP

The 2nd listing has the word “Pack” and that throws off the algorithm to believe there are multiple cards involved.

Interesting. I guess the name of the piece having the word “pack” was all it took to fool the process. In spite of the fact that there was no pack involved!