My Terrible Experience With the eBay Authenticity Program

If you have been a part of the crowd buying and selling on eBay lately, you have likely run into the new program that accompanies all raw cards in the trading card category. Basically, for all unsigned raw cards above 250 dollars in value to be shipped to the customer, it is now required to go through a verification process that checks that the item is authentic and that the “item matches description.” I want to go through a few points of the reasons why this program was created, and why it is responsible for one of the most frustrating experiences I have had buying and selling online.

Background

For those unfamiliar, the program was created to try to limit fraud within the category. Two things were happening: too many cards were being sold as real that weren’t, and sellers were often caught in difficult situations where returns were being completed over cards that didnt match a buyer’s desired perfect grading condition. As a result, both buyers and sellers were leaving eBay, especially for high dollar items, to go to other platforms. This had never really been a thing until the recent boom, so its not a shock that this program was created to help curb that loss.

It had also been done in shoes and handbags with some level of success, but with cards, it presents a whole different level of challenges that I doubt eBay really thought about. Their goal was not to ensure their customers received authentic goods that matched descriptions, no. They are a business and they wanted to make sure their revenue on completed sales was protected. Too many times the final value fees of a trading card would be lost over cases opened revealed fraudulent items, or returns were opened because a card wasnt a PSA 10. Instead of approaching this realistically, sweeping changes were instituted based on a process from other sales categories.

For vintage cards and cards that are frequently the victim of fakes, the program makes a lot of sense. Because cards have become some of the most valuable collectibles on the planet, scammers have made it a frequent target. The one place this program succeeds is preventing all those fakes from entering the market.

How it Works

Basically, a seller posts an item with certain identifiers and pricing. It triggers a set of circumstances in the application that automatically forces the item to go to the hub. This intake is run by a grading company that is supposed to review two things – authenticity and description of the item. When the item is won, the seller ships to the intake, where in a day or two it is authenticated or denied. If authenticated, the hub ships to the buyer. If denied, it goes back to the seller and the buyer is given a refund automatically.

There is no way to challenge the ruling, and the buyer has no input in the process. There is no opt out, and there is no way to reverse a claim if an item is declined or approved. Similarly, there are no returns if the item is approved and sent to the buyer. They cannot do anything to overturn the sale, and I have not yet heard about what happens if the item is damaged post authentication.

This creates a huge set of challenges on both ends of the process, including added shipping time, and potential negative feedback if the buyer wants to challenge the rulings. Sellers can also get around the program by listing in alternate categories, or adding terms to the description. Its a complete shit show that only impacts the buyers and sellers who arent savvy enough to figure out how to game the system.

My Experience

Ive had a few cards go through this program in which condition was not important to me. They were RARE PC cards that I wasnt planning on grading. Unlike most of the hobby, I think grading is a scam and have no desire to get involved. Because I am in the minority there, Im still subject to a program that is designed to curb people playing the myriad of scams that have become a standard.

One card made it to the program, was authenticated and sent to me without an issue. The extra delays in shipping were annoying, but I didnt care as long as it got to me and wasnt destroyed. Unfortunately the second time wasnt as helpful.

I won a Becky Lynch color blast in an auction for a price that was WELL above the threshold for this program. I knew the program would be a factor here, but never thought it would work against me. The seller had a ton of good feedback and the card looked clean. These cards are exceptionally expensive and exceptionally hard to get, so I just wanted to check this one off my target list. The card was shipped same day and arrived at the hub. A day later, I got an email saying that my card didnt pass authentication, with very little explanation. I was ready to flip over a table.

Not only was I going to miss out on this card, but I would now have to find another one, and it was for a reason that I absolutely didnt care about. In getting a more detailed description of the process, no real understanding was conveyed. All it provided was that something in the item page didnt match up with what they reviewed, so it was declined.

Obviously, the first thing I did was contact the seller. They didnt respond. I contacted eBay, and they didnt really give me much option in overturning their decision. As a result of this stupid fucking program, I am out a huge PC card, and there is nothing I can do about it without the seller cooperating. Because they didnt respond to my messages, its over.

What Can Be Done?

If eBay’s goal is truly to avoid fraud in selling fake cards and buyer’s remorse leading to returns on cards that dont meat the hyper-mint condition standards created by the grading companies, they need to be more in tune with how this business actually works. This means pre-auction reviews instead of post auction reviews, and more escrow style transactions where items and money are held with clear expectations and a way for the two parties to agree on outcomes.

Ebay has already shown that they want to invest more in their sports card business, offering vault services coming up, and likely expanding this program to include every card sold on their platform. There is a business growth model for the grading companies involved in it too, mainly because so many cards are involved here.

So far, this is a free service that is granted to both buyer and seller. I doubt that continues to be a cost free venture. If there is money to be made in making the involved parties pay for the service as a captive audience, a corporate entity beholden to its shareholders will have to take advantage of it.

With the trading card boom still in full effect, I doubt the flow of cards will slow down anytime soon. Even before the boom, cards and sports collectibles made up a huge portion of revenue on eBay. That wont change even if things shrink a bit closer to where it was before 2020.

In the end, there needs to be risk avoidance for eBay, and that means some sort of opt out with consequences. Basically buyers and sellers can opt out of the program, but they will need to give something in return. Likely buyers giving up their right to return an item and leave negative feedback, something that will give eBay what they need, and sellers still get their sales.

The program is just going to get bigger and bigger, and the one place I hope it expands to is autographs, where its clear that there is a gigantic problem of sellers forging autographs on items and selling without repercussions. Like I said, if eBay truly had the interest of the collector at heart, they would really double down instead of this type of cop out solution.

6 thoughts on “My Terrible Experience With the eBay Authenticity Program

  1. I recently had a card returned to me because I had stated it was in mint condition and the authenticator decided that the surface was not. This was a Josh Allen national treasures collegiate /49.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/334544041112?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=AIeIFnjeTti&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=AIeIFnjeTti&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

    There is a line coming off the helmet on the left hand side as you view the card, and this was the ONLY problem that the authenticator could have had. I spent a long time finding this same issue on a card that was graded PSA 9 which of course would be mint.

    https://www.google.com/search?q=2018+josh+allen+national+treasures+collegiate+college+silhouettes+signatures+rpa+auto+/49&biw=458&bih=604&tbm=isch&prmd=sinv&sxsrf=ALiCzsZUg1NlO82z9ovQ5TRClYlz2WDYTA:1663403709568&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwii1-fZtZv6AhV6KkQIHQSwAnMQ_AUIJigC#imgrc=j646Ly5HzHZWsM&imgdii=rFpmG3eM1Bto1M

    I appealed and attached photos of this PSA 9 and of course eBay denied my appeal.

    That’s just all background. What your article misses is this. If a seller puts in the listing that sale is final it does not matter WHAT the seller claims about the card. There is no concern on the authenticator’s part beyond verifying to his or her satisfaction that the card is authentic. This is ass f****** backwards. The fact that the card could not be sent on to my buyer to judge for himself was ONLY because I accepted returns. Had I said no returns the card would have gone on to him and he would have had absolutely no recourse to open an item not as described case, as I understand it. This is how eBay now explains their authenticity guarantee on their website . If you can find something different I would very much appreciate receiving an email that tells me where I have misunderstood.

    I have always offered returns except on graded cards. From now on all sales will be final. This is going to result in lower auction prices but at least I won’t have to deal with eBay’s b*******.

    Here is a cut and paste from eBay

    “If the seller’s trading card listing specifies that they don’t accept returns, the purchase through Authenticity Guarantee is considered a final sale.”

    I take that to mean there are no returns for item not as described.

    It is beyond me how eBay is unable to make the most simple call on what is logical and what is not logical.

    I thought this authentication program would be good because I’ve had buyer’s return common cards to me and keep the expensive card. Even with a video tape eBay did not care that I had received a $0.10 card. All they cared about was a tracking number and they refused to accept the videotape showing me opening the return with the tracking number clearly visible. So I thought if a buyer did return a card at least I would have confidence that the card I received was the card I shipped. I don’t know whether that is or is not accurate. What I do know is I’m out $800 because I used the word mint in my listing, which PSA agreed with on the graded card.

    I assume every single card that Panini manufactured with the print run of 49 has this same issue. Every single card they manufactured for card number 103 with the print run of 99 has a longer line that is near Josh Allen’s waist.

    Frustrated and flabbergasted. Authenticity guarantee is a simple concept with a phantasmagorical implementation.

  2. correction to the comment I submitted about a half an hour ago.

    The link to the PSA 9 in my long ass comment was wrong. It is actually

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/195314332912?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=0VLFQ3uFSEe&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=AIeIFnjeTti&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

    If you can insert that in place of the Google search page that would be awesome. If you need a whole new comment please email me. This is an important issue. eBay is OFF the rails here and as usual they’re clueless how little sense their policy makes

  3. FYI

    This program now also covers graded cards. I don’t think your article mentioned that. They also are judging whether or not autographs are authentic and in my view that’s probably a good thing as long as the people ascertaining this know what the hell they’re doing.

    I don’t really intend this as a comment I am just trying to communicate with you

    It must be frustrating to spend so much time on a lengthy and detailed article to get no responses.

  4. I hate the eBay authenticity program. Dealt with it twice. Twice they took a 130 pt thick card and stuck it in a skinny plastic holder too tight, resulting in corners being compressed. I didn’t complain the first time. Second time, I did, and sent the required pictures and information. They said they could not see the obvious damage, and because I had broken the seal to get in there and inspect it better, they were not accountable. BTW, the cases they put cards in are not ones you’d want to leave them in. Basically, they set you up to screw you. There are no returns, and there will be no compensation for damage caused by the authenticators. You have to eat it. That’s the program. I don’t really have a major problem with the short delay because of the extra step, but I would like to avoid unnecessary handling and damage. Introducing a middleman is bad for the buyer. Try to settle an issue with them, and the eBay guarantee will be that it’s not their problem. It’s yours now. Congratulations! Henceforth, I will never even consider buying another item with the eBay authenticity guarantee.

  5. eBay doesn’t take accountability and it’s so frustrating. I wonder how many thousands of dollars they have cost buyers and sellers though this authentication program.

    I sold a Tom Brady /50 at auction for $300. Card was mint and fresh from a pack. Pictures taken and posted on eBay. During the authentication process my card got rejected which blew my mind. There were these lines on the back of the card which were not there before I sold it. Looked like someone wrote on some paper with a pen on top of the card. Told eBay this was not there before I shipped it. I had proof from all my pictures. They told me it must of been shipped improperly. I ship all my cards the same: sleeved, top loader and in between two pieces of thick cardboard. I knew that wasn’t the case. I was then told no way it was the authenticators fault. These guy are perfect and could never mess anything up. That was the last time I’ve ever dealt with eBay.

    eBay is zero help and never take accountability though any issues I’ve had over the years. eBay account hacked – no action. Multiple sellers selling fake product or canceling something you won to resell the item for more – no action. There has to be a better way.

  6. If a seller wants to bypass that inspection all they have to do is sell the card in a lot or list it in the wrong category.

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