Ebay Question: Tracking shows a "Your item is on its way to authenticator" message??
 

So I bought a card off of Ebay recently from a reputable seller and paid by Paypal. I believe my funds went through as normal and the seller has shipped the card.

Only question I have is that, when I checked the tracking status of the card, I see this "Your item is on the way to authenticator" message. It appears to still be moving along as normal though from stop to stop on it's way here.

Has anyone seen this before and / or knows what it means?
(screenshot of exactly what I'm seeing is below)

Thanks in advance!
Brian

Attachment 552342

Yes, this occuring alot recently. Ebay is behind by 12-24 hrs. You could get a more accurate location by plugging the tracking number in the USPS website.

https://pages.ebay.com/authenticity-...gcards-seller/

This is how it works on ebay now. It’s been like this for for almost a year.

I just noticed the package apparently went from Cincinnati, Ohio to Anaheim, CA....bypassing my address in Kansas City....really odd.

Ahhh....ok. Had no idea Ebay was doing this. I typically buy Magic the Gathering cards on Ebay in the $1-$5 dollar range....lol. This is the first card of substantial value I've purchased in a very long time.

Nice that both graded cards and ungraded cards qualify for this service and I suppose it just happens automatically without me needing to sign up for anything. I suppose that also explains the card's sojourn out in California....

It has happened with the last two cards I purchased, a PSA graded Tom Brady RC and a PSA graded Luka Doncic RC. I think it has something to do with sellers and the vault. I really don't get why they send it to get authenticated when it is PSA graded. Both cards I recieved were sent to Santa Ana, CA. It will come in a nice navy blue display box but it will take 4 to 5 days longer. I hope some others elaborate on it becuase truthfully, I don't get it.

Maybe Yoda can regale us with tales about his great love for the authentication program…

I, Totally misunderstood the OPs question. For the past year, in order to decrease fraud in its platform , eBay has been sending cards to get authenticated. Graded cards go to PSA to have the slabs authenticated. (There have been reports of cards in “fake” slabs. This week there was a ‘86 Jordan card in a fake PSA slab being auctioned off ). Authenticating the slabs is a way to discourage this practice.
Raw cards and cards in CSG slabs go to CSG for authentication. I like this because it provides a “second pair of eyes” on whether the card is legit or not.

Authentication is also a check on sellers who do not mail the cards to the buyer. The seller is on the “hook” when the card is mailed to the authenticator. Ebay takes custody of the card once it gets to the Authenticator. Authentication also acts as a check on unscrupulous buyers. Ebay is responsible for the card’s journey from the Authenticator to the buyer. If the buyer claims he never received the card, then buyer has to settle the dispute directly with Ebay

Thanks for the clarification. I makes sense.

Wow...so maybe, just maybe, it's safe to take a chance on an ungraded card since Ebay's going to send it along for authentication anyway? Just as long as it's over $250? That's actually fairly significant in my eyes....

Eddie,

Is that something new about CSG graded cards not going to PSA for slab authentication? Had not heard that before, just that all raw cards went to CSG, and supposedly all already graded cards went to PSA. Makes sense if Ebay did such a change to their authentication program. Who would know a slab better than the company that actually used it, right?

To the best of my knowledge, it is not mentioned anywhere by eBay. However, every card I bought with a CSG slab was authenticated by CSG.

Yoda will have to pass. Otherwise, his blood pressure will spike to dangerous levels. He is not as young as he used to be.

Thanks,

Good to know, and makes sense. Just surprised that nothing seems to be said about that in any written instructions/descriptions of the Authentication Program.

If you trust CSG to verify the card, then yes. Because once it passes authentication from CSG, you're going to have a VERY hard time returning it.
Although, I haven't seen many complaints here or on blowout about them getting it wrong (most recently they authenticated an Orange Shimmer refractor auto /25 as an Orange auto /25 incorrectly, but I think the blame should be shared with Topps for duplicating parallels and the buyer/seller not seeing the difference in the pictures on the listing). The major complaints I've seen on raw cards have centered around delays or cramming oversized cards into Cardsavers not meant to hold them.

One of the recent changes to the process recently is that not all cards get signature required now, usually only for ones listed above $750. I'm wondering if this is to allow people with PO Boxes to be put in the program as well, since they were originally not covered, a loophole that could be exploited by sellers.