Is something up with ebay/authenticator?
 

Purchased two cards the past couple of days -- a PSA graded card and a raw one, both substantially over the threshold for authentication. Per USPS tracking, both are coming directly to me. I've seen occasional glitches in the program, but this seems odd; don't see anything out of the ordinary in either listing. Anyone else experiencing this?

From the PSA vault..?
 

My purchases from the PSA vault are not (further) authenticated.

I sell a good bit of cards on eBay and I think about 25-30% of these they actually have me ship directly to the buyer. Some are PO boxes/International, but a few are not. I think there's some internal risk calculation that determines these as when its not, its typically going to someone with a large amount of feedback (10,000+ pos) and I have a little myself (38000+) which probably contributes as well

Neither of these were vaulted.

Vagueposting. If you don't want to out the cards, send me the links and I'll try to figure out why they didn't go to authenticator. There are a lot of keywords or item description checkboxes that remove the authentication requirement.

I had a signed PSA/DNA graded card that just sold to a Puerto Rican buyer and it went straight to them.

Both are modern cards and have "collection" in the title which is part of the name of the issue -- Ultimate Collection, Topps Collection. Could that be it?

There are ways to circumvent the authenticity guarantee. Per eBay's website (under FAQ):

If your purchases weren't classified under "Trading Card Singles," then that might be the reason.

Yes, those would fall under the "pack", "set" disqualifier group.

I have noticed oversized cards like exhibits they get lazy and just say mis categorized item. My theory is they don’t have the packaging to put it in the fancy eBay labeled holders..

Yep, and the messages they then send to the buyer are beyond confusing. Even worse is when they authenticate an autographed card slab but "clarify" they are not authenticating the autograph. But the WORST is when they flat out reject SGC cards for some phantom scratch on the slab.

lol. it slows everything down to a crawl also as a seller and buyer..

I just had the idea that they should have it as an option for the buyer to select at checkout. If your nervous about a seller, or the case is sketchy, raw card etc- sure select the option- if not just proceed how it use to be.

Some sellers are working around it- spence family collection for example I think they categorize as art or something, because the last month I have bought 2 cards both over 2000 and they just shipped direct to me.. I did see in the category they put art- but also trading card singles I believe.

Any insight ?

As for them using Art as a category and then Trading Card Singles as a secondary category, that can be done if "Trading Card Singles" is their own store category and not THE official Trading Card Singles category from eBay.

As for opting out, I think people don't realize it could affect the seller also. If the seller accepts returns, anything that goes through Authenticity Guarantee goes back though it for a return. So it protects the seller from someone returning an empty box or similar. So now both parties would need to opt out.

And if a buyer could opt out, then they should give up all eBay assistance in resolving disputes with the seller. If the seller doesn't make things right, eBay would have no obligation to help the buyer since they opted out.

Obviously eBay ate a lot of financial losses from fraud and this is apparently a cost-effective program that has had a net-positive effect on their bottom line (since they do it for free).

What he said.

If they use collection in the title, that apparently (see my posts above) would take it out of the authenticity program. Otherwise, it's category driven, but I suppose deliberately putting the wrong category could affect views?

That said not sure why Spence would do that, the program helps sellers beccause it cuts off buyers' right to dispute.