Sellers who guarantee an item to pass but won't refund authentication fees

[packs]

This bothers me. If you put in your listing that you guarantee the item to pass authentication, why wouldn't you also agree to refund the authentication fees if it fails? I'm not understanding the logic. I want to buy a high dollar item that is not yet authenticated. Seller guarantees the item to pass. But will not agree to refund the authentication fee if it fails.

[Sean1125]

Personally, I only guarantee autographs I've had someone who is experienced with the player or a long time hobby member (or 2... or 3) say is good.

I would not refund authentication fees but would refund the item+ shipping.

It is your risk, there are 100% good items denied by both PSA and JSA, I know Jeter is one of the big ones.


My thoughts,

Sean

[Lordstan]

From a functional standpoint, what a seller is really offering in this instance, is a money back guarantee based on authenticity. They use the wording "guaranteed to pass PSA/JSA" because currently they are the most popular choices for authentication.

Ultimately, the choice to send it to PSA or JSA is the buyers not the sellers. Why should the seller pay for the opinion itself, when he/she didn't ask for it? The buyer is likely doing it because they either want to feel more comfortable or they want to resell the item. Neither is the responsibility of the seller, as they have already offered a money back guarantee.

Additionally, for an average seller, not someone who is a known dealer like Jim Stinson, Richard Simon, or Kevin Keating, the price you will likely pay for an uncerted item is less. If the seller got the cert beforehand the price would've been higher to offset the cost of the cert.

[travrosty]

before you bid, ask if they will refund authentication fee, if they wont, then bid or dont bid accordingly. but why anyone would play the authentication game and guarantee that the guessers will pass anything or not is beyond me.


we have seen time and time again they will pass what they want and fail what they want.

[Paulanthony]

This is a loaded question Due to high error rates by PSA/DNA, JSA and GAI, their opinions don't include to prove or serve to prove the authenticity. In other words the opinion of the examiner is a belief which may be considered a strong impression and less stronger than positive knowledge. If this wasn't true all certificates of authenticity would read, unconditionaly guaranteed authentic or your money back. Most of the time they get it right. I like autographs and I would have no problem with the services of Richard Simon or JSA. Here is my experience with JSA and why they might make mistakes. I attended a card show and submitted a baseball to Spence. The ball had eighteen signatures, Babe Ruth, Lefty Gomez was my big concern. I paid him $200.00 up front. I came back One Hour and twenty minutes. The ball was done and they said it was good. Does any one think that ball went through a vigorous examination. How long should it take a professional person or persons to authenticate eighteen faded signatures. I believe much longer then JSA did.

[packs]

I understand what you guys are saying but I think we're talking about different things. If you put in your description that the item is guaranteed to pass authentication, then why wouldn't you also guarantee the authentication fee? What exactly are you saying when you say the item will pass authentication but you aren't going to be liable for the authentication fee should it fail?

Otherwise don't offer the guarantee.

[Sean1125]

Originally Posted by packs

I understand what you guys are saying but I think we're talking about different things. If you put in your description that the item is guaranteed to pass authentication, then why wouldn't you also guarantee the authentication fee? What exactly are you saying when you say the item will pass authentication but you aren't going to be liable for the authentication fee should it fail?

Otherwise don't offer the guarantee.

Being objective, my items that are sold without authentication typically sell for 1/4-1/2 of the item authenticated, if I cared to pay PSA for their opinion I would - but I don't, so I don't.

In most cases I would say you are getting the item cheaper than if it came authenticated, and still cheaper than an authenticated one (if) it does pass.