Ebay guarantee authenticity program

[gonefishin]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with ebay's new Guarantee Authenticity program. I sent my first card off to them yesterday as required by the program. It is a raw Christy Mathewson W516-2. I'm just really concerned about who is going to be "authenticating" the card and if they are qualified to make decisions on cards that are 100 years old. This card is of course hand cut. Do they check the printing process by magnifying the card? What exactly do they do? If anyone knows, please share. Thanks.

[butchie_t]

I am currently on the other end of that process. I have a 73 Al Kaline band-aid head variation that I purchased headed to the authenticator now. I am scheduled to receive the card around the 10th of June. And I am wondering what the authenticator will do as well. Time will tell at this point.

B.T.

[Alexcards]

PSA and CSG are both involved in authenticating cards. All raw cards over $600 get authenticated and all graded cards over $750 get authenticated as well.... You are "required" to send all cards valued over $750 with a "signature guarantee" or you will not get your money back if a card is lost in mail when going to authenticator. Was not aware of this and is cost me a $1600 Colgan's Chip Honus Wagner. The item was sent with 'tracking' but no signature.

[prestigecollectibles]

It's currently all raw cards $250+ and graded cards $750+
Unless the seller puts certain words in the title to avoid the authentication process.

Originally Posted by Alexcards

PSA and CSG are both involved in authenticating cards. All raw cards over $600 get authenticated and all graded cards over $750 get authenticated as well.... You are "required" to send all cards valued over $750 with a "signature guarantee" or you will not get your money back if a card is lost in mail when going to authenticator. Was not aware of this and is cost me a $1600 Colgan's Chip Honus Wagner. The item was sent with 'tracking' but no signature.

[butchie_t]

The raw card authentication is actually lower.

From their website: “eBay covers the cost of authentication. Single ungraded cards $250+ and single graded cards $750+ are eligible for the service at this time.”

B.T.

[gonefishin]

What's funny about my sale, I had the card listed for $275, it sold for $240 on a make offer. The sale was for less than the $250, so I'm guessing they use the list price and not the actual sale price. With taxes and shipping it came out to around 255 or so - crazy.

[icurnmedic]

Had one sent back yesterday, that I would bet good $$ is Auth and Unaltered. It sold for $650 , MJ insert from the 90's

[Gorditadogg]

I'm not sure why a buyer would turn down a free authentication review. But I can think of one big reason why a seller would be against it.

I've bought my share of trimmed cards on ebay. There are many sellers on ebay that are unscrupulous. I know many of the big time collectors here can see issues with a glance at a scan, but most ebay buyers are not that good at spotting alterations or fakes.

I know I should have more sympathy for all the card doctors who are getting impacted by ebay's new procedures, and less for all the collectors being duped. Still, I think it's good that ebay is working to clean up its marketplace.



Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Gorditadogg

I'm not sure why a buyer would turn down a free authentication review. But I can think of one big reason why a seller would be against it.

I've bought my share of trimmed cards on ebay. There are many sellers on ebay that are unscrupulous. I know many of the big time collectors here can see issues with a glance at a scan, but most ebay buyers are not that good at spotting alterations or fakes.

I know I should have more sympathy for all the card doctors who are getting impacted by ebay's new procedures, and less for all the collectors being duped. Still, I think it's good that ebay is working to clean up its marketplace.



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That's an understandable but not necessarily accurate assessment, especiall the assumption that the glance and return will actually ferret out trimmed cards. I doubt that is the case. The issue is four-fold:

--CSG is authenticating raw cards it doesn't actually grade.
--PSA is authenticating other TPG holders.
--There is a risk of false positives. I know several professional, reputable sellers who've had cards rejected, killing deals. I know these dealers are good enough to spot fakes and alterations. Mistakes cost money.
--The program is not voluntary. If I buy a card from a professional seller I've dealt with for years I don't need some jackhole at eBay mandating that I have to send the card to CSG. If I want to do that, I can do it myself.

It is inevitable that this mandatory program will end up as a 'wonderful new service for a modest fee' for sellers at some point. Meaning the buyer ends up paying for it in the end. Worst case scenario, it is a % charge like a service fee, which will give eBay a windfall profit on expensive cards. Just another profit center.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Adam certainly cleared up a lot of it.

There are more well-intentioned reasons that sellers would dislike the idea.

Coming immediately to mind is that the sheer volume of cards being submitted will lead to things being lost/misplaced/damaged. Yes, the items are insured, but customers are looking to buy the cards, not to get a refund for lost or damaged goods. Involving more hands in what has forever been a much more straightforward procedure will increase the probability of issues. If there are any issues as a result of anything happening to items while in the possession of the authentication companies, that doesn't bode well for the seller in spite of it likely not being any fault of theirs. The customer gets annoyed and may not buy from that seller anymore. It may not be a rational reaction, but it will very well happen on occasion. Just more needless headache as a result of this money-making scheme.

As a seller, I actually care about my inventory and want my customers to enjoy their items. I ship properly and pack items as I would wish to receive them. Judging by the above Mecca, it appears that we are in for some inconsistency in how items are shipped from point B to point C.

I really think we should all sit back for the duration of this "promotion" just to see how many unfortunate stories we end up hearing about.

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

That's an understandable but not necessarily accurate assessment, especiall the assumption that the glance and return will actually ferret out trimmed cards. I doubt that is the case. The issue is four-fold:

--CSG is authenticating raw cards it doesn't actually grade.
--PSA is authenticating other TPG holders.
--There is a risk of false positives. I know several professional, reputable sellers who've had cards rejected, killing deals. I know these dealers are good enough to spot fakes and alterations. Mistakes cost money.
--The program is not voluntary. If I buy a card from a professional seller I've dealt with for years I don't need some jackhole at eBay mandating that I have to send the card to CSG. If I want to do that, I can do it myself.

It is inevitable that this mandatory program will end up as a 'wonderful new service for a modest fee' for sellers at some point. Meaning the buyer ends up paying for it in the end. Worst case scenario, it is a % charge like a service fee, which will give eBay a windfall profit on expensive cards. Just another profit center.

Some false positives maybe, but less "items not as described" too.

Ebay can raise their fees anytime they want. If they want to charge more now they can, with or without this authentication service.

The grievances on this thread seem like really minor points. The upside to you as a seller is that buyers on ebay will have more confidence in the items they are buying and be willing to buy more. Which means you and other legitimate sellers will get more sales.

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[nineunder71]

I received my first “Authenticity Guaranteed” item today through eBay’s mandatory system.

As a Buyer, I hate this program...

First and most importantly, I should not be forced to send what I purchase to anyone for approval!! Also, I really don’t want anyone else handling my cards. Most folks simply don’t handle raw cards in the manner that I expect.

Next, It takes longer to get my item and mine came with those bands holding the now terribly encased card by two corners. Well, that sucks!

The QR code is on that cheap plastic penny sleeve and states “Void if Damaged” on the seal...

So, I can’t take my card out of this cheap penny sleeve encased Card Saver 1 (which is not how I store my collection) without voiding the “Guarantee”

Haha, this is worthless to me!!!

Also, the cheap penny sleeve with the QR code comes damaged by the rubber bands holding it to the huge folder, just like shown in post #33, Haha, Wonderful Idea

No Thanks, I’m a buyer and I say its a Crock of you know what

100% this is a business ploy, honestly doesn’t even seem legal to force me to send what I purchase to someone else for undue, and un-Wanted handling of my fragile rare vintage collectible.

Just my 32 cents

[G1911]

As a buyer, I don't want this junk either. I'd rather just get my card. A time delay and future added cost to have an unknown person of unknown expertise tell me something I already know provides 0 value. And that's the best case scenario. As a collector of less common and non-Baseball items that graders routinely mess up and clearly know little of, I'm likely to have good items rejected. It's not that rare that I buy a card knowing it is altered or not in the condition stated, but the seller hasn't disclosed this. I want it anyways, not for somebody at CSG to cancel my deal for me without the input of myself or the seller.


We will absolutely be paying for this. The only question is how eBay will shift the cost (plus margin for profit) to buyers and sellers and how disguised it will be. Anyone who believes they will do this for free to clean things up, well I got this bridge in Brooklyn for sale.


I see other views of it as a good though. I do not understand the deal where PSA has to authenticate the slab of graded cards. That's just beyond silly.

[RCFire82]

Originally Posted by nineunder71

i received my first “authenticity guaranteed” item today through ebay’s mandatory system.

As a buyer, i hate this program...

First and most importantly, i should not be forced to send what i purchase to anyone for approval!! Also, i really don’t want anyone else handling my cards. Most folks simply don’t handle raw cards in the manner that i expect.

Next, it takes longer to get my item and mine came with those bands holding the now terribly encased card by two corners. Well, that sucks!

The qr code is on that cheap plastic penny sleeve and states “void if damaged” on the seal...

So, i can’t take my card out of this cheap penny sleeve encased card saver 1 (which is not how i store my collection) without voiding the “guarantee”

haha, this is worthless to me!!!

Also, the cheap penny sleeve with the qr code comes damaged by the rubber bands holding it to the huge folder, just like shown in post #33, haha, wonderful idea

no thanks, i’m a buyer and i say its a crock of you know what

100% this is a business ploy, honestly doesn’t even seem legal to force me to send what i purchase to someone else for undue, and un-wanted handling of my fragile rare vintage collectible.

Just my 32 cents

100%

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by nineunder71

I received my first “Authenticity Guaranteed” item today through eBay’s mandatory system.

As a Buyer, I hate this program...

First and most importantly, I should not be forced to send what I purchase to anyone for approval!! Also, I really don’t want anyone else handling my cards. Most folks simply don’t handle raw cards in the manner that I expect.

Next, It takes longer to get my item and mine came with those bands holding the now terribly encased card by two corners. Well, that sucks!

The QR code is on that cheap plastic penny sleeve and states “Void if Damaged” on the seal...

So, I can’t take my card out of this cheap penny sleeve encased Card Saver 1 (which is not how I store my collection) without voiding the “Guarantee”

Haha, this is worthless to me!!!

Also, the cheap penny sleeve with the QR code comes damaged by the rubber bands holding it to the huge folder, just like shown in post #33, Haha, Wonderful Idea

No Thanks, I’m a buyer and I say its a Crock of you know what

100% this is a business ploy, honestly doesn’t even seem legal to force me to send what I purchase to someone else for undue, and un-Wanted handling of my fragile rare vintage collectible.

Just my 32 cents

Your 32 and 32 more from me. I purchased a nice '52 Topps SGC 6 Bob Feller on Ebay and without my knowledge or, God Forbid, my permission suddenly my Bob was not winging his way not to me but was parked with this authentication bunch of clowns. What a joke, no value, just a delay and a worthless cardboard and, yeah, guarantee. For a disinterested buyer, it really sucks.
And why the hell are they authenticating cards that have already been graded?

[robw1959]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

That's an understandable but not necessarily accurate assessment, especiall the assumption that the glance and return will actually ferret out trimmed cards. I doubt that is the case. The issue is four-fold:

--CSG is authenticating raw cards it doesn't actually grade.
--PSA is authenticating other TPG holders.
--There is a risk of false positives. I know several professional, reputable sellers who've had cards rejected, killing deals. I know these dealers are good enough to spot fakes and alterations. Mistakes cost money.
--The program is not voluntary. If I buy a card from a professional seller I've dealt with for years I don't need some jackhole at eBay mandating that I have to send the card to CSG. If I want to do that, I can do it myself.

It is inevitable that this mandatory program will end up as a 'wonderful new service for a modest fee' for sellers at some point. Meaning the buyer ends up paying for it in the end. Worst case scenario, it is a % charge like a service fee, which will give eBay a windfall profit on expensive cards. Just another profit center.

I guess the eBay authentication process does include spotting alterations as well. Here is a portion of a current eBay listing description from a seller who originally sold a '52 Bowman Mays card to a buyer, but the sale didn't go through due to the card being declared as "altered" . . .

NOTE - an eBay's authenticator "claims" this card is altered. That it was trimmed. I have measured this card with a set of digital calipers SEVERAL times, and it measures out perfectly. Upon looking very closely with a Loupe on the edges, it has no apparent cut marks and the lay over on the cardboard is exactly the same on each edge. There is no "wavering" of the cardboard on the edge's indicative of trimming. There is no apparent clean corner or corners that would be present from trimming. The cardboard losses on the edges and corners appear to be natural and normal paper loss for a card 70 years old.

I DO NOT believe this card to be trimmed. BUT... because its eBay's world and they have some unnamed "authenticator" on their payroll, who obviously does NOT work as a card grader, we get their opinion and as such, I have to tell you that at least one eBay authenticators "OPINION" this card is trimmed.

That being said good luck and the card is priced accordingly.

[jcmtiger]

Card was shipped 6/13/22 accepted at Po With pending in description, nothing new since then. How long does it stay there before it moves again to authentication? Thanks joe