New Ebay Authentication service

[BobbyStrawberry]

From the seller perspective, this seems to me just another headache.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

From the seller perspective, this seems to me just another headache.

With sneakers the biggest problem is the extra time it takes to get your purchase. Can easily be a month from purchase date till you receive them.

On the flip side I have bought 2 pair of fake Nike off eBay before the change and now you see way less fakes listed.

[mrreality68]

Looks like potentially a good concept in the short term however depending on the cost after the limited time it might just be another way for eBay to make more money

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Looks like potentially a good concept in the short term however depending on the cost after the limited time it might will just be another way for eBay to make more money

I'm pretty sure making more money was the driving force behind their decision.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Eric72

I'm pretty sure making more money was the driving force behind their decision.

ALWAYS!

we need a card...
from the BST recently
.

[53toppscollector]

ebay's end game here is to obviously offer some kind of service where if you buy a card and it gets sent for authentication, you can just add on $20-25 to have it graded too.

I get that they want to try and eliminate fakes. But can you imagine the headache of buying a raw card for $300 on ebay on March 1st, and that card gets sent to CSG and sits there for 6 months in a backlog waiting to be authenticated?

it feels like ebay is just trying to drive as many people off the platform as possible by making things more complicated and convoluted.

[whiteymet]

OK, so I buy a card on ebay. It is sent to their authenticator. They say it is good. I get the card, submit it to PSA and it comes back as fake. Then what?

[Tyruscobb]

Originally Posted by 53toppscollector

ebay's end game here is to obviously offer some kind of service where if you buy a card and it gets sent for authentication, you can just add on $20-25 to have it graded too.

This has long-term potential. Ebay could negotiate a grading rate with the major TPGs. When purchasing any card that meets the dollar threshold amount, the buyer could have the option to have the card graded. The options would include the specific grading company and cost.

Once the buyer selects the option and chooses the grading company, the buyer immediately pays Ebay. Ebay obviously keeps a small fee for securing the service on the TPG's behalf, and then sends the remaining money to the TPG. The seller mails the card directly to the TPG.

The TPG then grades the card and sends it directly to the buyer. Ebay makes a small fee off of the TPG grading fee, because it has the card supply and helped secure the TPG's business.

The TPG makes money, because it now is potentially grading cards it otherwise wouldn't. I think a buyer is more likely to have a raw card graded if everything is done upfront, as opposed to receiving the card and then submitting it themselves to the TPG several months later.

The card's buyer benefits on two fronts. The first is the shipping. The seller is the one shipping to the TPG. Today, a buyer pays shipping to his house from the ebay, shipping to the grader, and then return shipping. Under my scenario, the buyer just pays shipping to and from the TPG with the seller being the one that actually sends it to the TPG. Plus, the buyer is ultimately getting a graded card back quicker than if he submitted it himself down the road.

I know there are a lot of other factors, but I think if done correctly everyone wins - Ebay, the TPGs, and the buyer.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Looks like potentially a good concept in the short term however depending on the cost after the limited time it might just be another way for eBay to make more money

It depends on IF they ever decide to charge for the service. In sneakers it has said "FREE for a limited time" for a year so far.