New Ebay Authentication service

[tschock]

Doesn't this really beg the question of what is it ebay is authenticating? If it doesn't, it should. Ebay is just mimicking what was in the title, so what did they actually "authenticate"? I get that mistakes happen, but this isn't even close.

Originally Posted by jburl

My experience with the new service. Bought this card on 1/30, shipped to authentication service on 1/31. Arrived at hub on 2/3, authenticated on 2/4, and in my hands on 2/7.

Card was presented in an ebay box with elastic straps. It was in a screwdown holder, which is how it was pictured in the original listing. It came in a bag, sealed with a tamper-evident seal, and a QR code that takes you to the listing.


Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by tschock

Doesn't this really beg the question of what is it ebay is authenticating? If it doesn't, it should. Ebay is just mimicking what was in the title, so what did they actually "authenticate"? I get that mistakes happen, but this isn't even close.

Exactly. Did the "authenticator" even look at the card? If CSG is the authenticator, this is a terrible look for them, too.

[D. Bergin]

I'm beyond annoyed that Ebay is doing this, but to be fair, I believe the spirit of the service is that they are authenticating that the card is actually what it is supposed to be. Pictures are there, we know what the card is SUPPOSED to be.

I don't think anybody wants Ebay/CSG to cancel the transaction and send the card back to the seller because there was a typo in the title/description.

Unless you want Ebay to start charging "research" fees like other "authentication" companies, I think they are fine to stick with the title given. No need to complicate things further. It doesn't add any value to the card, like a traditional TPG service would.

[jburl]

Originally Posted by tschock

Doesn't this really beg the question of what is it ebay is authenticating? If it doesn't, it should. Ebay is just mimicking what was in the title, so what did they actually "authenticate"? I get that mistakes happen, but this isn't even close.

From my perspective (as the person who bought the card), the authenticator didn't make a mistake. The person who listed the item title (which is the only thing that shows up on eBay) made an error. The "authenticator" verified that the card is, indeed, "authentic," meaning that it isn't a forgery. That's all I would expect out of the service, that I admittedly don't really want.

-Justin (Burl) Burleson

[Eric72]

The story nobody is discussing:

A card in a screwdown holder listed on eBay was actually authenitic.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by Eric72

The story nobody is discussing:

A card in a screwdown holder listed on eBay was actually authentic.

Proof that miracles do happen.

[drcy]

It is an interesting (and odd) test case, with the seller saying it is from 1951. What happens if the seller instead said 1915 or 1885? The seller describes it as being 1951 four times, so it's questionable that it's a typo. It appears the seller may have really believed it is from 1951.

It appears the authenticator is identifying if the card is original or reprint, which is a reasonable and good service that I like. It also appears to be working under the assumption that "anyone who's a collector knows the Diamond Stars are from the 1930s, not the 1950s," which is largely but not entirely true. However, authentic means the item matches the description and "1951" is way off. Technically speaking, a reprint is authentic if it's described as a reprint.

It can be argued both ways, but I think authentication should correct such blatant description errors. A buyer may be a newbie who assumes that it's from 1951. It's also such an unusual, odd case that it may not be worth debating too much.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by jburl

From my perspective (as the person who bought the card), the authenticator didn't make a mistake. The person who listed the item title (which is the only thing that shows up on eBay) made an error. The "authenticator" verified that the card is, indeed, "authentic," meaning that it isn't a forgery. That's all I would expect out of the service, that I admittedly don't really want.

-Justin (Burl) Burleson

But then technically isn't the card "Not As Described" in the Ebay listing, and also not an authentic ""1951" Diamond Star card? I understand about a listing error/typo by the seller, but come on!!!!

And also, if you specifically bought the card raw so you could put it in a binder with the rest of set, how does that work with the screwdown holder and the guarantee seal/tape they put on the holder? So if you remove the card from the sealed holder the guarantee is gone? That really kind of sucks. But I guess for now it's no big deal as no one's paying for the authentication service..............yet!

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by BobC

...if you remove the card from the sealed holder the guarantee is gone? That really kind of sucks...

As far as I know, removing the card from its sealed holder would void any guarantee it might have had before removal. It's analogous to cracking a PSA/SGC card out of its case.

I mostly agree with this stance; however, I'm hopeful they'll make exceptions for cards sent (still sealed, of course) to third party graders.

Perhaps a cottage industry will spring forth wherein a bulk submitter will examine the eBay seal - before inspecting the card for authenticity - before removing the seal - before submitting the card to PSA. (nothing could possibly go wrong with that, right?)

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Eric72

As far as I know, removing the card from its sealed holder would void any guarantee it might have had before removal. It's analogous to cracking a PSA/SGC card out of its case.

I mostly agree with this stance; however, I'm hopeful they'll make exceptions for cards sent (still sealed, of course) to third party graders.

Perhaps a cottage industry will spring forth wherein a bulk submitter will examine the eBay seal - before inspecting the card for authenticity - before removing the seal - before submitting the card to PSA. (nothing could possibly go wrong with that, right?)

Hi Eric,

I understand about breaking something out of a holder would void a guarantee and so on. I was thinking more of the person that wants to put the raw card in a binder, or do something else with it. Also, wasn't that card being listed by the seller in that same screwdown holder on Ebay? So does that mean you get your card locked into whatever holder the seller sends it to the authentication company with? So what if the holder has scratches or glue/tape on it, or it's not in a rigid holder? You as the buyer apparently have no say/choice in the matter of how you then want to protect and display the card, unless you're willing to throw away the authenticity guarantee. My point is for now it may be okay because you're not paying for the authentication service, but once someone does have to start paying for it, I would think they may want to be able to retain that authenticity guarantee they are paying for, and also use/display the raw card they're also paying for, as they wish. Or is it possibly a calculated and well thought out move on the part of Ebay to make it so most buyers will want to break/remove the authenticity guarantee tape/seals, and thereby let Ebay off the guarantee going forward? They offer the service for free now, to test it out and then hopefully build up acceptance and desire by everyone to want it. And then later on start charging for it, thereby creating another Ebay revenue stream, but knowing at the same time that a very large portion of those using the service will most likely void the guarantee upon receipt of the card(s) by the buyer, and their breaking the card(s) out of whatever holder the seller originally put it/them in.

[Directly]

eBay has expanded the authenticity process to Graded cards over $2,000

[brianp-beme]

So they will give a seal of approval about the seal worthiness of a $2000+ graded card?

Brian

[Kaneen]

In the email I got today announcing this "service" is expanding, I found this line to be telling:

"No cost to you...eBay covers all the costs for a limited time"

Prepare to bend over.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by Directly

eBay has expanded the authenticity process to Graded cards over $2,000

Yes. That is what we have been chatting about. I posted the link above.

[Exhibitman]

"eBay covers all the costs for a limited time."

Translation: get ready for a major new selling cost to be rammed up our oubliettes.

[tschock]

Originally Posted by BobC

But I guess for now it's no big deal as no one's paying for the authentication service..............yet!

Yeah, and in looking at the packaging that was involved, I seriously doubt it's going to be free for long. Someone's going to have to pay somehow at some time.

[tschock]

Originally Posted by jburl

From my perspective (as the person who bought the card), the authenticator didn't make a mistake. The person who listed the item title (which is the only thing that shows up on eBay) made an error. The "authenticator" verified that the card is, indeed, "authentic," meaning that it isn't a forgery. That's all I would expect out of the service, that I admittedly don't really want.

-Justin (Burl) Burleson

As opposed to what? A forgery from the '1952' set? Seriously. How can they authenticate it is not a forgery if they can't even identify correctly what the non-forgery card is? It certainly isn't an "authentic 1951 Diamond Star".

Regardless, I am sincerely glad though that you were able to a good deal based off an inaccurate description. Since it's registered, I'm wondering what would happen with ebay if you tried to sell it as an authentic 1935 Diamond Star without voiding the seal.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by tschock

As opposed to what? A forgery from the '1952' set? Seriously. How can they authenticate it is not a forgery if they can't even identify correctly what the non-forgery card is? It certainly isn't an "authentic 1951 Diamond Star".

I cannot believe anyone is defending this. This is what eBay's "Director of Trading Cards " says about the service:

MEANS: If it doesn’t pass our authentication — which basically means the card that was actually shipped was not, in our authenticator’s opinion, the card that was listed — it gets returned to the seller, and it’s a done deal.

MEANS: We want buyers to get what they thought they were getting, we want sellers to feel confident that the buyer’s going to be happy with their purchase. At its simplest, it’s making sure that when someone buys a Kobe Bryant, they get a Kobe Bryant and they don’t accidentally get a LeBron. It prevents mistakes from happening, too, which are always frustrating.

So, let's see: The card shipped is not the card listed, and the buyer who thinks they're buying a 1951 card gets a 1935 card instead.

They can't even meet the most base level expectations of the service. What a joke.

Source: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/...914xlepioy0s5v

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

I cannot believe anyone is defending this. This is what eBay's "Director of Trading Cards " says about the service:

MEANS: If it doesn’t pass our authentication — which basically means the card that was actually shipped was not, in our authenticator’s opinion, the card that was listed — it gets returned to the seller, and it’s a done deal.

MEANS: We want buyers to get what they thought they were getting, we want sellers to feel confident that the buyer’s going to be happy with their purchase. At its simplest, it’s making sure that when someone buys a Kobe Bryant, they get a Kobe Bryant and they don’t accidentally get a LeBron. It prevents mistakes from happening, too, which are always frustrating.

So, let's see: The card shipped is not the card listed, and the buyer who thinks they're buying a 1951 card gets a 1935 card instead.

They can't even meet the most base level expectations of the service. What a joke.

Source: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/...914xlepioy0s5v

So in your opinion, Ebay should have returned the card to the seller and refunded the buyer?

You can just ask the buyer in this thread, if they actually thought they were getting a 1951 card.

I HATE that I'm defending Ebay here but.............

I think the spirit of the policy was fulfilled.

I still think it's a stupid service that will eventually just turn into another cash grab for Ebay.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

So in your opinion, Ebay should have returned the card to the seller and refunded the buyer?

You can just ask the buyer in this thread, if they actually thought they were getting a 1951 card.

I HATE that I'm defending Ebay here but.............

I think the spirit of the policy was fulfilled.

I still think it's a stupid service that will eventually just turn into another cash grab for Ebay.

My point is that, according to their director's description of the service, this card should not have passed their authentication process as a 1951 Diamond Stars, which it did.

[sbfinley]

Don’t have an opinion on the service as I haven’t used it yet. Normally that’s how I treat my opinions on services. Except car washes. They are dumb. Wash your own car.... When I finally use the service I’ll provide an opinion if it’s warranted. If it’s not crazy awesome or crazy bad I probably won’t because the opinions of neutral people are boring.

The one opinion I can provide is that the fact there are near two full pages of responses of people calling the service a sham because a seller fat fingered his keyboard and mislabeled a card is idiotic. That’s my opinion. It was a legit card mislabeled. It was authentic, evidentially. Is it a cash grab? Yeah I don’t know. Will it fail spectacularly? Yes or no - one of those two or possibly maybe. Did it fail because it shipped a buyer an authentic card from a seller who has Arabic numeral dyslexia? No, that’s dumb.