ebay's authentication service - looking at more than just authenticity

[raulus]

Originally Posted by swarmee

Was the buyer for the one that didn't go through authentication either international or used a P.O. Box for shipping address? I believe neither of those will trigger authenticity check.

So if anyone feels strongly about opting out of this process and you buy enough, I guess you could get a PO Box and have AG purchases shipped there instead.

Turns out both addresses were domestic, and neither was a PO Box. So that wouldn’t explain the difference either.

[John V]

How does the authentication process impact seller (or buyer) fees, if at all?

[trdcrdkid]

Originally Posted by John V

How does the authentication process impact seller (or buyer) fees, if at all?

Right now it doesn't, but eventually they're going to start charging for it.

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by trdcrdkid

Right now it doesn't, but eventually they're going to start charging for it.

Or not.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Gorditadogg

Or not.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

We’ll definitely see. I think the wording on their website suggests that they don’t currently charge for it, which seems to suggest that they might charge for it later.

Given that sellers already pay about 16% for selling fees and payment processing, it would be nice to avoid paying more.

[D. Bergin]

I believe they started charging for the "Sneaker Authentication", which apparently was free for a while.

Ebay doesn't do anything unless it eventually leads to them getting a bigger piece of the transaction pie.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I believe they started charging for the "Sneaker Authentication", which apparently was free for a while.

Ebay doesn't do anything unless it eventually leads to them getting a bigger piece of the transaction pie.

Any idea what the charge is, and is it coming directly out of the seller's pocket, or being tacked on to the buyer like sales taxes?

Can easily see the fees to possibly be charged for card authentication being a different amount, and even charging different amounts for verifying authenticity versus inspecting TPG holders, based on the actual differences in services being performed. But expect Ebay will be consistent in who they then directly charge for the service.

And since they are now charging someone for sneaker authentication, any idea if they are allowing an opt-out option for that service by either the buyer or the seller, or both?

Thinking like a business, I'm going to guess Ebay is directly charging the sellers, and there is no opt-out. But if there is any opt-out available, I'm guessing it is available to at least the buyer. Businesses like Ebay are most definitely buyer favorable. Keeping the buyers happy and coming back creates demand, and that demand in turn influences and gets sellers to create more supply. Even if they don't necessarily like selling on Ebay. More supply does not necessarily create more demand though, at least not sustainably over time (junk wax era anyone). So, you could have all the happy sellers you want on Ebay, but if there's no customers buying, they're no sellers selling.

[EddieP]

Originally Posted by raulus

Turns out both addresses were domestic, and neither was a PO Box. So that wouldn’t explain the difference either.

There are several ways a seller can bypass the Authenticity Guarantee. The most well-known one is putting “ Set Break” in the title. Other ways are: 1) Cards ( plural) is in the title,2) “ Free Local Pick up” is offered, 3) Signed cards are exempted ( this also occurs if Signature is marked yes/original in the detailed description even if the card isn’t signed, 4) it also has to be sold under Sports Cards ( e.g. if you sell an Exhibit under Post Cards it won’t go through the Authenticity program).

It would be helpful if you show us the Titles ( or some fascimile of them) to find out why it didn’t go through the process.

The below won’t go through because it has “Sets” in the title and algorithm reads it as Multiple cards.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/39430471677...Bk9SR8zGr_CDYQ

Whereas, this one doesn’t have “ Sets” in the title and it’ll be authenticated

https://www.ebay.com/itm/19541297223...3ABFBMvsbO8INh

[raulus]

Originally Posted by EddieP

There are several ways a seller can bypass the Authenticity Guarantee. The most well-known one is putting “ Set Break” in the title. Other ways are: 1) Cards ( plural) is in the title,2) “ Free Local Pick up” is offered, 3) Signed cards are exempted ( this also occurs if Signature is marked yes/original in the detailed description even if the card isn’t signed, 4) it also has to be sold under Sports Cards ( e.g. if you sell an Exhibit under Post Cards it won’t go through the Authenticity program).

It would be helpful if you show us the Titles ( or some fascimile of them) to find out why it didn’t go through the process.

The below won’t go through because it has “Sets” in the title and algorithm reads it as Multiple cards.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/39430471677...Bk9SR8zGr_CDYQ

Whereas, this one doesn’t have “ Sets” in the title and it’ll be authenticated

https://www.ebay.com/itm/19541297223...3ABFBMvsbO8INh

It’s possible that I checked a box or used a word somewhere in my listing that inadvertently resulted in the authenticity process being inapplicable.

But if you want to dig in further, here’s the first listing that went to PSA for authenticity confirmation:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13377172387...mis&media=COPY

And here’s the second that went straight to the buyer:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13420181499...mis&media=COPY

[EddieP]

Originally Posted by raulus

It’s possible that I checked a box or used a word somewhere in my listing that inadvertently resulted in the authenticity process being inapplicable.

But if you want to dig in further, here’s the first listing that went to PSA for authenticity confirmation:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13377172387...mis&media=COPY

And here’s the second that went straight to the buyer:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13420181499...mis&media=COPY

The 2nd listing has the word “Pack” and that throws off the algorithm to believe there are multiple cards involved.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by EddieP

The 2nd listing has the word “Pack” and that throws off the algorithm to believe there are multiple cards involved.

Interesting. I guess the name of the piece having the word “pack” was all it took to fool the process. In spite of the fact that there was no pack involved!

[raulus]

Originally Posted by raulus

Interesting. I guess the name of the piece having the word “pack” was all it took to fool the process. In spite of the fact that there was no pack involved!

I guess if someone includes “pack fresh!” In their listing, then they get a similar result?

[EddieP]

Originally Posted by raulus

I guess if someone includes “pack fresh!” In their listing, then they get a similar result?

No, “Pack Fresh” triggers Authenticity Guarantee

https://www.ebay.com/itm/19543261383...Bk9SR_6t4tCEYQ

But “Pack” by itself doesn’t

https://www.ebay.com/itm/12558528305...Bk9SR8rU7dCEYQ