eBay Authenticity Guarantee…am I missing something here?

[Balticfox]

Ebay's Authentication Guaranty merely takes the onus to be honest off sellers just as PSA did a generation ago. When grading services arrived on the scene, it became "Why ask me? All I know is what it says on the label." Even of course if it was the seller himself who trimmed the card before sending it off to PSA.

So now in addition it's "All I know is that Ebay says it's authentic." So the game has now become to fool the pro authenticators because it's their opinion that's sacrosanct. Since nobody cares about the seller's opinion, the onus for sellers to be honest has disappeared.

[Vintage Vern]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Ebay's Authentication Guaranty merely takes the onus to be honest off sellers just as PSA did a generation ago. When grading services arrived on the scene, it became "Why ask me? All I know is what it says on the label." Even of course if it was the seller himself who trimmed the card before sending it off to PSA.

So now in addition it's "All I know is that Ebay says it's authentic." So the game has now become to fool the pro authenticators because it's their opinion that's sacrosanct. Since nobody cares about the seller's opinion, the onus for sellers to be honest has disappeared.

It does have some benefits to the seller as well. Buyer that damages item or claims it to be or even lost. This had to happen as well, people exchange of raw card for gain. How many times have you seen the term item not as described in negative or neutral comments?

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

So now in addition it's "All I know is that Ebay says it's authentic." So the game has now become to fool the pro authenticators because it's their opinion that's sacrosanct. Since nobody cares about the seller's opinion, the onus for sellers to be honest has disappeared.

You can count me as unconvinced that the onus on sellers to be honest was more powerful than their profit motive. Not to say that there aren’t plenty of upstanding sellers. But all it takes is a few bad apples to really cause a whole lot of trouble.

I’m guessing it won’t take long for one of the historians who catalogue the industry’s blackguards to respond with an extensive list of those bad apples.

[JamesGallo]

As an FYI I think the total value of the order needs to be over $250, I say that because I sold a 206 for $225 and it went through the program because after shipping taxes blah blah it was over the $250.

James G

[GamblingMan]

I purchased a 1984 Toppy Tiffany PSA 9 Mattingly rookie last year. It went to ebay authentication first and it took 2 weeks for me to receive it. But it didn't arrive in one of those fancy boxes, just a regular shipping box. When did they start giving those fancy blue boxes?