The absurdity of ebay's authenticity guarantee

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by GoBeavs

Have had issues with the last 2 sales through AG.

One card was damaged and returned. Corners are now heavily chipped. It's an acetate card now missing part of the top (color) layer. I suppose there is chance the card got damaged in transit, but I'd think the missing parts should still be floating in the sleeve if that were the case.

Most recent order was shipped with the original box the card came with. This box did not get delivered to my buyer with the card. My guess is AG threw it out as redundant packing material. The listing did state the box was to be included.

I'm currently waiting on a call from an eBay agent. Now at 20 minutes past the 'estimated' call time.

Update on what eBay said?

As for the second thing…I’m a bit hesitant with anything superfluous to the card in an AG listing and just assume it’s not a guarantee it will make it to the buyer. If there is something like that- a box that the card came in etc- and it’s important to the listing…I think that would justify creating a listing that bypasses AG (putting it in Trading Card Lots or putting “box” in the title or something)..so that the buyer can definitely get the whole thing.

I have something with an active listing of mine right now. It a high end auto card (over $1k). It comes with the matching used redemption card (which itself has some value- has an image of the card on it etc, not just a plain text redemption). In the listing I say the redemption will come with the card, and include a pic of it. This listing is eBay AG. I do wonder if they will pass the redemption along, and I’m aware there are no guarantees. It can either go: 1. They pass the redemption along with the authenticated card (hopefully). 2. They count it as miscategorized since it’s a lot and send it all on to the buyer non-authenticated (not ideal..but not horrible). 3. They trash the redemption and send just the auto on authenticated (not a good outcome).

Which of those they’d do…who knows. Curious if anyone has done this with redemptions tacked on. My other option is bypass eBay AG putting it in Lots or putting “no sketch” in title or something…but then I don’t get the peace of mind that comes with eBay AG’s final sale for a high end card like that. So bit of a dilemma there.

[703dispensary]

Originally Posted by GoBeavs

Have had issues with the last 2 sales through AG.

One card was damaged and returned. Corners are now heavily chipped. It's an acetate card now missing part of the top (color) layer. I suppose there is chance the card got damaged in transit, but I'd think the missing parts should still be floating in the sleeve if that were the case.

Just to be clear, you suspect AG damaged your card?

I'm dealing with a similar even crazier issue right now but I'm not going to post anything until the card the card in question is returned to me.

[ScooterD]

Can I get a sanity check on AG’s current turnaround times?

A pack-issued auto graded by PSA (card and auto) was delivered to the hub (front desk/mailroom/reception) on November 17th… and no movement since.

That’s incongruent with my past AG experiences, but checking to see if others are experiencing the same.

Thanks!

[703dispensary]

Probably a bad example but I had an item delivered to AG on the 24th of Nov. and the update was on the 5th of Dec.

[GoBeavs]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

Update on what eBay said?

As for the second thing…I’m a bit hesitant with anything superfluous to the card in an AG listing and just assume it’s not a guarantee it will make it to the buyer. If there is something like that- a box that the card came in etc- and it’s important to the listing…I think that would justify creating a listing that bypasses AG (putting it in Trading Card Lots or putting “box” in the title or something)..so that the buyer can definitely get the whole thing.

I have something with an active listing of mine right now. It a high end auto card (over $1k). It comes with the matching used redemption card (which itself has some value- has an image of the card on it etc, not just a plain text redemption). In the listing I say the redemption will come with the card, and include a pic of it. This listing is eBay AG. I do wonder if they will pass the redemption along, and I’m aware there are no guarantees. It can either go: 1. They pass the redemption along with the authenticated card (hopefully). 2. They count it as miscategorized since it’s a lot and send it all on to the buyer non-authenticated (not ideal..but not horrible). 3. They trash the redemption and send just the auto on authenticated (not a good outcome).

Which of those they’d do…who knows. Curious if anyone has done this with redemptions tacked on. My other option is bypass eBay AG putting it in Lots or putting “no sketch” in title or something…but then I don’t get the peace of mind that comes with eBay AG’s final sale for a high end card like that. So bit of a dilemma there.

It took me a while to get in contact, but they said I couldn't do anything from my end. The buyer would have to submit a claim. Ebay has acknowledged their error to both myself and the buyer. They might send monetary compensation to the buyer (buyer still wants to keep the card). Still waiting for an outcome on that.

I don't have many sales reach the AG threshold, so never thought of using alternative listings to try to bypass.

[ScooterD]

Originally Posted by ScooterD

Can I get a sanity check on AG’s current turnaround times?

A pack-issued auto graded by PSA (card and auto) was delivered to the hub (front desk/mailroom/reception) on November 17th… and no movement since.

That’s incongruent with my past AG experiences, but checking to see if others are experiencing the same.

Thanks!

UPDATE - the card passed AG review on December 13th; nearly a month after receipt. A note on the AG process shows that the card was characterized as “customized” by the program. This is new to me, so I looked it up.

The AG program won’t authenticate certain parts of certain cards, to specifically include embedded patches, memorabilia, and/or “aftermarket” autographs. It seems this is a normal thing for anyone who has an RPA card go through the process/system.

I’m glad that everything is fine with this, but I don’t understand why this card was characterized as “customized.” The card was never issued in a non-auto state - it was autographed by the team before issuance to the buyer in 1976… that’s not aftermarket. This card (and the Daffy Dean from the set) were not issued to the public in non-auto form. Why would it be deemed “aftermarket” and characterized as “customized?”

I suppose that it doesn’t matter, but I would think that the expert authority on these matters would know this.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by ScooterD

UPDATE - the card passed AG review on December 13th; nearly a month after receipt. A note on the AG process shows that the card was characterized as “customized” by the program. This is new to me, so I looked it up.

The AG program won’t authenticate certain parts of certain cards, to specifically include embedded patches, memorabilia, and/or “aftermarket” autographs. It seems this is a normal thing for anyone who has an RPA card go through the process/system.

I’m glad that everything is fine with this, but I don’t understand why this card was characterized as “customized.” The card was never issued in a non-auto state - it was autographed by the team before issuance to the buyer in 1976… that’s not aftermarket. This card (and the Daffy Dean from the set) were not issued to the public in non-auto form. Why would it be deemed “aftermarket” and characterized as “customized?”

I suppose that it doesn’t matter, but I would think that the expert authority on these matters would know this.

Yea this is just what they do for auto or jersey cards, even ones that were issued as such by the manufacturer…. like a Topps 2025 card etc. It’s not as much related to their expertise, more just they use that standard language. I think it’s terribly worded, and the problem is buyers can be put off by words like “customized”, “aftermarket”- it’s just idiotic terminology eBay AG uses, but it’s standard.

In these cases it “passes with exception”. The bigger question is does passing with exception equate to a final sale still. Ive been told conflicting things on that, even by eBay AG reps, but on the most recent call to eBay AG the rep was pretty adamant that passing with exception means it’s still a final sale and cannot be returned when no returns are on. So I’m going with that I guess. Hopefully thats the case.

[cfern023]

Had a $250 AG card get damaged by AG and shipped to me the buyer. they refunded me $60 or I could have sent it back. It was for PC so I took the "discount".

Required multiple photos of packaging and the card in and out of the "AG Void" team bag, but was only allowed to remove it from the bag once instructed. Took about 2 hours but it is what it is.

[DynaEtch]

I bought a card going through eBay AG . Won it at a solid auction price and seller has not shipped it or responding to any messages. Just sitting a “Paid” status with no tracking. I’ll give it about a 50% chance whether this zero recent feedback seller even ships it or does anything. Here’s the problem…the expected delivery date (because it’s going through eBay AG) isn’t until Mid-January, and only then can you initiate a claim for INR (and then wait 4+ days after that for escalation and arbitration). Thats a problem eBay needs to adjust. All it takes is a scammy or dishonest seller and your money ($400 in this case) can be put in limbo up to a whole month. What eBay *should* do here is structure that expected delivery date to be the date delivered to ebay AG…not the end buyer. After all if the end expected delivery date is say Jan 15, and the seller still hasn’t even shipped it out yet to eBay AG as of Jan 13…then whats even the point. It won’t get to you in 2 days anyway.

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

I bought a card going through eBay AG . Won it at a solid auction price and seller has not shipped it or responding to any messages. Just sitting a “Paid” status with no tracking. I’ll give it about a 50% chance whether this zero recent feedback seller even ships it or does anything. Here’s the problem…the expected delivery date (because it’s going through eBay AG) isn’t until Mid-January, and only then can you initiate a claim for INR (and then wait 4+ days after that for escalation and arbitration). Thats a problem eBay needs to adjust. All it takes is a scammy or dishonest seller and your money ($400 in this case) can be put in limbo up to a whole month. What eBay *should* do here is structure that expected delivery date to be the date delivered to ebay AG…not the end buyer. After all if the end expected delivery date is say Jan 15, and the seller still hasn’t even shipped it out yet to eBay AG as of Jan 13…then whats even the point. It won’t get to you in 2 days anyway.

While I don't disagree with you, you'll then run into dummy buyers who don't read the fine print and ask why they haven't received their card yet, when the ETA showing is for arrival at AG.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

While I don't disagree with you, you'll then run into dummy buyers who don't read the fine print and ask why they haven't received their card yet, when the ETA showing is for arrival at AG.

True, but they could leave the verbiage as expected delivery date being Mid-Jan, while still allow buyers to file for INR if it doesn’t reach eBay AG by X date (or even just list two expected delivery dates for eBay AG items..one the end buyer, one to eBay AG. The INR needs to be geared around the eBay AG arrival, not the end buyer). But this would make too much sense for eBay, I guess.

[Josh611]

Have had issues with every card I’ve bought through this joke of a program.

I bought an Eminence card that is sealed. Is there a way to get them to not authenticate it? I would really prefer they don’t break the seal, but guessing I’m SOL.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by Josh611

Have had issues with every card I’ve bought through this joke of a program.

I bought an Eminence card that is sealed. Is there a way to get them to not authenticate it? I would really prefer they don’t break the seal, but guessing I’m SOL.

If you already bought it…probably not a lot you can do outside have seller cancel it and relist for you to buy so it bypasses (by including an exempt term in the title, itll bypass eBay AG)- but sellers in general don’t like to do that since the eBay AG program is good for them when selling cards, it creates the final sale concept.

Only other things I can think of is have seller put a prominent note in the package saying the sealed card is not to be removed, or possibly getting on the phone with eBay AG to make a note on the listing going through there about the sealed card….but doubtful either of those would do much. If eBay AG has to remove cards from sealed holders to inspect it (not sure if they do or not), then they can’t cater to special instructions on a note anyway. The only was around it then would be to have seller relist it so it doesn’t go through the program (which is easy to do…add “sketch” to the title). Maybe just contact the seller and outline your concerns…but I wouldn’t expect anything since it’s to sellers benefit to retain the eBay AG program.

[Josh611]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

If you already bought it…probably not a lot you can do outside have seller cancel it and relist for you to buy so it bypasses (by including an exempt term in the title, itll bypass eBay AG)- but sellers in general don’t like to do that since the eBay AG program is good for them when selling cards, it creates the final sale concept.

Only other things I can think of is have seller put a prominent note in the package saying the sealed card is not to be removed, or possibly getting on the phone with eBay AG to make a note on the listing going through there about the sealed card….but doubtful either of those would do much. If eBay AG has to remove cards from sealed holders to inspect it (not sure if they do or not), then they can’t cater to special instructions on a note anyway. The only was around it then would be to have seller relist it so it doesn’t go through the program (which is easy to do…add “sketch” to the title). Maybe just contact the seller and outline your concerns…but I wouldn’t expect anything since it’s to sellers benefit to retain the eBay AG program.

Appreciate the info for the future. I completely get what you mean.

This card has already been sent there so likely nothing that can be done. I didn’t even think about it until a buyer left this feedback for me -

“ Fair price, quick shipping. As described. Great seller! My only problem is on ebay's authentication process, while I like the idea of the program, what i got from them-isnt something | can display. Packaged in a loose plastic sleeve that looks terrible and a holographic sticker that seals the sleeve and if tampered with it's no longer gaureented authentic, so It's not ment to taken out of the sleeve.”

I sold him a leaf card in the sealed magnetic.

This is really a deterrent from me buying on eBay, but that’s the primary place I buy from. Just annoying. I’ll just open the sleeve and put it in another magnetic.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by Josh611

Appreciate the info for the future. I completely get what you mean.

This card has already been sent there so likely nothing that can be done. I didn’t even think about it until a buyer left this feedback for me -

“ Fair price, quick shipping. As described. Great seller! My only problem is on ebay's authentication process, while I like the idea of the program, what i got from them-isnt something | can display. Packaged in a loose plastic sleeve that looks terrible and a holographic sticker that seals the sleeve and if tampered with it's no longer gaureented authentic, so It's not ment to taken out of the sleeve.”

I sold him a leaf card in the sealed magnetic.

This is really a deterrent from me buying on eBay, but that’s the primary place I buy from. Just annoying. I’ll just open the sleeve and put it in another magnetic.

Yea the card is meant to be taken out of the dingy eBay authencity sleeve. That sealed sleeve is more for just the eBay transaction, it’s likely not even that tamper proof. Keeping it in the sleeve doesnt do anything- if going to resell it on eBay eventually, if you send it in that sleeve they still have to take it out and authenticate it all over. So being in the sleeve doesnt do anything extra for a prospective buyer on ebay in that respect. As for real life transactions….it also shouldnt really do anything- it’s detached from the listing it was authenticated against, plus questionable tamper proof anyway. It’s not like a graded slab. I don’t recall seeing cards in eBay AG sleeves displayed at card shows as selling points, for example. And if I did see, say a 1986 Jordan Fleer RC in an eBay AG sleeve…that would give me about zero extra confidence boost as a buyer. It’s just a temporary thing for the eBay transaction.

Sounds like that buyer probably at least left positive feedback but that rant by them about eBay AG was totally unnecessary on your feedback profile…you have nothing to do with that and not the place to rant…doesnt really matter though with a positive- would have been uncalled for if a neutral or negative.

In the future for BIN listings of sealed-in-holder cards I would just message the seller and ask them to add “sketch” to title if you want it to bypass eBay AG, but that’ll be seller discretion and most sellers probably would rather retain the program unfortunately.

[Crosby 87]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

I would just message the seller and ask them to add “sketch” to title if you want it to bypass eBay AG, but that’ll be seller discretion and most sellers probably would rather retain the program unfortunately.

A infinite amount of alarms would be going off for me if a buyer asked me this.

[newcokeandtaco]

Originally Posted by Crosby 87

A infinite amount of alarms would be going off for me if a buyer asked me this.

Agree 100%, but I do not think DynaEtch would do it as a buyer/seller. Just offering a potential workaround to ebay AG. I still have not heard a "good" reason for avoiding ebay AG as a buyer or seller.

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

-snip-I don’t recall seeing cards in eBay AG sleeves displayed at card shows as selling points, for example. And if I did see, say a 1986 Jordan Fleer RC in an eBay AG sleeve…that would give me about zero extra confidence boost as a buyer. It’s just a temporary thing for the eBay transaction.-snip-

I have seen this a couple times at shows from vendors. It does not inspire any extra confidence in the authenticity of the items on offer.

[Philthy]

I've bought a few things from eBay authenticity guarentee and sold a ton. Have not had any issues.

Unfortunately today I bought a card and it arrived damaged. Its a paper card and had slipped out of the card saver (still in the team bag) and one of the corners has an indent or crease from sliding under the cardboard presentation in the box. I've requested a call from eBay but not sure how this is going to go.

I've found a couple threads about it on BO with wildly varying outcomes. I'm really disappointed becuase this is a low print run card that is for my personal collection so its not easily replace (its a golden mirror auto from Topps Update which have a PR ~ 25).

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by Philthy

I've bought a few things from eBay authenticity guarentee and sold a ton. Have not had any issues.

Unfortunately today I bought a card and it arrived damaged. Its a paper card and had slipped out of the card saver (still in the team bag) and one of the corners has an indent or crease from sliding under the cardboard presentation in the box. I've requested a call from eBay but not sure how this is going to go.

I've found a couple threads about it on BO with wildly varying outcomes. I'm really disappointed becuase this is a low print run card that is for my personal collection so its not easily replace (its a golden mirror auto from Topps Update which have a PR ~ 25).

Bummer….sorry. Really is a sloppy way they do it (I noticed nearly every time I get a card in a card saver from eBay AG, it’s almost always slipping out of the sleeve inside the bag- almost always, to some extent. Luckily, it hasn’t caused damage though in my cases, just an annoyance. Hopefully eBay AG will help you out with it.

Actually the last one I got from eBay AG, I was rather surprised- the card was inside a toploader inside the eBay AG bag. Card was fine and totally snug in the toploader. Made me wonder if they converted to that finally, or it was just a fluke. No reason for them not to use a toploader- it’s better than cardsaver for this.

[Philthy]

Originally Posted by Philthy

I've bought a few things from eBay authenticity guarentee and sold a ton. Have not had any issues.

Unfortunately today I bought a card and it arrived damaged. Its a paper card and had slipped out of the card saver (still in the team bag) and one of the corners has an indent or crease from sliding under the cardboard presentation in the box. I've requested a call from eBay but not sure how this is going to go.

I've found a couple threads about it on BO with wildly varying outcomes. I'm really disappointed becuase this is a low print run card that is for my personal collection so its not easily replace (its a golden mirror auto from Topps Update which have a PR ~ 25).

Update on this.

I contacted eBay. They requested a picture showing the damage and another picutre showing the card was still in the authenticity guarentee seal. They offered to accept a return for a full refund or I could keep the card with a 20% refund which is what I opted for. Frustrating that they can't fix the issues of the cards moving out of the card saver but I was happy with the options to make it right.

The rep I worked with specifcially said they could issue a 20% refund for "this kind of damage." So that number may vary depending on how damaged your card is.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by newcokeandtaco

I still have not heard a "good" reason for avoiding ebay AG as a buyer or seller.

Two good reasons:

1) I don't want my card being handled any more than necessary.

2) Having to go from point A to point B to point C increases the likelihood that my card will get lost in the mail, as opposed to going from straight from point A to point B.

[jamcas997]

If they would just inspect it in the top loader , magnetic and slab with out removing it and placing it in their garbage display that we are paying for in fees somewhere I am fine with that. ( I also know they are not removing cards from the slab just included it in the initial statement to leave cards in original packaging the seller uses.)

[Josh611]

Originally Posted by Josh611

Have had issues with every card I’ve bought through this joke of a program.

I bought an Eminence card that is sealed. Is there a way to get them to not authenticate it? I would really prefer they don’t break the seal, but guessing I’m SOL.

The card came with the Eminence seal in tact and not broken. Very glad about that.