eBay’s Straight to PSA method with altered cards

Peacenukka1129 · 01-03-2026, 10:09 PM

Let’s say you bought a PMG through eBay and paid for the extra service to have it graded, I believe the card goes through eBay authentication process first and is then sent to PSA? If I have that correct if eBay authenticates it but PSA deems it altered does your money get refunded or are you stuck with an altered card? Thanks in advance

Woodsy074 · 01-03-2026, 11:11 PM

PSA authenticates for eBay so would be odd if they authenticate it and then deem it altered during the grading process.

BiggNuttz · 01-03-2026, 11:42 PM

You need to keep your terms straight, and not conflate them.

"Authentic" strictly refers to the autheticity of the card. Is it the card as originally produced by the company and not a reprint, facsimile, or outright fake?

"Altered" refers more to the condition of the card, and if it has had anything done to it (trimming, added colour, surface modification) that has changed it from how it was originally produced.

A card can be both "Authentic" and "Altered" and PSA has graded many cards as such.

I have no idea how the eBay authetication with PSA works, but I might guess that if the original eBay listing notes the card as altered in some way, but it is still an original card, then I could see eBay authentication approving the sale, and then subsequently PSA grading the card as "Altered".

auburn35 · 01-04-2026, 12:00 AM

Not directly through the eBay/PSA grading option, but there are multiple examples of items passing eBay/PSA authenticity, only to be later rejected by PSA (who authenticated the original purchase).

Two examples that come to mind, each had different results. One buyer took to social after initially being turned away by eBay and PSA, and worked out a full refund. Another buyer is still fighting, as both PSA and eBay are ducking responsibility.

imbluestreak23 · 01-04-2026, 12:37 AM

To answer your question

Yes, you would be given a refund by eBay for the card purchase and a refund by PSA for the grading fee once it was determined that the card was altered.

Have had several refunds for creased/damaged cards via this program to my satisfaction.

bojesphob · 01-04-2026, 10:55 AM

I think your refund would be based on whether the condition on the purchase was correct or not. If it said that it was in rough condition, and PSA authenticated that it was, indeed, in rough condition (can't say I remember the lower end of eBay's condition listings), then you very well could get it graded to have it say altered. But, if the card says "Near Mint" or better, then they should not authenticate it. Now, there is a slim possibility that they authenticate it and don't pay enough attention and then when they grade it say it was altered. In this case, I think PSA would probably refund your grading costs and the cost of the card, although you might have to push them on it, solely because they really wouldn't want to get the bad press of proving that their authentication service didn't catch it when their grading did. That would be a bad look for them.

01-03-2026, 10:09 PM	#1
Peacenukka1129 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Posts: 128	eBay’s Straight to PSA method with altered cards Let’s say you bought a PMG through eBay and paid for the extra service to have it graded, I believe the card goes through eBay authentication process first and is then sent to PSA? If I have that correct if eBay authenticates it but PSA deems it altered does your money get refunded or are you stuck with an altered card? Thanks in advance

01-03-2026, 11:42 PM	#3
BiggNuttz Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 640 tokei-ski GreggB	You need to keep your terms straight, and not conflate them. "Authentic" strictly refers to the autheticity of the card. Is it the card as originally produced by the company and not a reprint, facsimile, or outright fake? "Altered" refers more to the condition of the card, and if it has had anything done to it (trimming, added colour, surface modification) that has changed it from how it was originally produced. A card can be both "Authentic" and "Altered" and PSA has graded many cards as such. I have no idea how the eBay authetication with PSA works, but I might guess that if the original eBay listing notes the card as altered in some way, but it is still an original card, then I could see eBay authentication approving the sale, and then subsequently PSA grading the card as "Altered". __________________ MySlabs: https://myslabs.to/Gregg%20B

01-04-2026, 12:00 AM	#4
auburn35 Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 4,423	Not directly through the eBay/PSA grading option, but there are multiple examples of items passing eBay/PSA authenticity, only to be later rejected by PSA (who authenticated the original purchase). Two examples that come to mind, each had different results. One buyer took to social after initially being turned away by eBay and PSA, and worked out a full refund. Another buyer is still fighting, as both PSA and eBay are ducking responsibility. __________________ Ashley Lelie Rookie Collector, always looking for more.

01-04-2026, 12:37 AM	#5
imbluestreak23 Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Meandering the matrix code that the hobby/forum overlords spit out Posts: 17,919 shortslabs	To answer your question Yes, you would be given a refund by eBay for the card purchase and a refund by PSA for the grading fee once it was determined that the card was altered. Have had several refunds for creased/damaged cards via this program to my satisfaction. __________________ @shortslabs I'VE WITNESSED HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE HERE...IT'S ROTTEN https://www.youtube.com/c/TylerShort

01-03-2026, 11:11 PM	#2
Woodsy074 Member Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: New York Posts: 925 jerwo_9399	PSA authenticates for eBay so would be odd if they authenticate it and then deem it altered during the grading process.

01-04-2026, 10:55 AM	#6
bojesphob Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 3,763 bojesphob	I think your refund would be based on whether the condition on the purchase was correct or not. If it said that it was in rough condition, and PSA authenticated that it was, indeed, in rough condition (can't say I remember the lower end of eBay's condition listings), then you very well could get it graded to have it say altered. But, if the card says "Near Mint" or better, then they should not authenticate it. Now, there is a slim possibility that they authenticate it and don't pay enough attention and then when they grade it say it was altered. In this case, I think PSA would probably refund your grading costs and the cost of the card, although you might have to push them on it, solely because they really wouldn't want to get the bad press of proving that their authentication service didn't catch it when their grading did. That would be a bad look for them.