Strange - eBay did NOT have me send a $1000 card to authentication - has this happened to anyone?

DonnieJeter

So every time over the last several months I've sold an expensive card eBay has me print a label where the card goes to their authentication service first. For the first time today, I went to print out a label for a $1000+ Jeter card and it just gave me the address directly to the buyer. Can the buyer opt out? I thought this was required. Should I be worried? Has this happened to anyone else here? Thanks

addicted2ebay

was it a P.O. Box ?

johfr

There is a loophole in Ebay's system. When shipping to a PO Box it does not go through authentication. Ebay gives no warning of this to buyers or sellers.

This is pretty crappy of Ebay since obviously sellers and buyers feel better protected when an item goes through the authenticator. Authentication protects the seller against Item Not As Described claims. Dishonest buyers will catch on quickly and only have items shipped to PO Boxes to avoid the authentication process.

GroceryRackPack

Thanks jonfr...That's pretty good to know...

DeutscherGeist

I am not familiar with the recent eBay protocols. A card going to an authenticator first? This must not be a graded card?

JoeBanzai

I thought the threshold was $750.00? I just won a card for less than that and it's being authenticated. I know the card is good (PSA) it was in a fellow Killebrew collectors possession for quite a while. Anxious to get it in hand and irritated that someone with less expertise than PSA will be 'reauthenticating" it.

This "service" should be optional for those worried about being scammed.

DonnieJeter

It is a PO Box. Now I’m a little worried…

mtcards

@DeutscherGeist said:
I am not familiar with the recent eBay protocols. A card going to an authenticator first? This must not be a graded card?

I sold a $700 graded card a few weeks ago and it went to an authenticator

DeutscherGeist

The authenticator could be PSA. They might be checking the holder to make sure it has not been tampered with and is one of theirs, not a counterfeit.

JoeBanzai

@DeutscherGeist said:
The authenticator could be PSA. They might be checking the holder to make sure it has not been tampered with and is one of theirs, not a counterfeit.

Interesting point, however in any case, the service should be optional.

DonnieJeter

Interesting development - I asked the guy I sold the card to about it and he says when he went to checkout Ebay gave him the option of whether to send to authentication or send it straight to him. Is that new or something? If so it must be very new, it's the first I've heard of it. The whole situation feels a little sketchy to me but I don't have any option really but to send the card.

Tabe

@johfr said:
There is a loophole in Ebay's system. When shipping to a PO Box it does not go through authentication. Ebay gives no warning of this to buyers or sellers.

They do post it in their FAQ for the authentication program. That's not enough, IMHO. It should pop up as a warning for buyers who have a PO Box as their registered address. Probably sellers too.

82FootballWaxMemorys

@Tabe said:

@johfr said:
There is a loophole in Ebay's system. When shipping to a PO Box it does not go through authentication. Ebay gives no warning of this to buyers or sellers.

They do post it in their FAQ for the authentication program. That's not enough, IMHO. It should pop up as a warning for buyers who have a PO Box as their registered address. Probably sellers too.

Seem like if they simply shipped via USPS there would no issue going to PO Box. eBay be lovin' lettin' scammers have thems loopholes.