Authenticity Guarantee
ricko
Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
I just received an email from ebay advertising an authenticity service... and it is free. Has anyone here seen and/or pursued this offering? It seems (by a sketch in the email) that coins could also be covered. Any comments?? Cheers, RickO
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I would wonder whether the authenticity guarantee would cover (1) Counterfeit holders, (2) Counterfeit raw coins, or both perhaps.
@JBN.... Good questions...none of which are specifically addressed in the email....will need to be pursued in detail. Cheers, RickO
seems like i recall another thread, it was talking about authentication for a variety of items, rolexes specifically is what i remember. either i got an email or saw an ad somewhere
I think ebay might up to a certain amount.
I wonder if ebay is taking applications for coin authenticators? Or maybe they will just contact a TPG and pay for services....Cheers, RickO
The email that I got made it look like (at least for now) it applies only to watches. It also appears to be automatic--if the item qualifies (a specific value, the right shipping methods offered, etc.) then the seller must ship to the authenticator, and neither the buyer nor seller can opt out.
You are likely correct Jeremy.... When I looked at the email, I saw the 'drawing' of coins, and assumed that meant that coins would be authenticate... reading below it, likely refers to the cost being absorbed by ebay. Thanks for the heads up... Cheers, RickO
The Fall Seller Update just came out and it's definitely just for watches... for now
New Authenticity Guarantee protects you when you sell a high value watch
New Authenticity Guarantee protects you when you sell a watch for $2,000 or more in the US with verified returns, so you can sell high value watches with peace of mind and your buyers can shop with confidence. Now when you sell a high value watch with the “Authenticity Guarantee” badge, you’ll ship your item to our authentication partner for verification of condition and authenticity, then our authentication partner will ship the verified watch to your buyer. If a buyer initiates a return, they’ll be required to send it to our authentication partner who will confirm that it's in the same condition before it’s returned to you. This ensures you’ll receive your watch in the same condition in which you sold it. eBay covers the cost of authentication as well as 2-day secure shipping from our authentication partner to the buyer. Learn more.
https://pages.ebay.com/seller-center/seller-updates/2020-fall/business.html
The watch authentication program is not exactly transparent with respect to what happens to the watch.
I read a watch board on occasion and there is a bit of angst among many members there because they don't know the qualifications of all the watch authenticators and they don't know what the third-party is required to do to the watch to authenticate it. One of the big fears is that if the caseback of a watch is removed by a third-party and the movement examined then the warranty from the manufacturer may become void. However, it is truly impossible to authenticate a watch without removing the caseback and examining the movement. Therefore, is the watch truly authenticated and the manufacturer's warranty possibly voided or is the watch given a visual once-over with a pair of eyeballs without being invasive? If it is the latter then it truly isn't authenticated, but the former possibly opens up all types of liability.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson