Why Is eBay Authenticating Graded Cards?
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eBay has gone a long way in recent years to shore up the counterfeit shenanigans on its platform.
While they can still be found, it’s rarer to see outright scammers selling counterfeit cards for full price.
A big part of this transformation is due to eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee program. The service acts as a middleman between a seller and buyer, with PSA authenticating the cards.
When the program first started, eBay only wanted its grading partner (at first CSG, now PSA) to authenticate ungraded cards above a specific value.
However, eBay is now authenticating graded cards valued at $250 or more.
The process involves the seller sending the card to PSA, which authenticates it and then ships it to the buyer (or stores it in the PSA vault).
Thus, added time is involved (usually an additional week plus) for when a buyer receives their card.
Additionally, the authentication process adds an extra shipping leg of travel (from PSA to buyer).
This adds even more risk that something could go wrong, such as a stolen or damaged package in transit.
It is this last point which I want to emphasize since this just happened to me.
I recently sold a Star Gatorade Jordan card on eBay. Like every other card I’ve sold, it was packaged meticulously, with a cardboard sandwich and bubble wrap.
About two weeks later, I received a message from the buyer asking me to compensate for damage to the case. I said it was impossible that I could have damaged the case. I guess it is possible, but given my extra care in packaging, I find it hard to believe it was damaged during shipping.
The only clear answer to this problem is that my mishandling of the card did not damage it, yet it was damaged either A) at PSA’s grading facility or B) during shipping from PSA to the buyer.
I refused payment to the buyer (he was asking for $50, which felt more like a shakedown) and told him to contact eBay. Please also note that if this happens to you, have the buyer contact eBay since after the card is sent and received by PSA, it is no longer your responsibility.
The moral of this story is: Why the heck are eBay and PSA authenticating PSA (or SGC or BGS) graded cards? Sure, there are fake slabs out there, but they are typically only created for big-time cards like a Jordan rookie, etc. If a seller with pristine feedback (such as myself) is selling a graded card, there should be no need for authentication.
Otherwise, it just adds risk and wastes time that is not needed. eBay, are you listening?
Have you had similar problems with cards getting damaged after the authentication process? Let us know in the comments below.
