eBay

scigrl35 · ‎05-23-2022

I wonder how many others have experienced this same issue. I had my first run-in with "eBay Authentication Guarantee" with a beautiful full art foil MTG card that I sold. The card was removed carefully from the fresh pack, which came from a collector booster box, near mint condition (actually mint but I always list as near mint to be on the safe side), and was placed in a penny sleeve and inside of a top loader. I listed the card and it sold, but when I went to purchase a shipping label I was directed to send the card to "authenticators" rather than the buyer. I thought it was strange but not concerning, and I securely packaged the card and sent it to the authenticator.

Just this afternoon, I received an email from eBay saying that my card failed authentication, with the message "Raw- Surface does not match the listing: Fail". I am stunned, and not only is there no way to reach the authenticator for a better explanation, I can't seem to reach eBay customer care either. Looking over the listing, I cant figure out how the near perfect card does not match what I said.

Does anyone have thoughts on how I can proceed? Is this the beginning of the end of people selling raw cards on eBay?

donsdetour · ‎05-23-2022

@scigrl35 wrote:
I wonder how many others have experienced this same issue. I had my first run-in with "eBay Authentication Guarantee" with a beautiful full art foil MTG card that I sold. The card was removed carefully from the fresh pack, which came from a collector booster box, near mint condition (actually mint but I always list as near mint to be on the safe side), and was placed in a penny sleeve and inside of a top loader. I listed the card and it sold, but when I went to purchase a shipping label I was directed to send the card to "authenticators" rather than the buyer. I thought it was strange but not concerning, and I securely packaged the card and sent it to the authenticator.
Just this afternoon, I received an email from eBay saying that my card failed authentication, with the message "Raw- Surface does not match the listing: Fail". I am stunned, and not only is there no way to reach the authenticator for a better explanation, I can't seem to reach eBay customer care either. Looking over the listing, I cant figure out how the near perfect card does not match what I said.

Does anyone have thoughts on how I can proceed? Is this the beginning of the end of people selling raw cards on eBay?

Have it authenticated by an accepted ebay authinticator it is real. Do not try and sell it other wise on eBay....

silverstatetreasureboxes · ‎05-23-2022

@scigrl35

Boy, scratching my head here. OK the card collectors jargon for raw is ungraded. You had your card listed as used when you state it's fresh out of packet.

I wonder if that has something to do with the authentication failing to match listing. I didn't see where you had listed near mint anywhere on that listing.

scigrl35 · ‎05-23-2022

Thank you for giving it a look, I really appreciate it. Yes I have it listed as "used", because lately, when I list single cards eBay does not give me a "new" option for condition, only "used". It isn't with all of the listings, just most of them and that is one annoying glitch I spent some time trying to figure out with customer support, got no actual help and finally just accepted it. So perhaps it is their own listing glitch that is ultimately causing problems a second time with the authentication.

I'm just a little shaken by this, my first and only experience with the authentication system.. I'm a little concerned about putting other valuable cards on there, sending them out just to have them sent right back again.

mtgraves7984 · ‎05-23-2022

@silverstatetreasureboxes wrote:
@scigrl35
Boy, scratching my head here. OK the card collectors jargon for raw is ungraded. You had your card listed as used when you state it's fresh out of packet.
I wonder if that has something to do with the authentication failing to match listing. I didn't see where you had listed near mint anywhere on that listing.

@silverstatetreasureboxes... I was right there with you when I read the listing. Then, I read the OP's statement from eBay... ""Raw- Surface does not match the listing: Fail". "... and I don't get it.

@scigrl35

The Authentication Service for shoes and handbags, etc., seem to be fraught with issues. I wonder (and certainly hope not) that the Card Service might be, too?? They'll send it back to you, right? If so, sell locally.

Good luck and good golly...

silverstatetreasureboxes · ‎05-23-2022

@scigrl35

I don't blame you for being upset, that's alot of money to lose but at least you get your card back.

Poster @donsdetour suggested maybe you can take this card to get it graded/ authenticated yourself?

I really think ( and this is my personal opinion) that ebay needs to supply sellers who are required to use in all 3 of the authenticator programs, a contact phone number to a supervisor. We hear a lot of mistakes, bad handling and even theft with the sneaker A.P. but the card A.P. is newer.

(A.P. = Authenticity program)

https://pages.ebay.com/cardconditions/

I wish I had some definite answers for you, maybe just a little suggestion, I would write them and have them explain why your card didn't match listing. You'll have the Addy when card comes back.

I wouldn't list any of these cards that have to go to the authenticator, IMO that was kind of a shady response to a failed exam. Best to you.

silverstatetreasureboxes · ‎05-23-2022

@mtgraves7984

Oh I forgot about the handbag one, so we have 4. I know MT it doesn't make sense to me either.

I ran across a site for Sneaker Con in Vegas because I'm local ( it's who does the authentication here) it was for a job called authenticator specialist ..you know what the qualifications were? 18 yrs old and 1 year experience with e-commerce. Nice!

onefootflipper · ‎05-23-2022

Looks like they didn't think it was the same card as the listing. Not that it was a fake card, there are no quality fakes of that card that I am aware of.

When I list a high end card I usually take a bunch of photos with no sleeves. You don't just want to list a $300 card in a penny sleeve in a top loader with two identical front photos and no back photo.

gottasellemall69 · ‎05-23-2022

I just sold a Yu-Gi-Oh! card that triggered the Authenticity Guarantee program, and the circumstances are pretty much exactly the same (fresh pull from pack, listed as "used" condition, labeled it as Mint, I usually say Near Mint but I felt this would be fine this time).

I've seen multiple people say/show pictures of the AG sending out the cards they just 'authenticated' horribly packed, damaging card, ect.

So I am wary myself, and I suppose the point of me saying all this would be I'll see what happens with mine and update when I hear back from AG.

eBay says they team with CGC/PSA graders to authenticate, so one would hope that
a) they actually are,
b) that it doesn't translate to the grading companies not having the best methods or employees from the get-go.

Give a man a fire, he'll be warm for a night.
Set the man on fire...

gottasellemall69 · ‎05-27-2022

5-27-22 Update to previous post -

Received word that Authenticator verified card's authenticity, and is being shipped to buyer.
Not sure what they didn't like about your card then. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Give a man a fire, he'll be warm for a night.
Set the man on fire...

vandy017 · ‎06-01-2022

I sold a borderless foil force of will from double masters and it was also rejected. Really have no idea as to why it didn't make it through. First time using authenticity guarantee and it wasn't good.

tinymusic · ‎06-18-2022

Identical situation just happened to me with an MTG card. Really jarring and frustrating. EBay makes us use an authentication service but then gives us no ability to follow up or as my questions? If that’s the case then they should be crystal clear in their explanation as to WHY the card failed. Like what part of the description did they question? Ugh.

When they returned your card was it in the same condition as when you sent it in?

jwh1958 · ‎09-08-2022

I purchased a card and I can clearly tell by the listing photos that the surface is very clean. The card went to the authenticator and it passed. I just received the card and from first appearance it looks like the surface is terribly scratched up. The card is sealed inside a sleeve and then another plastic holder with a seal on the back. I was able to move the plastic around enough to see some of the 'scratches" move, so I can see it's a scratched up sleeve they used. I can't open it to verify card condition because it would void the authentication. All I can do is keep the original photos of the card and use those in my listing if I sell it. I'm fairly upset that eBay did not use a brand new clean sleeve. They are putting us in a real bind with this process. Buy a card but can't look at it to verify condition, can't take out of sleeve without voiding authentication...but looking at it, it appears to have numerous scratches. Yet eBay says they are not grading, only authenticating. I guess I won't really know if the surface is clean until I either have it graded or sell it and the buyer removes from sleeve. Of course any issue found by that time I wil be way beyond being able to return card. Kind of a mess.