3rd party authentication via authentication app worth it?

[budlovellco]

Hello all just trying to get some insight into forecasting an issue that may come up and trying to be proactive about it. Sourced a reputable company that buys at high volume returns via one of the biggest e-commerce market places. With their chain of custody likely going back to brand authorized retailers and my chain of custody going back to the invoice it is as good as wet paper. Multiple checks on multiple areas (logo, zipper, tag w/ UPC, GS1 verification, hologram) is checked with each garment to ensure authenticity. Wanted a little bit more so curious if an app such as LEGIT app authentication or any other would suffice as additional proof of authenticity? Not trying to lean on 1st sale doctrine as chain of custody is short of brand authorized seller which wont be given through the sourced company. Power and high volume sellers have "NWT Brand Name" for sale and curious how their confident VERO wont strike them and how they can combat any issues. IP lawyer is my next move to safe guard future scaling to ensure it wont be for not. Thanks! 

[tobaccocardyahoo]

---

@budlovellco wrote:

Hello all just trying to get some insight into forecasting an issue that may come up and trying to be proactive about it. Sourced a reputable company that buys at high volume returns via one of the biggest e-commerce market places. With their chain of custody likely going back to brand authorized retailers and my chain of custody going back to the invoice it is as good as wet paper. Multiple checks on multiple areas (logo, zipper, tag w/ UPC, GS1 verification, hologram) is checked with each garment to ensure authenticity. Wanted a little bit more so curious if an app such as LEGIT app authentication or any other would suffice as additional proof of authenticity? Not trying to lean on 1st sale doctrine as chain of custody is short of brand authorized seller which wont be given through the sourced company. Power and high volume sellers have "NWT Brand Name" for sale and curious how their confident VERO wont strike them and how they can combat any issues. IP lawyer is my next move to safe guard future scaling to ensure it wont be for not. Thanks! 

---

[tobaccocardyahoo]

You are correct that you have no proof of authenticity, and none of these apps is likely to be accepted by Ebay.

Among the skills that sellers of items like yours who have survived is knowing which manufacturers are likely to enforce their IP rights to protect their channels who are not going to. And even they are going to be wrong sometimes.

If this is a suitably profitable business for some of these sellers, they might even budget some amount of money for settlements to avoid disruption of their businesses when they guess wrong.

This business model is not as viable for the newbie as it was years back, and will probably get tougher still if the apparent trade war disrupts various business strategies.

[budlovellco]

@tobaccocardyahoo so chain of custody falling short regardless of steps/authentication procedures i take it's for not? 

[budlovellco]

@tobaccocardyahoo well said thank you for your input and time

[tobaccocardyahoo]

You have no proof of authenticity.

Having 50 experts who claim your item is authentic would not change anything nor would your app.

Ebay and the larger marketplaces will not believe other than in channel paperwork or experts who they pay to authenticate a limited number of products or third party graders for some categories of products who are on their approved list.

The liquidation channel carries risks which you either accept or you do not sell from. You cannot overcome the fundamental deficit if challenged.

[albertabrightalberta]

@budlovellco 

If the item you want to sell is part of the "authenticity guaranteed" program, a COA for another third party authenticator won't change that your item will still have to go to the authenticator. 

And if I'm honest, I will say that I'm glad they make that a requirement. I've seen (literally) hundreds of errors from companies that use AI and apps to authenticate items, among them, the company you've referenced. And even other companies that rely on "expert" humans to eyeball items make mistakes unless those companies are known to use "brand specialists" and have multiple experts in each brand on board to look assess the items. 

As much as we read about problems with the AG program, I appreciate they have the items in hand and have experts who know the brands/items. 

One caveat though: Before you list any item that has to go to the authenticators, verify authenticity because there have been cases in which legitimate stores (Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, etc.) have taken returns for less-than-honest customers who buy genuine items, switch tags and return fakes with the legitimate receipt. You don't want to get hit with a violation in the event that the item you sold might have come from a switcheroo.

[chevymontecarlo88]

---

@budlovellco wrote:

@tobaccocardyahoo so chain of custody falling short regardless of steps/authentication procedures i take it's for not? 

---

This is true unless of course eBay makes a bid for a company/app that will provide that service. (acquisition)