Authentication for Handbags announcement .... oops, did he really say that?!?

[mr_lincoln]

Here is one sentence that I think is wrong ... think he meant Buyers and not Sellers ... ahhhh, "shoppers" don't  "sell" ... they buy ... oops!

"Consumers and industry influencers alike are praising how we’re establishing eBay as a place where shoppers can find and sell coveted items, and feel confident about every transaction."

I am sure someone will come along and edit that for him ... I wonder how safe and protective this system really is for Sellers and the dreaded INAD claim ...

[stainlessenginecovers]

I thought all the items being sold this way were all listed as 'Final Sale- no returns'... backed by ebay? 

[mr_lincoln]

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@48hrs-clothing wrote:

Sellers of Authentic items should have no concerns if eBay and or their partners advise all sellers what information they require as evidence that items listed are Authentic. 

This gives sellers a list of evidence that will be accepted and I have no problem at all in providing eBay and or their Authentication team evidence of Authenticity that is available to me in advance of listing the item.

I accept that a business can do this and an individual who is selling their item ( Pre owned or new) may not have evidence available and eBay should make their policy clear allowed to list or not.

Once an item / listing has been authenticated then eBay must not allow buyers to open INAD or Does not seem authentic cases.

INAD cases should only be allowed when something clearly contradicts what is shown on listing.

Faults or damage hidden or not declared by sellers is wrong and quite rightly should result in INAD case but buyer must be required to provide this evidence before opening their INAD case.

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@48hrs-clothing   Unfortunately, eBay will NOT block the INAD return capability on any item sold on the venue nor restrict its use.  All the Authentication process does is pose a new challenge for the dishonest people out there looking to get something for free or sell the item themselves and make a profit ... the problem in that regard is NOT limited to eBay, its the nature of internet selling.

[vintagecraze50]

The INAD with the scamming buyers who claim this and then return junk I believe is possibly eliminated with this process. That would be if and only if these items are sent back to the authentication dept first. If not then these scammer can still send back junk to the seller directly.

[vintagecraze50]

If the authentication depart has proof that the bag sent back to them is fake, Ebay can do a chargeback rebuttal. Hopefully they do. IDK.

[valueaddedresource]

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@stainlessenginecovers wrote:

I thought all the items being sold this way were all listed as 'Final Sale- no returns'... backed by ebay? 

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@stainlessenginecovers 

 just like with any other sales, it's up to the seller if they want to offer returns or not.  They have all of the normal options for returns available to them.  The only difference is if a seller chooses not to accept returns, eBay will back them up on it, even on a SNAD.

https://pages.ebay.com/authenticity-guarantee-handbags/#faq

Can I return items purchased with Authenticity Guarantee? 

Buyers can return an item if the seller accepts returns, as stated in the listing, and the return takes place within the seller’s return window. If the seller does not accept returns or the buyer submits the return outside the return window, this will be considered a final sale and cannot be returned. 

What is Final Sale?
For handbags that are eligible for Authenticity Guarantee, an item is Final Sale when both of the following criteria are met:

Item condition is “New with tags” or “New without tags.”

The seller’s return policy for the item is “No returns,” or the item’s return window has closed.

Once an eligible item passes authentication through Authenticity Guarantee, sellers have completed their obligation to the buyer for that transaction, and the buyer cannot return it.

Transactions that meet these criteria are exempt from Significantly Not as Described (SNAD) claims under eBay’s Money Back Guarantee policy.

Does the eBay Money Back Guarantee protect authenticated items?
For authenticated items, eBay Money Back Guarantee only covers items returned within the seller’s return window and items that satisfy the eMBG eligibility requirements and are not received, or that arrive damaged.

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

The program just began (again), so I doubt they have a lot of data on its success so far.  I didn't get the impression they were using the stat to demonstrate the success of the program. It's just a basic press release, not some sort of detailed internal report on ebay's handbag market. Whoever wrote it asked for some stats on the handbag market and worked them into the release. 

When ebay issues a Seller Update, I read it word for word and analyze it carefully. But, for me at least,  these press release things just aren't really worth that level of analysis.

A LOT of handbags are sold on ebay. Some are luxury handbags. Luxury handbags over x dollars are now authenticated. This will probably increase sales (and possibly prices) of luxury handbags , and will probably increase sales on the site generally, if the success of the sneaker program is any indicator.

It's a narrow segment of a large market, but , it obviously contributes more GMV per bag than the more numerous lower dollar bags. So is it worth pursuing in this way? ebay clearly thinks do. If the Pareto Principle applies, 20% of all handbags might constitute 80% of GMV....What's the dollar amount here? $500 or more? Internal memos would show why that dollar figure was chosen. It certainly wasn't just a random choice. Press releases are less likely to tell you that.

 I long ago argued that ebay should take a more category by category approach to the marketplace, recognizing how different the many parts of it are. So I think this is a step (a long overdue step) in the right direction. I just hope ebay can do more of this, and do it quicker. Not just authentication, that isn't really necessary for everything on the site. But recognizing the differences in items and in business approaches. 

[bbravo65]

...sneakers, handbags, what is next...what is buyers complained a lot about "doesn't seem authentic", either true or false remorse to get the items free or swapped the authentic with counterfeit they wrongfully bought from somewhere else...?

...eau de parfum...and if that happened, I would rather not selling my authentic Chanel perfume anymore as I don't trust authentication department...I've read enough about sellers lost their authentic sneakers and that won't sit well in my mind...

...but in curiosity, is this authentication only apply to US sellers...?...how about those international sellers, specially from China, whom really selling counterfeits...?

[stainlessenginecovers]

Ok; they have to be 'new' items for the 'Final Sale' thing to hold. Got it-Thanks

[mr_lincoln]

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@bbravo65 wrote:

...sneakers, handbags, what is next...what is buyers complained a lot about "doesn't seem authentic", either true or false remorse to get the items free or swapped the authentic with counterfeit they wrongfully bought from somewhere else...?

...eau de parfum...and if that happened, I would rather not selling my authentic Chanel perfume anymore as I don't trust authentication department...I've read enough about sellers lost their authentic sneakers and that won't sit well in my mind...

...but in curiosity, is this authentication only apply to US sellers...?...how about those international sellers, specially from China, whom really selling counterfeits...?

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@bbravo65  ....  a double standard applies here ...

[48hrs-clothing]

None of us have any influence over eBay and I agree that it is highly unlikely if not impossible that eBay will remove buyers ability to open an INAD case. Still one can wish.

In my view once Authentication has been established by eBay then seller metrics should not be effected even if buyer opens Does not seem authentic case and eBay should force the buyer to  buyers to pay return postage.

INAD poses slightly different problems and in my view buyers should be forced to advise exactly what is not as described against what is shown on listing and again buyer can return and sellers metrics should not be effected. Difficult if not impossible for eBay as that requires human intervention but again this is just on the wish list that will never be realised.

I own certain brands that are registered to me therefore  100% of items that I offer for sale are Authentic as I am the brand owner but still I had a case where a buyer claimed does not seem authentic.

I recognise , agree and accept all consumer protection legislation but sadly there are some dishonest people who will abuse buyers and sellers.

Have a good and safe day.

[pikabo-icu]

I don't think my weak spirit can take debating this nightmare again.. I posted my heart out about this a few days ago.. 

This is a debacle of the highest order..

Some unknown "authenticator" deciding the fate of a bag I KNOW BEYOND ANY DOUBT is authentic?

What could go wrong there?

The job post @valueaddedresource shared with me says they are looking for people that have 5 years experience in authentication or SALES!   Sales? Seriously? Sales people know how to SELL- they are not brand experts. 

After all the failures of the sneakers program? No, just NO!  

It has it's positives with INAD claims and/or returns but this is an accident,,, no,,, an intentional HOT MESS waiting to happen.. 

Just a note in case it didn't get answered; You cannot choose your own, respected service. You MUST use eBay authentication.. It's NOT optional.. 

[48hrs-clothing]

Authentication is a nightmare and I have first hand knowledge where the brand itself was unable to determine whether the item in front of them was Authentic or a counterfeit.

I know that following is not related to OP but still I wanted to put this out.

Counterfeiting is a huge industry worth billions of $ and is more lucrative with less penalties than narcotics.

Every consumable item has counterfeit problems and sadly even Pharmaceutical industry primarily used to save lives is not spared by counterfeiters.

Resources provided by consumer countries governments are simply nowhere near sufficient to even make a dent in this illicit trade. 

Customs and excise are first line of defence for goods coming into consumer countries and due to huge movement of consumer goods customs and excise only manage to stop a small percentage.

[ekmadonna]

If my math is correct that's about 7200 handbags sold a day on Ebay. Anybody want to count the sold listings? I don't believe for a minute 7,200 handbags are sold here in a 24 hr period.

[mr_lincoln]

@ekmadonna   7200 per day?  Interesting number ...  a search for women's or ladies handbags yields 628,414 listings and clicking the Sold filter it yields 137, 373 and I assume that is the last 90 days ...  the rough math on the 137,373 sold in 90 days is "about" 1526 per day give or take ...  

[1tuna]

ebay might sell 7200 bags a day wordwide but they throw numbers around like its in the USA. as far as I am concerned ebay authenticate is a USA program

the watch  program with ebay is super.I had no trouble retuning a watch that was for bid with no size mentioned

I ended up with a 32mm watch that is midsized compared to the full size 35mm i was told it was when I messaged the seller

mid sized is the kiss of death for mens vintage watches