Authenticator says sneakers were stolen, what do you think?

[streetgum]

Authenticator said the package was tampered with and sent over this photo after refunding the buyer. they're suggesting that they made a single slit in the back, stuck their hand in and yanked the shoe box. What do you guys think? They were a pair of New Balance x Salehe Bembury 574 YURT and if you know anything about those shoes you would know they are big and bulky. to my eyes, knowing how big that shoe box was i think it's physically impossible to do that without completely destroying the package.

I sent many sneakers to this authenticator before in Vegas with usps and have never had a problem, but i just can't buy that it was stolen like that. The only difference is for the first time usps didn't scan the package before shipping and the first update i received was when it arrived in Vegas. Then again that happens all the time if they are swamped.

Maybe it was someone who worked at the USPS hub in Vegas? Because i shipped two pairs of shoes that day, one to Vegas and one to Texas, neither was scanned until they got to their respective states but only one was stolen.

what do you guys see and what should I do? this is the first time this has happened but it's giving me pause to do business with Ebay and usps again even though i know this rarely happens. Thank god they weren't super expensive rare shoes like the last pair i sold, it still sucks though.

[downunder-61]

Given the fact that eBay forces you to send these to the authenticator, do they cover this loss in anyway?

My way of thinking is if it went direct to the buyer this may not have happened - the more time in transit the more chance of things happening.

[itscalledapostingid]

I would file an insurance claim with USPS if they were insured.

I would hope the sneaker auth. would assist if USPS wants to see the package.

[katzrul15]

That box is pretty big - why would they think those are shoes to steal?  Because of the address? 

[chapeau-noir]

I see evidence of horizontal and vertical strain on that box - maybe somehow they DID get that bulky shoe box through that slit in the tape.  It seems really unlikely, though.

[stephenmorgan]

Look like a uneven tear in the tape. Sort of like a tear had started and with boxes stacked on top the tear continued. It is not a nice clean cut like would be done with a straight edge.

Maybe because the package is open they do not want to fool with it and are returning it to you so you can deal with it.

If the ends of the box are still taped shut I do not see how a shoe box could have been removed.

Hopefully your item will still be there when you receive it back.

[streetgum]

i opened it the first time and thats why the tape is like that, you can see a second clear tape that i used and that's a straight cut. you can even see creases in the middle that suggests they pushed it down and reached in fron the left, but if the sides are not cut then there is no possible way to pull it out horizontally. There is a second flap of cardboard that would prevent you from pulling anything solid through it.

if there were shoes in there or even an empty box you would be able to tell. The fact that they went ahead and told Ebay that the package came in empty then they are certain that it's missing without opening it.  They said they will hold onto it for a certain amount of days to help USPS with the investigation, they didn't mention anything about returning it to me.

[stephenmorgan]

I do see what looks like clear tape. That makes the package look like it was opened after being shipped and that may be why they refused to accept responsibility for the package and did what they did.

Sometimes a package needs to be opened and re-taped. Usually it is resealed with the same tape and it it not noticeable.  Using a different tape makes the package look tampered with.

 Hopefully it is just out of caution they chose not to open package and you shoes are still inside and will be returned to you.

[pburn]

There was a thread awhile back regarding a similar situation, but the OP ran across the same shoes--with photos to prove it-- listed for sale on eBay. It was clearly the same pair of shoes, down to little scuff marks, etc. That OP was essentially accusing an employee of the authenticator of stealing the shoes. Within hours, the listing was gone. 

Coincidence? I don't think so. I think some individual thought he had found a cash cow. I wouldn't sell shoes on eBay that had to go through their authentication process.

[pburn]

@streetgum 

Found the thread:

DO NOT eBay Sneaker Authentication Program: Authenticators STEALING and RESELLING Jordans on eBay!! 

[pburn]

@streetgum 

And another one that sounds even more similar to yours:

Buyer bites again. They claim sneakers stolen before they received. 

[pburn]

@dolcetreasures 

If you're around, would you be willing to bring us up to speed on how your sneaker fiasco ended up? Thanks!

[albertabrightalberta]

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@pburn wrote:

@dolcetreasures 

If you're around, would you be willing to bring us up to speed on how your sneaker fiasco ended up? Thanks!

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I posted on @dolcetreasure's thread. 

Methinks there's some hanky panky going on at the authenticator location. 

[donsdetour]

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@albertabrightalberta wrote:

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@pburn wrote:

@dolcetreasures 

If you're around, would you be willing to bring us up to speed on how your sneaker fiasco ended up? Thanks!

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I posted on @dolcetreasure's thread. 

Methinks there's some hanky panky going on at the authenticator location. 

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Or maybe the PO, were they by now know what is in those packages going to that addy...

[simba6]

They would know what was in that package by it's to address.  That kind of theft is not uncommon.