Guaranteed authentication theft

[rdjb7804]

I sold a Wayne Gretzky rookie card that went through authentication process, passed and was shipped to buyer. For some reason it couldn’t be delivered. EBay first said it was lost and refunded the buyer and let me keep my funds. I discovered through a secondary shipper that the card was returned to the authenticator and signed for. When I confronted eBay on this fact they changed their story and admitted that the card was returned to authenticator. They don’t seem to want to entertain the idea of returning my property to me. The deal was with the buyer not some eBay authenticator service who now has my card 

[chapeau-noir]

You can't have the card AND your money. It's in eBay's hands now.

And eBay CS routinely lies because they have no idea.

[sportsbookiepete]

That's exactly why I won't sell high value cards on Ebay anymore. My friend just sent a Caleb Williams Rookie that sold for $900. The authenticator signed for it then said it was opened after it was already signed for and accepted. No one would sign for a open package and the tracking showed nothing sus or noted any damage. He went through all the customer service **bleep** that hardly exist and even called the NJ authentication center and was told they were too busy to help. I guess the authentication center employees see a empty open package and still accept it as a good package to receive.  **bleep**! They are just taking valuable cards out and saying that **bleep** knowing there is no recorse. I'm not willing to risk it and I've read so many similar stories on reddit. Ebay customer service literally will just say file a USPS claim even though it was accepted in perfect condition. So basically employees at the authenticator are stealing.

[go-bad-chicken]

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@rdjb7804 wrote:

I wasn’t given an option and they weren’t forthcoming with the truth, 

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@rdjb7804 

No of course not. You were already paid for your auction. 

You should of had the card professionally graded and then sold it.

Now the Authentication Service is going to have it graded and sell it for $$$. Why because now it's their property to do with as they wish.

You kinda of sound like sour grapes 🍇 

[rippets]

@rdjb7804 

You have expressed your displeasure with how this was handled but I'm just curious how you think it should have been handled?  If you were allowed to make the decision on the process, what would you have done?  

[dolcetreasures]

My guess is that they lost sight of the card and had to make an executive decision before they were able to find it. 

[bennotbill]

This sort of thing happens all the time with undeliverable items on ebay's Global Shipping and International Shipping.

A few of those sellers would also prefer their item back instead of keeping the money for some strange reason.

There are a few sellers on ebay that resell those unable to ship on items so maybe authenticators have some similar arrangement with some sellers. 

So who knows, you might spot your card being resold on ebay and be able to put a bid on it.

[jerseyboymusic]

 I get what @rdjb7804 is saying...

If I sold something.. let's say a record album that HAD to go through "Authentication", and it passed and went to the buyer and was never delivered, and was RTS, I would want that record to be returned to me, just like any other item that didn't go through this process. THEN I would refund the buyer once I had the item back.

For an item to go through an arbitrary third party, who could just keep it and claim it as lost, is not acceptable. Even though I would have the funds and Ebay decided to refund the buyer out of their pockets, I would want my item back, just like any other RTS transaction

[reallynicestamps]

When you were paid by the buyer, you no longer owned the card.

When the buyer was refunded by eBay, they no longer owned the card.

The card was paid for by eBay.

EBay owns the card.

The authenticator service /eBay owns the card and can dispose of it as they wish since they own it and can dispose of it as they wish because they paid for it.

BTW- I suspect the value of the card has dropped since you sold it because many patriotic Canadians are very very annoyed with Gretzky at the moment.

[zals34]

I’m with you, seems like everyone commenting does not realize eBay takes out fees for the sale. I would consider it theft.

[janet9988]

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@zals34 wrote:

I’m with you, seems like everyone commenting does not realize eBay takes out fees for the sale. I would consider it theft.

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The seller sold the item. The seller was paid.

Ebay did not steal the fees.

[kensgiftshop]

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@zals34 wrote:

I’m with you, seems like everyone commenting does not realize eBay takes out fees for the sale. I would consider it theft.

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Wasn't theft, seller kept their payment and the buyer was refunded from Ebay.

What does the fee's have to do with it?

[reallynicestamps]

Fees are eBay's payment for providing a site,  finding a customer, and processing payment. 

1 Timothy  5:18

[luckythewinner]

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@rdjb7804 wrote:

I wasn’t given an option and they lied

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Nothing was "stolen" from you.

You agreed to sell the card for $X and sold the card for $X and received $X. 

Absolutely nothing under eBay policy entitles you to the "option" of buying your item back after you sell it.

[zals34]

If eBay truly gets the card in this scenario, they effectively are getting the card for less than the intended sale value. The seller did not enter in a contract with eBay , they did with the buyer. eBay should in this scenario offer the seller the card back if they have it back in their possession. Just because it was on their site it does not give them the right to keep the card. If eBay wants to keep the card they should refund the fees as well.

[conservitvs]

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@jerseyboymusic wrote:

 I get what @rdjb7804 is saying...

If I sold something.. let's say a record album that HAD to go through "Authentication", and it passed and went to the buyer and was never delivered, and was RTS, I would want that record to be returned to me, just like any other item that didn't go through this process. THEN I would refund the buyer once I had the item back.

For an item to go through an arbitrary third party, who could just keep it and claim it as lost, is not acceptable. Even though I would have the funds and Ebay decided to refund the buyer out of their pockets, I would want my item back, just like any other RTS transaction

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@jerseyboymusic 

Just curious… Why?

You listed it to sell. It sold. You got paid. 

Why would you want the record back to go through all of that again?