sneaker authentication is flawed

[loud-noise]

20 years selling sneakers on ebay with not a single complain from buyers (perfect fb). Until this sneaker authentication process happened and my first sale through this process got returned by ebay because the box (THE BOX! ) had a small dent.  The shoes is not even a collectors item, its just a regular running shoe .  They decided to cancel the whole thing for this.  This is very frustrating cause I dont think i wanna list anymore shoes if a middle man has to decide if its good enough or not. I cant believe after 20 years that it has come down to this for me to quit unless their program gets scraped, as I really see a lot of sellers will have  problems with this new rule.  I also talked to another seller who sold  shoes with proof that it came from nike.com and yet was also returned because  ebay cant authenticate it.

[robxznyc]

I thought the authenticator doesn't specify detailed reasons for return. How did you find out it was due to a dent on the box?

[lamber9347]

If the shoes are not collectible but regular running shoes then why did they go to authentication? How much were you selling regular running shoes for? 

[fightback]

$100 shipped.   The buyer somehow was able to send message and told me he was upset cuz he missed out on a shoe that he wanted for a good price. He said he was just going to throw the box away anyway

[donsdetour]

It easily could have been returned due to that info was not in the listing:

An easy item not as described: so they sent em back....

Relist with that info in the description.

[maros9416]

If you have the buyer already, relist them as used or nwot. I think the process only applies to brand new kicks.

[fightback]

I just received the shoes back and it was not a dent but a blade slice.  It was So obvious the authenticator cut it while opening it and decided to blame it on me . Picture clearly shows the box was not sliced before I sent it.   Well , good job 👏  for costing me shipping and paypal fees . 

[tma2]

Yes!! The authenticator (Sneakercon iirc) has done this to me twice as a buyer (damage from cutting the shipping box too deep/carelessly), and I've just let it go because I know it isn't the seller's fault, and I'm not re-selling them. It's such a letdown, and there's no recourse other than a return or refund, which just puts the seller in an unfair position! I'm sure the company is utterly swamped at this point given they're processing almost every pair of Nike and Adidas sold over $100 now. I can't imagine...

[led_jumpman]

THE AUTHENTICATION PROCESS IS HORRID. 

Seriously it has made me not want to sell another pair on sneakers on eBay ever again.   There is no reason why  the shoes should arrive at the authenticators, and then proceed to sit there for 3 weeks while the buyer thinks somethings wrong with either the shoe and/or the sale.    I've had 3 return requests in the last month  and a negative feedback after having perfect feedback since I started selling here.    Also,  one of the returned pair of sneakers is nothing like it was when I shipped it.  NOTHING.  There are black marks all over the bottom,  dirt on them, and there are even these weird stickers that someone put on the box somewhere along the way.   Has anyone ever seen this ?  So weird.    Does anyone know the best way to approach this with ebay ? 

[run4cover32]

This just happened to me!!! I’ve never had a problem selling anything or service issues with buyers that wasn’t resolved. I shipped a pair of sneaker that was boxed in perfect condition and had the order cancelled because the authenticator said the shoebox was damaged. This is total **bleep**!!! I would never send damaged anything to someone with full disclosure.  This Authentication process is garbage!!!

[weddingstories]

This just happened to my Son, HE is a Sneaker Freak and Knows more about authentic Sneakers than anyone I know. His sneakers got returned and the order canceled because the person who was authenticating them said " They Don't SEEM Authentic" and Yes that is what they put on the reason for the return/cancelled order. This was just this past week. Needless to say he was livid and still is. Also his buyer was upset (not with him). I personally feel they need to get someone who actually knows what they are doing. People LOVE their vintage and collectible sneakers. If I order another pair for one of my grandchildren and they send them back for some dumb reason I am going to be upset. I know what I am doing

[shop-beatrice]

Same problem happened to me. Sold a Asics running shoes($240) through Ebay Authentication program and bought the shoes from Asics.com. ship out and third party authenticator received 2 days later(usps priority mail) and claimed that the item is not as described as in the listing(box damaged? I sent the correct product). Ebay sent me a message saying that the authenticator will ship the return item back to me w/Fedex tracking(waiting for return as the moment). I hope I will receive the same shoes as it sent out.

[postingid7659]

sounds like it's time to sell these somewhere else.  That's about the only option. 

[sweetscorpio82]

I’ve been selling since 2012 and I haven’t had an issue until they started doing this. They sent pics of the package ripped open and wet. 200 dollar yeezys and they refunded the buyer which is fine but they just took it out of my bank and said I have to go to usps. The shoes are ruined so I just lost 200 bucks like it’s nothing. If the shoe was sent to the buyer he would have gotten them but when people see sneaker con on the box the thieves will be on the hunt looking for sought after shoes in that box. Sucks 

[redd3413]

We are having majors problems with sneaker con authentication. We constantly have delays with the authentication at the NY hub. Also, delays are always associated with very popular sneakers. Tracking shows the the items are delivered to the hub, and then the item sits for several days before being shipped. This has been negatively affecting our business for several months now. Customers are complaining about the time it takes to receive an item and also stating that items are arriving in a "different condition / WORN" or dirty ounce received.