Ebay authentication guarantee- question for SELLERS

[Niel]

This question is for sellers. If someone buys a ring from you on eBay that has a “authentication guarantee” - does eBay give you both the sellers address and GIAs address?
I had a seller ship an item in a weird way- and I messaged eBay to ask this question and I was told “eBay asks the seller to ship it to the authentication center - but if they don’t then the seller and buyer protection is voided “
And I’m thinking excuse me wtf?
That can’t be true? Why would they show you my address giving you the option to skirt their authentication requirements?
Could aomeone explain. Thanks!!

 

[RunningwithScissors]

That sounds odd to me. Maybe someone messed up? I wouldn't be comfortable with that.

 

[Niel]

I agree it doesn’t make any sense.

 

[Lookinagain]

Nope, doesn't make sense. They should only be given the address for authentication. Not buyers address. That just encourages avoidance.

 

[lala646]

Was eBay requiring authentication for the item, or offering it as an option? If it was required, they shouldn't have given the seller the option to ship it to you directly. That's weird, and defeats the purpose (even though their authentication process is token at best).

 

[Lookinagain]

Ebay says that the seller sends it to the authenticator and if it passes, the authenticator sends to buyer.

When you make a sale, you have to send the item to the authenticator's address provided by eBay. . . .

. . .. If the item passes inspection, it will be shipped to the buyer with 2 day secure delivery.

It would also seem that even if it was optional, if the buyer paid the $40 to ebay, then it should still go through the same process as the money is collected at time of checkout.

 

[Bron357]

In Australia they only have it for designer handbags and sneakers. The two LV bags I sold I had to send to the Authenticator who then after inspection shipped to the buyer. I did a while ago try and buy some Gucci sneakers, I got refunded because apparently they didn’t pass inspection.
With jewellery here in Australia we don’t have a GIA or similiar so we are spared the process. I’ve bought jewellery from both US and UK on eBay and I believe International sales of jewellery are exempt from eBay’s authentication program.

 

[jeaniefish]

Ebay says that the seller sends it to the authenticator and if it passes, the authenticator sends to buyer.

When you make a sale, you have to send the item to the authenticator's address provided by eBay. . . .

. . .. If the item passes inspection, it will be shipped to the buyer with 2 day secure delivery.

It would also seem that even if it was optional, if the buyer paid the $40 to ebay, then it should still go through the same process as the money is collected at time of checkout.

That is exactly the same experience I had when selling a Graff diamond eternity band on ebay. As rhe seller, I didnt have an option to circumvent the authentication process, , even if I had wanted to. The ring went to California for authentication and then was forwarded to the buyer.
I’m not sure that I would be comfortable buying from a seller that went around the authentication process. Also, IDK how a seller could even do that.

 

[Rockdiamond]

I think it’s a huge over-reach on eBay’s part. Of course my perspective is as a seller with 25 years of unblemished sales and feedback.
You will notice many larger eBay sellers offering jewelry and diamonds without the “Authenticity Guarantee”.
I guess for private individuals offering expensive jewelry it has some value.

 

[Niel]

That is exactly the same experience I had when selling a Graff diamond eternity band on ebay. As rhe seller, I didnt have an option to circumvent the authentication process, , even if I had wanted to. The ring went to California for authentication and then was forwarded to the buyer.
I’m not sure that I would be comfortable buying from a seller that went around the authentication process. Also, IDK how a seller could even do that.

Perfect thank you. I obviously understand how the process works as a buyer and have experienced it many times.
I did a chat into ask and I had a feeling the vendor did not fully understand the process- but the answer was concerning.

 

[Niel]

I think it’s a huge over-reach on eBay’s part. Of course my perspective is as a seller with 25 years of unblemished sales and feedback.
You will notice many larger eBay sellers offering jewelry and diamonds without the “Authenticity Guarantee”.
I guess for private individuals offering expensive jewelry it has some value.

Yes yes everyone hates it. Including myself. Thats not really the point of this thread tho

 

[Niel]

Was eBay requiring authentication for the item, or offering it as an option? If it was required, they shouldn't have given the seller the option to ship it to you directly. That's weird, and defeats the purpose (even though their authentication process is token at best).

Yes I could do a Ted talk on the vast issues of this authentication process but really I wanted this one specific question addressed by somebody who’s actually sold something.
I could definitely get on a soap box about it from a buyers perspective lol.

 

[Rockdiamond]

My experience is that as a seller you are not able to see the buyers info.
But since it’s a total $hitshow anyway…. Maybe it does happen.
eBay makes it extremely difficult to contact the buyer even without authentication process

 

[Rockdiamond]

Looking at your chat revives so many horrible memories of times I’ve had to call eBay.
If you get an offshore rep ( 95% of the time that’s what you get) they’re not aware of the policies and can hardly speak English.
You were given false info on that chat based on many sales we’ve made on eBay.

 

[Snowdrop13]

I’ve sold a couple of things recently on eBay UK- not jewellery, LV pieces. Both went to the authenticator with a special code in the address to match to the buyer. I didn’t get the buyer’s name or address.

 

[Niel]

I’ve sold a couple of things recently on eBay UK- not jewellery, LV pieces. Both went to the authenticator with a special code in the address to match to the buyer. I didn’t get the buyer’s name or address.

Thank you this is precisely the specific info I needed.
I will be honest I assumed this was a contract vendor (I have some experience dealing with outsourcing) so I was very suspect of the answer.
This is why I turn to you lovely folks.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Unfortunately it's bound to get worse.
There is a customer service telephone number- and if you get lucky, or try very hard and ask the right questions, you can get correct answers- unlike the ones Niel got.
I actually got to speak with a person at the authenticator department last week.
Bottom line is that it's not going away- but as I mentioned you'll find a lot of sellers somehow not being forced into it.