EBay authenticator doing more than authenticating!

soolin

I am aware this thread has been de railed but it was worth noting what eBay say about SNAD claims and perhaps take suggestions about signing bits of paper as a well meaning suggestion, but not supported by eBay t and cs.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/posting-items/selling/setting-postage-options/local-collection?id=4181&st=3&pos=2&query=Offering%20local%20collection&intent=SNAD%20collection&lucenceai=lucenceai&docId=HELP1136

Managing returns and item not received requests

Returns for local collection listings should be treated the same as other delivery options. If the buyer returns an item because it's faulty or it isn't as described in the listing, they can return it to you even if your return policy states you don't accept returns.

If the buyer simply changed their mind and you stated in your listing that you don't accept returns, you're not obliged to accept their return request. See our article on how to handle a return request as a seller for more information.

It is also worth noting that a seller can’t just refuse a SNAD claim, they would need to phone eBay and convince eBay that buyer is making a false claim, but more importantly, getting eBay to agree to close the claim in the sellers favour. I have won a case or two, but only where the SNAD claim mentions something quite specific that the item specifics cover. So for instance one of my dafter claims was a SNAD claim as item wasn’t red as they wanted, when the photo was of a dark blue widget,  the item specifics, title and description stated ‘dark blue’. I also won one a few years back as buyer wanted a pair of 12 inch candles, and not the 10 inch ones I sent, but again the item specifics stated 10 inch, as did the title and description.

Virtually anything else that can’t be proven, is likely to be won by the buyer. 

diystarter7

Thank you @soolin

However, its worked for me and I guess that it may put off those that saw, tested and bought stuff like we have sold, put them off from rejecting. Having said that and to reiterate, we do understate the conditon of our goods and play on any weakness if any and prices to sell. NB: I strongly recommend that sellers who have goods picked up from home and are costs quiet a bit of money, do get a note signed for reasons as above.


About the OP check by the seller seeking a second opinion from a so-called expert. As I said, I've seen those auction shows and pawn broker top end one shows where people bring in what they feel was 100% but the pawn brokers tester disagrees. On high-end handbags and other stuff, unless they have original receipts from Harrods and like outlets, even experts find it hard to tell what it is and can disagree on condition with the other and especially that of the previous owner.

Thanks

Pollycat

diystarter7 said:

About the OP check by the seller seeking a second opinion from a so-called expert. As I said, I've seen those auction shows and pawn broker top end one shows where people bring in what they feel was 100% but the pawn brokers tester disagrees. On high-end handbags and other stuff, unless they have original receipts from Harrods and like outlets, even experts find it hard to tell what it is and can disagree on condition with the other and especially that of the previous owner.

Thanks

The expert authenticator used by eBay has agreed that the item is genuine.
The issue is around the condition of the bag.

As the link I posted earlier clearly says, the authenticator also checks if the item is in the condition described in the listing.
In this case, the authenticator disagrees with the seller on the condition and has given the buyer the option of cancelling the sale.

This information answers the question the OP asked:

In the link I posted, it says if the item is not as described in the listing:

the item will be returned to you and the buyer will receive their money back. 

So it seems the authenticator has given the buyer the chance to still buy instead of simply sending the item back to the seller.

This information answers the question the OP asked:

jasmineswhiskers said:

I sold a very expensive handbag on eBay which was sent to the authenticator (and as I knew it was authentic has been passed). However they have now emailed my buyer saying they don’t believe the condition of it is as described and does the buyer want to cancel and they will send it back to me.
there is nothing wrong with the bag. It is not brand-new so it’s not perfect but I believe it is as I described it. How can they do this surely their job is to make sure it is authentic not comment on what they think the condition is. Plus the photos they have sent to my buyer are not very clear.

The eBay authenticator seems to have carried out their check correctly and fully.

RhondaD

jasmineswhiskers said:

I sold a very expensive handbag on eBay which was sent to the authenticator (and as I knew it was authentic has been passed). However they have now emailed my buyer saying they don’t believe the condition of it is as described and does the buyer want to cancel and they will send it back to me.
there is nothing wrong with the bag. It is not brand-new so it’s not perfect but I believe it is as I described it. How can they do this surely their job is to make sure it is authentic not comment on what they think the condition is. Plus the photos they have sent to my buyer are not very clear.

To bring the thread back to topic.

The authenticators have passed the bag as genuine but they themselves do dot believe the condition is as described.

This raises a rather obvious question for you OP. Whether or not you agree the condition is as described, exactly what condition was the item in, and how was that condition described? 

This seems to be the sticking point. Is it possible you have minimised imperfections in the condition? 

Do you have any evidence that the bag is in the condition described that you could send to them to counter their argument?

sstephanie40

Do you have any evidence that the bag is in the condition described that you could send to them to counter their argument?

That makes no difference. Their terms and conditions state that if the item doesn't pass the checks as authentic but the seller has proof that it is, they are unable to validate any external evidence. There is no one authenticating the authenticators!

They are judge and jury. Which is highly questionable considering that they are independent of any brand and not endorsed by any brand either. 

It gets even worse. I've had a patent leather bag sent to me as authentic, when it was actually "sticky", which is what happens to patent leather that degrades over time. Not mentioned in the listing and not picked up by the authenticator. I opened a SNAD for that.

There seems to be no standardisation of checks. An item will be appraised, rejected, corrected as per the information why given to the buyer, re listed with this fresh information as to the condition of the item - - and still fail with another different authenticator.

It's impossible to meet these condition checks when there's a moving standard! 

I have lost confidence with this service. I have a genuine dust bag which they say is fake. If they are so far off, then I'm sure they're also passing fake items as genuine. This is the last item I'm selling on their platform as a result. 

This article accurately describes what is happening. 


https://channelx.world/2022/08/ebay-authenticity-guarantee-from-a-seller-perspective/

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

The first comment on that article sums it up perfectly

Great article – sadly another badly thought through ebay product rushed out to meet a poorly defined need which will never be fixed because the resources and interest have moved on before the metaphorical ink had dried on the code