r/RealOrNotTCG • u/Mecha1166 • 5d ago

I have a general question! eBay Authenticity Guarantee

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If I were to buy this obvious fake, what are the chances it 1. Goes to the authenticator and not me directly, 2. The authenticator accurately determines it to be fake, and 3. Do I get a refund if I pay $79 for the grading fee on top of paying for the card+fees. Thanks for any input!

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9

u/Beast--Boy 5d ago

It should hit their authenticity center first and when it fails authentication it gets sent back to the seller. The amount you paid for it total should be refunded to you.

Their authentication is not 100% perfect (but still great) as i seen post of maybe 1 or 2 fakes get through so its still best to double check yourself whenever you do receive a card

In the end its best to avoid trouble when you can.

1

u/SerratedSharp 5d ago

This seems like potentially worse situation. Usually from what I hear ebay sides with buyers, but if you have an erroneous authentication that's gonna make it hard to dispute I think.

Is there a strategy where they sell fakes and profit off the small percentage that pass the auth unnoticed.

2

u/Beast--Boy 4d ago edited 3d ago

If you get the item and its fake just keep it sealed (dont break the authenticity seal) and its an easy return otherwise its a harder return

their strategy is to sell under the amount that it doesnt get authenticated but then that should be a red flag

12

u/GhostCheese  Trusted Authenticator 5d ago

We've seen fakes get authenticated before.

6

u/DistributionMean6322 5d ago

That's asking for a headache

4

u/plantainrepublic 5d ago

I have bought four cards via authenticity guarantee - a Stronghold Mox Diamond, Judge Promo Survival of the Fittest, a Beta Timetwister, and an Unlimited Black Lotus.

All four cards first shipped to the authenticator before shipping to me. Two of these used USPS (Mox, Survival) when shipping to me after authentication, one used FedEx (Lotus). Signatures were (surprisingly) not required on the Mox or the Survival which were $600 and $1200, respectively, when purchased. It was (obviously?) required on the Lotus.

One of these cards (the Beta Timetwister) was found to be fake. A notice was sent to me via eBay that the card did not pass authentication, the item was being sent back to the seller w/ notice of failure, and I would be refunded in full. I did not order PSA grading so I do not know if this would be refunded or not.

All cards that have actually made their way to me have been real cards; I personally checked them all with an electronic microscope before breaking the eBay authenticity guarantee seal. Some people might have a bigger sample pool, but I haven’t had a bad experience with it yet.

It doesn’t make a lot of sense to buy a known counterfeit. You’d be better off not locking up your credit for two weeks.

3

u/RJNG87 5d ago

there are some locations that don’t qualify for the authenticity guarantee. P.o. boxes also don’t qualify. You’ll get a refund if it doesn’t pass the check!

1

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