- eBay Inc (NASDAQ: EBAY) every 1.5 seconds has announced the expansion of its Authenticity Guarantee service for sneaker sales on the platform
A sneaker sells on eBay Inc (NASDAQ: EBAY) every 1.5 seconds and the company announced the expansion of its Authenticity Guarantee service for sneaker sales on the platform. With this program, all new and pre-owned collectible sneakers sold on eBay for over $100 in the U.S. will be fully vetted and verified by an independent team of industry experts.
This service launches this month with the initial authentication of the most popular sneaker styles and brands on the marketplace and it will ramp to include all $100+ sneaker sales by early 2021.
This is eBay’s second significant authentication announcement in as many months. And in September, eBay first launched Authenticity Guarantee for every watch sold over $2,000 in the U.S.
This announcement also builds on eBay canceling selling fees on any sneakers purchase of $100 or more — which has helped attract more top sneaker sellers and bring the most coveted inventory to the marketplace at the most competitive prices.
After a sneaker purchase is made, the seller ships it directly to eBay’s independent third-party authentication facility for a comprehensive and multi-point physical inspection. And following this rigorous assessment, the sneakers are sent via expedited shipping to the buyer.
After receiving the sneakers, the independent authenticator confirms they are consistent with the listing title, description, and images, and then performs a multi-point physical authentication inspection. An eBay tag — which guarantees its authenticity is attached to the sneakers to finalize the process, driving confidence in the collectibility and resale value.
And eBay has partnered with industry leader Sneaker Con to create a new state-of-the-art facility – utilizing the top authenticators in the industry, a robust checklist of product specifications, and best-in-class processes to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
For sellers who choose to offer returns, eBay’s sneaker authentication program also ensures the exact item initially sold is returned to the seller via a verified returns process. The returns are shipped back directly to the authentication center where the third-party experts verify each item and its condition before returning to the seller.
KEY QUOTE:
“Authentication has become an expectation for today’s consumers in categories of high passion and high value, and this program makes eBay the most attractive platform for enthusiasts in these categories. eBay operates the world’s most diverse sneaker marketplace – with the widest selection and best prices – and by removing any uncertainty with the buying process, our community can buy and sell with total confidence.”
— Jordan Sweetnam, SVP and General Manager of eBay North America
