Online storefront eBay is reasserting itself as a destination for buying and selling trading cards like the Pokémon Trading Card Game by offering free authentication for a limited time. Pokémon TCG cards can be a costly investment, and eBay is taking additional steps to make sure buyers are getting what they paid for. The offer isn't just for Pokémon, however, and applies to other sets like Magic: The Gathering and sports trading cards. For now, eBay's Authenticity Guarantee is free of charge on select cards, so collectors may want to consider purchasing soon before the authentication process comes with an extra fee.
Now, when shopping for Pokémon or other trading cards, products that will go through eBay's authentication process will be highlighted with a blue Authenticity Guarantee checkmark. The process essentially adds a third party to the process, where instead of the seller shipping directly to the buyer, the card goes to an authentication facility to be appraised. This should theoretically help cut down on scammers trying to sell fake Pokémon cards, or at least stop them from being successful on eBay.
Once the purchased card has been properly inspected by an authenticator at the third-party facility, it will be slid into a protective sleeve and sealed with a tamper-proof sticker. The authentication facility will then ship it to the purchaser, with a signature required upon delivery for the time being. Inside the package will also be a display stand that can hold the sealed Pokémon card upright, as long as collectors don't mind the eBay logo being displayed right under the card.
Pokémon TCG: eBay's Authenticity Guarantee Seems To Be In A Trial Period
As of right now, eBay's Authenticity Guarantee is apparently an all-or-nothing process while it's starting up. Purveyors of Pokémon TCG's rare first-edition cards, for example, can either go through the authentication process in its entirety or not at all. Products listed on eBay with the blue checkmark come with no ability to opt out of the authentication, although in a FAQ on eBay, the subject seems to indicate this may be an option in the future.
Similarly, it is unclear when the Authenticity Guarantee will cease to be free. For now, "eBay covers the cost of authentication and tracked shipping from the authentication facility to [the buyer] for a limited time." Neither the Authenticity Guarantee page nor its FAQ give any indication of when this grace period will end, so Pokémon TCG collectors might want to jump on the opportunity while it's available at no extra cost. The process is currently available to cards being sold for more than $500, but this threshold may be reduced in the future. For now, eBay is offering a new layer of security in purchasing rare items from the Pokémon Trading Card Game at no extra cost, making now a potentially good opportunity for an investment.
Source: eBay