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Authenticity Guarantee is independent from, and not associated with, any brands sold on eBay.
Once you sell an eligible card, it goes to the authentication facility for inspection before going to the buyer. If you allow returns and a buyer wishes to return a card, it will be reinspected by industry experts at the authentication facility before going back to you.
Our partners at PSA—the leading authenticator of trading cards—ensure your cards are the real deal.
eBay covers the cost of authentication. Single ungraded cards $250+ and single graded cards $250+ are eligible for the service at this time. Learn more in our FAQs.
List your eligible card, and the blue Authenticity Guarantee badge will appear.
Once a buyer purchases your card, you’ll ship it to PSA for inspection where it will remain in its penny sleeve throughout the entire process.
PSA experts verify authenticity through a multi-point inspection, and then carefully review listing details for accuracy.
Your card is slipped into a larger penny sleeve and sealed with an authentication sticker. A QR code linking to authentication details is provided. It's then placed into a padfolio and delivered safely to the buyer via discreet and secure tracked shipping.
List your eligible card, and the blue Authenticity Guarantee badge will appear.
Once a buyer purchases your card, you’ll ship it to PSA for inspection.
PSA experts authenticate each case and label. No regrading is performed.
The card is placed into a protective sleeve and a QR code linking to authentication details is also provided. It's then placed into a padfolio and delivered safely to the buyer via discreet and secure tracked shipping.
Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) is the leading global authority on the authentication and grading of trading cards and memorabilia, having certified more than 65 million items since 1991.
eBay's Authenticity Guarantee is a service designed to help buyers shop with confidence. Professional authenticators physically inspect all eligible items before shipping to the buyer. For sellers, Authenticity Guarantee provides protection against fraudulent returns.
It's easy! When a buyer purchases your eligible item, you will ship it directly to the authentication facility. There, the item goes through a meticulous inspection process. Once authenticated, the item is shipped to the buyer via tracked shipping with signature required for cards over $750. Please note, there is no grading or re-grading in this process. Our authenticators verify that the raw card or sealed plastic holder is authentic to ensure the correct item was sent and the buyer gets exactly what they ordered.
No. eBay covers the cost of authentication and secure shipping from the authentication facility to the buyer.
Authenticity Guarantee is available for individual sports trading cards, collectible card games, autograph and relic cards, and non-sports trading cards $250 and above for ungraded cards, and $250 and above for autograph, relic, and other graded cards. Only cards graded by the following graders will be accepted: Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA); Sportscard Guaranty Corporation (SGC); Certified Collectibles Group's affiliates, CGC Trading Cards, Certified Sports Guaranty (CSG); and Beckett Grading Services (BGS). Sets, lots, kits, decks, boxes, packs, art cards, and redemption cards are not eligible at this time. Your single card must be listed in the correct corresponding category to qualify for Authenticity Guarantee:
Buyers must be located in the United States. U.S. territory locations (incl. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and U.S. Armed forces postal locations are not currently covered. Listings that offer only local pickup or items shipped to P.O. Boxes will not be eligible for Authenticity Guarantee. If the seller gifts a card or other item(s) free of charge to the buyer, the bonus card will not be eligible for the Authenticity Guarantee service and may be disposed of.
A blue badge with “Authenticity Guarantee” will automatically appear on your item's listing page. Upon making a sale, you can also check your order details in the Seller Hub sold section. If eligible, you will receive a confirmation email indicating your item sold with Authenticity Guarantee.
Yes. Your item will be eligible for Authenticity Guarantee and sent to the authenticator for inspection. Items with a Buy It Now price of at least $250 with either auction format or Best Offer are also eligible.
All auction-style listings that sell for over the eligible price point are eligible for Authenticity Guarantee, regardless of the starting price.
After the authentication facility receives the card, the authenticator will first perform a multi-point inspection. For ungraded cards, this involves checking the corners, edges, surface and overall condition of the card to ensure it matches the listing description and is not a counterfeit. For graded cards, this involves inspecting the sealed plastic holder for signs of tampering and verifying that the case and label are authentic to the grader. Then they confirm the item is consistent with the listing title, images, and listing description. Finally, the card will be packaged in custom packaging with a tamper-proof sticker seal. The card also receives a QR code sticker detailing the process.
Our partners at Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) are our official authenticators. For ungraded cards, PSA experts verify authenticity through a multi-point inspection, and then carefully review listing details for accuracy. For graded cards, PSA experts authenticate each case and label. No regrading is performed.
No, PSA does not offer card grading or re-grading as part of the Authenticity Guarantee service.
Authenticity Guarantee items are not eligible for combined shipping promotions since each authenticated item is put into a separate order for processing. Please ship all orders individually for the time being.
The authenticator will inspect the item within one to two business days after receiving it. Once authenticated, it will be shipped directly to the buyer with four-day or less tracked delivery.
You can track the status of your item throughout the process in the View Order Details section of your Seller Hub.
Yes, it is required for cards $750 and above.
No.
If you can't complete a sale with a buyer, you can cancel the order by locating the sale in Seller Hub or the “My eBay” tab and following the cancellation process. The buyer will be notified of the order cancellation immediately.
eBay will provide you with the address of the authentication center along with the buyer's name and a unique ID number. Please use the exact address eBay provides and include the unique ID number on Address Line 2. Alternatively, if you are using eBay labels, that information will automatically be populated for you. Once the authenticator verifies the card or sealed plastic holder, they will ship it to the buyer's address at no cost to you.
Once you've shipped the item, you'll need to upload tracking information through My eBay. Providing tracking information ensures your item will be inspected and seller protections cover you. It also allows buyers to track the progress of their purchases through each step of our authentication process.
Buyers can return an item if you accept returns, as stated in the listing, and the return takes place within your return window. If you do not accept returns, the item will be final sale and not eligible for returns unless the buyer files a return request within three calendar days of delivery as stated in the eBay Money Back Guarantee policy. Items shipping internationally to the U.S. are ineligible for returns under the Authenticity Guarantee program.
If you choose to offer returns and the buyer decides to return, we will instruct the buyer to send the item back to the authenticator. Your return policy determines whether you or the buyer pays for shipping costs back to the authenticator. Within two business days of receiving the item, the authenticator will re-verify that the raw card or sealed plastic holder is authentic and matches the listing description. Also, the raw card or graded card must have the untampered Authenticity Guarantee sticker still attached to it to be eligible for a return. If the card passes the authenticity re-inspection, the authenticator will ship it to you. Otherwise, the card will be sent back to the buyer. If fraud is detected, eBay will take appropriate action should the buyer be found at fault for fraud.
Your item may be returned to you if it does not pass the authentication check or if the item is not consistent with listing (title, photographs, condition, description). You will not be charged for the cost of shipping the return, and a refund will be issued to the buyer.
Yes, to avoid rejection due to SNAD, we recommend refining your listing, reviewing your condition and description, title, or adding more photos of the item to accurately convey the condition of the card. As a reminder, graded or after-market autographed cards, ungraded pack pulled autograph cards below $250, graded pack pulled autograph cards below $250, and patch/jersey cards are not eligible for Authenticity Guarantee at this time.
In the unlikely event your item is lost or damaged while in possession of the authentication facility, eBay will cover such loss or damage of the item (with proof).
In the unlikely event your item is lost in transit, the buyer can file a case and eBay will investigate. In the unlikely event your item is damaged, the buyer can open a return with “arrived damaged” as the return reason, and after careful review, eBay will refund the buyer as appropriate.
We have automated protections for sellers who send their items to the authenticator within their stated handling time. Once the item goes through inspection and is sent to the buyer, you are fully protected against any negative or neutral feedback. The Item Not Received cases will be removed from the Service Metrics dashboard before the next evaluation cycle. Should an Item Not Received case be closed and a refund issued to the buyer, you will not be responsible for that refund as long as eBay has tracking information confirming delivery to the authenticator, which can be found in the View Order Details.
eBay Authenticate has been retired and replaced with the new and improved Authenticity Guarantee. With Authenticity Guarantee, we've expanded the categories eligible for authentication, shortened the time it takes to authenticate, and increased protections for buyers and sellers.
No. PSA is our official authenticator of both ungraded and graded cards.
The Authenticity Guarantee service for Trading Cards (“Authenticity Guarantee” or “Authenticity Guarantee for Trading Cards”) makes third-party inspection and authentication services (“Services”) mandatory for certain items sold on eBay.com. These Authenticity Guarantee Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) apply to the Authenticity Guarantee service for Trading Cards and Eligible Items detailed below and sold or purchased on eBay.com, and set out the terms under which eBay offers you access to and use of the Authenticity Guarantee service for Trading Cards.
The eBay.com User Agreement, eBay's User Privacy Notice, and all policies posted on our sites (collectively, and as the same may be amended from time to time, “eBay's Policies”) apply in addition to these Terms. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between these Terms and eBay's Policies, these Terms will control as to all matters that they explicitly address. For all matters not explicitly addressed by these Terms, eBay's Policies will control.
For authenticated items, purchases are covered by eBay Money Back Guarantee when all other eligibility requirements are met and the item isn't received, or the item arrives damaged, or the seller doesn't fulfill their return policy.
If the seller does not accept returns or the return is opened outside of the stated return window, the item is considered “final sale” and cannot be returned.
In the unlikely event that your item is damaged in transit, you must open a return request within 3 calendar days or if the seller offers returns, within the seller's stated return window.
After the purchase of an Eligible Item (description in Section 5(a) below) on eBay.com, the item is shipped to a vetted third-party authentication partner (“Authentication Partner”) to carefully inspect the item for authenticity and accuracy against the item listing. Upon confirmation of the item by the third-party authentication partner, it is properly packaged and securely shipped to the buyer. If the item's authenticity cannot be verified or the item is significantly not as described, the item is returned to the seller and a refund is issued to the buyer.
AUTHENTICITY GUARANTEE FOR TRADING CARDS DOES NOT INCLUDE GRADING SERVICES.
If the item condition or any other aspect of the trading card does not match the listing, the trading card will be returned from the Authentication Partner to the seller, with the purchase canceled and payment price returned to the buyer. By listing for sale or purchasing an Eligible Item, you acknowledge and agree that the Eligible Item will be sent to the Authentication Partner to perform the Services. More information about the Authentication Partner and Services may be found here.
The Services are provided at no cost to sellers and buyers for Eligible Items that are bought or sold on eBay.com; however, eBay reserves the right to institute, alter, or amend fees or costs associated with the Services at any time, at eBay's sole discretion.
Only select listings on eBay.com are eligible for the Services. eBay reserves the right at any time, in its sole discretion, with or without notice to you, to alter or amend the eligibility requirements for Eligible Items, including, but not limited to category, and/or value of items and/or transactions.
“Eligible Items” in the Trading Cards category must satisfy the following conditions:
Ineligible items will not be authenticated.
Authenticity Guarantee is available for buyers and sellers in the United States and, with some restrictions, sellers in Canada. eBay reserves the right to expand or limit the countries eligible for Authenticity Guarantee or the Services at any time, in its sole discretion, with or without notice. If your item sells abroad, you will be bound by the User Agreement and policies, including any buyer protection policies, of the site on which the item is sold and, potentially, the consumer and other laws of the country of the relevant site. You will also be responsible for eBay's standard international fees that apply to these sales. If you do not want your item to be sold to buyers internationally, you can exclude countries or regions you don't want to post to by updating your shipping settings.
By listing an Eligible Item for sale on the eBay platform, you authorize its inspection by the Authentication Partner subsequent to its purchase.
Upon purchase, you are required to ship the Eligible Item, with appropriate insurance coverage, to a facility located within the United States, as directed by eBay. Items must be sent to the facility individually unless part of a multi-item order. The cost of shipping to the Authentication Partner is not covered by eBay. You acknowledge and agree that if the Authentication Partner cannot verify an item's authenticity, a refund will be issued to the buyer and you shall cooperate with removing the item from marketplace circulation.
By purchasing an Eligible Item on the eBay platform, you acknowledge and agree to inspection and photographing of the Eligible Item by the Authentication Partner prior to your receipt of the Eligible Item. In addition, if a return is requested, you acknowledge and agree to ship the Eligible Item with appropriate insurance coverage to the Authentication Partner and to inspect the Eligible Item before the return is processed or a refund is issued. More information on returns under the Authenticity Guarantee can be found here.
If buyer or seller circumvent or do not comply with Sections 7.a or 7.b of these Terms, or if buyer or seller violate or is found to be non-compliant with the Terms, eBay reserves the right to take immediate action such as, but not limited to, account restriction or suspension and/or the transfer of fees and costs associated with Authenticity Guarantee.
You acknowledge and agree that if the third-party authenticator detects fraud or suspects that an item is counterfeit, the item will be removed from marketplace circulation and, if the card was graded by PSA, PSA will deactivate its certificate. If the slab is counterfeit or tampered with but the underlying card is authentic and has not been compromised, PSA will re-holder the card and create a new certification before sending the card to the buyer. In addition, eBay will work with the proper authorities as needed and reserves the right to confiscate or destroy any items determined to be counterfeit.
eBay's collection of personal information in connection with the Authenticity Guarantee service is governed by the User Privacy Notice that applies to your use of the eBay.com website or, as applicable, another eBay international site. In order for the Authentication Partner to provide the Services under Authenticity Guarantee, the order information, including, but not limited to: your name, address, email address, and telephone number, is provided to the Authentication Partner. By selling or purchasing an Eligible Item, you direct eBay to provide this order information to the Authentication Partner, who may disclose this information, however collected, to its affiliates, service providers, and other third parties (e.g., shipping carriers and revenue authorities) as necessary to perform the Services.
eBay has the right, but not the obligation, to alter, amend, replace, suspend temporarily, and/or discontinue permanently, the Authenticity Guarantee service, the name of Authenticity Guarantee, any of the Services provided, features, and/or functionality offered under Authenticity Guarantee, and/or the service providers used to provide any or all of the Services under Authenticity Guarantee, at any time, in its sole discretion, with or without notice to you.
Items that are lost or damaged during the Authenticity Guarantee process are protected by eBay's Money Back Guarantee, subject to the eBay Money Back Guarantee guidelines. Items that are undeliverable or otherwise unclaimed after thirty (30) days will be considered abandoned and eBay reserves the right to donate or otherwise dispose of the item in our sole and absolute discretion.
eBay may amend these Terms, including applicable fees, at any time, by posting the amended terms on the eBay site. Except as stated elsewhere, all amended terms shall take effect immediately and automatically when posted on the eBay site.