Any sellers know about the authenticity guarantee on eBay?

[sdsubguy]

Thinking about selling a Datejust, wondering if anyone has had a less than great experience with eBay's authenticity guarantee. I guess I am just a little nervous about letting my watch go before having money in hand. Interested in hearing from any sellers about their experience with this. Thanks!

[1665fan]

I see real fakes on there with the authenticity guarantee for sale on eBay…..I assume if someone bought them and it went to eBay they would realize it’s fake and refund the buyers $$$$…..but other than that I don’t sell on eBay so cannot help u there

[southtexas]

eBay sucks, not worth it. Aside from the authentication nonsense and the ease by which buyers can scam sellers, eBay can and does unilaterally freeze funds for up to a month- no warning, no valid reason.

[GGGMT]

Absolutely ridiculous.
Just sell it to a good buyer here.


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[TexEd]

I have both bought and sold Rolex watches on ebay. The Authentication Process is the real deal. The seller is required to send the watch to a third party authenticator, and authorized Rolex dealer. The name and address of the authenticator is not divulged to either the buyer or seller. After authentication the watch is shipped to the buyer who may return the watch if he is not satisfied. The fee to sell is expensive, 9% which in my opinion is expensive.
The entire process is smooth and effortless. I would not buy or sell on ebay if they did not have the Authentication Policy. The policy also applies to designer jewelry, purses, and certain other items.

[chro.nic]

Actually the authenticators are Stoll & Co. Jewelers based in Dayton Ohio.

.nic

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by TexEd

I have both bought and sold Rolex watches on ebay. The Authentication Process is the real deal. The seller is required to send the watch to a third party authenticator, and authorized Rolex dealer. The name and address of the authenticator is not divulged to either the buyer or seller. After authentication the watch is shipped to the buyer who may return the watch if he is not satisfied. The fee to sell is expensive, 9% which in my opinion is expensive.
The entire process is smooth and effortless. I would not buy or sell on ebay if they did not have the Authentication Policy. The policy also applies to designer jewelry, purses, and certain other items.

everyone knows the name of the authenticators, and things have slipped by them.

[Modiferous]

The ebay verification is fine for most watches, but under certain circumstances it doesn't extend to if non-Rolex parts have been placed into the watch. For vintage watches ebay especially disclaims the process:

Vintage watches which are verified as authentic by the third-party authentication partner may contain replacement parts that are not from the original manufacturer if the original manufacturer no longer makes that part.

Supposedly they will look for some aftermarket parts (such as bezel) and reject the watch if it contains any.

Over all, you need to read through all of the FAQ and see what is and is not covered.

I'd say that this program coupled with mandatory escrow.com is most beneficial for the seller - buyers must pay with bank wire to escrow for anything over $5K, and are pretty much precluded from trying to switcheroo the watch received with a fake and trying to effect some kind of return for refund fraud. I'd also imagine that for any crooked buyer or seller ebay would not be the watch scam venue of choice given the escrow.com and ebay authenticity requirements for any watch over $2000. These scammers go to the least common denominator of easy pickings.

Basically, if you sit down and think of all the ways a seller could defraud you, yes, some of these frauds could slip by ebay, but if you're buying from a seller on ebay with good feedback this coupled with this Authentication Guarantee program should put you at ease for most transactions. When you buy from a reputable seller on say Moda where other sellers have vouched for him, what do you do with the watch after you've received it anyway? If the seller is reputable and been vouched for on your specific transaction no further check should be required from your end. Here at RolexForums yes we have reputable sellers but no one vouches for anyone else - at Moda the standing rule is that if you vouch for someone and the deal goes bad you must make good out of your own pocket.

[CrazeD]

Originally Posted by TexEd

I have both bought and sold Rolex watches on ebay. The Authentication Process is the real deal. The seller is required to send the watch to a third party authenticator, and authorized Rolex dealer. The name and address of the authenticator is not divulged to either the buyer or seller. After authentication the watch is shipped to the buyer who may return the watch if he is not satisfied. The fee to sell is expensive, 9% which in my opinion is expensive.
The entire process is smooth and effortless. I would not buy or sell on ebay if they did not have the Authentication Policy. The policy also applies to designer jewelry, purses, and certain other items.

As a buyer I recently had a great experience with them.

I ordered a Sub that was listed as new. The authenticator determined the watch was used and had been polished in an attempt to pass it off as new. The reached out to me with pictures and detailed description of how they determined this.

They then processed the return and promptly got my money refunded. I didnt have to do anything but confirm that I no longer wanted the watch.


Definitely a useful service from a buyer standpoint. They are the real deal.

[Noobftw]

sold one before on Ebay and it was smooth, buyer also very impressed.
Given the high commision I don't sell on Ebay (in general) unless there is a seller fee discount promotion.