eBay to verify Rolex watches and packaging

[Dsmith1974]

Very interesting. All watches over 2K will be sent to an expert verification facility to be examined by professional watchmakers under 90x mag. Waterproof tested and even the packaging verified for authenticity.

This would turn eBay from a minefield into a safe space?

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/d...78f88888127e0a


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[Dsmith1974]

Originally Posted by Dsmith1974

Very interesting. All watches over 2K will be sent to an expert verification facility to be examined by professional watchmakers under 90x mag. Waterproof tested and even the packaging verified for authenticity.

This would turn eBay from a minefield into a safe space?

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/d...78f88888127e0a


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Some more details from eBay

https://pages.ebay.com/authenticity-guarantee-watches/

Looks like they supply an NFC authenticity NFC card.


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[TimepieceRPP]

Originally Posted by Dsmith1974

Very interesting. All watches over 2K will be sent to an expert verification facility to be examined by professional watchmakers under 90x mag. Waterproof tested and even the packaging verified for authenticity.

This would turn eBay from a minefield into a safe space?

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/d...78f88888127e0a


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Wonder who is going to bear the cost... and what about the logistic? Sold after sending for

authenticity or before listing? Will ebay keep the Watches until sold or what?

[Token74]

This feels like a great move.


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[Dsmith1974]

Originally Posted by TimepieceRPP

Wonder who is going to bear the cost... and what about the logistic? Sold after sending for

authenticity or before listing? Will ebay keep the Watches until sold or what?

I think the details are in my second link above. Looks like the watch will be sent to a verification facility after being sold.

I imagine they hold the funds in escrow and cancel the deal when a fake is detected. Not sure who bears the extra cost, as a buyer I’d be queuing up for them to take my money. Verified before sale sounds pretty darned good to me.


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[Ddaywatch]

I’ve sold a few watches this year that qualified for this. As a seller, it gives me peace of mind and I don’t have to pay a dime extra. On top of that, PayPal fees are gone and eBay pays out/takes their cut within a day of authentication.


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[slillestrand]

Ebay getting into the mix is a bad idea for so many reasons.

[Dsmith1974]

Originally Posted by slillestrand

Ebay getting into the mix is a bad idea for so many reasons.

I guess you still run the risk of the watch being stolen. I don’t see any mention of them checking for that. So it could become a hot spot for stolen watches.


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[garyk]

Somebody always turns potential good into bad….I remember the early days of the internet was fun!!

[teck21]

Originally Posted by TimepieceRPP

Wonder who is going to bear the cost... and what about the logistic? Sold after sending for

authenticity or before listing? Will ebay keep the Watches until sold or what?

It will be passed on to the seller and/or buyer one way or other.

eBay has finally wised up to the money that’s at stake.

Just another sign of, and further entrenchment of the new normal.

With so much buy in, the resale market beast has truly come into its own.


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[mikhaelj]

Originally Posted by teck21

It will be passed on to the seller and/or buyer one way or other.

eBay has finally wised up to the money that’s at stake.

Just another sign of, and further entrenchment of the new normal.

With so much buy in, the resale market beast has truly come into its own.


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umm no not the buyer. I bought a 16000 36mm 1981 DJ last week on eBay:

1- paid ebay
2- seller sent watch to authorized authenticator assigned by eBay in OH
3- watch verified and authenticated
4- watch sent to me Fedex 48 hours.
Bought Sep 29, delivered Oct 4. Free shipping, 30 days return guarantee if I change my mind and on top of this eBay had a promo 10% OFF for watches over 2k so that was $480 OFF for me.

[MILGAUSS88]

I see that you are in the UK
This was implemented, just around a year ago, in the USA.

[Mystro]

They do this with higher end sneakers. The cost is currently free for the buyer and seller.

[Marcjvr]

Good move in my opinion. We need less fakes and less scammers and every little step in the direction of that goal helps.

[2bigalow]

I recently made a purchase on Ebay and the new policy seems to be going in the right direction to discourage scammers.
I purchased a pre-owned Zenith (full kit) from a well known retailer who also sells on Ebay. Once I paid via PayPal, the retailer shipped the package to the authentication center and provided me with the tracking info. I was able to track the package to the authentication center before receiving a delivery confirmation email from Ebay, stating the watch was accepted at the center and was awaiting authentication. A couple of days later I received a follow up email from Ebay, confirming the authentication and provided a tracking number.
The watch was shipped in a box, I assume was provided by Ebay, and sealed with tamper proof tape, along with a warning decal indicating not to open the box if the tape is damaged or the box has been manipulated. The watch also had a tamper proof vinyl authenticity strap attached to the back, which if removed, would void any returns.
I was fairly impressed with the new process implemented. I was beginning to shy away from Ebay, since I recently had two separate incidents (not watch related) involving scammers, one as a buyer and one as a seller. Fortunately Ebay was able to straighten the issues out in my favor, but it was a PITA.

[dpt.calvin]

This is nothing new. At least not in the US.

[dannyp]

Who eats the cost if the buyer determines a watch to be fake but seller has already disappeared with the money? If it's eBay, then this setup probably saves substantial money, or at the very least spreads those incidents across all watch sales.

[Feh]

What happens to the fake piece?

[telesquire]

Yeah its been going on for a while now....blue tick and 'Authenticity Guarantee' next to it. However I've seen ones with newer boxes than they should have being described as all original....lol.

[IamJacky]

Originally Posted by mikhaelj

umm no not the buyer. I bought a 16000 36mm 1981 DJ last week on eBay:

1- paid ebay
2- seller sent watch to authorized authenticator assigned by eBay in OH
3- watch verified and authenticated
4- watch sent to me Fedex 48 hours.
Bought Sep 29, delivered Oct 4. Free shipping, 30 days return guarantee if I change my mind and on top of this eBay had a promo 10% OFF for watches over 2k so that was $480 OFF for me.

Sounds wonderful and congrats on such as smooth deal!

I suppose if majority of these high end watch transactions end up as smoothly as yours it'll definitely benefit both future buyers & sellers.

[mikhaelj]

Originally Posted by Feh

What happens to the fake piece?

Gets returned to seller and auto refund issued Instantly before even the watch makes it back to seller.


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[mikhaelj]

Originally Posted by dannyp

Who eats the cost if the buyer determines a watch to be fake but seller has already disappeared with the money? If it's eBay, then this setup probably saves substantial money, or at the very least spreads those incidents across all watch sales.

Money is not issued to seller until the watch is authenticated and matches the listing description


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[TimepieceRPP]

Originally Posted by mikhaelj

umm no not the buyer. I bought a 16000 36mm 1981 DJ last week on eBay:

1- paid ebay
2- seller sent watch to authorized authenticator assigned by eBay in OH
3- watch verified and authenticated
4- watch sent to me Fedex 48 hours.
Bought Sep 29, delivered Oct 4. Free shipping, 30 days return guarantee if I change my mind and on top of this eBay had a promo 10% OFF for watches over 2k so that was $480 OFF for me.

Just wonder if the buyer decides to return and will it need to send to check the authenticity? Who is going to protect the seller? Haha

[mikhaelj]

Originally Posted by TimepieceRPP

Just wonder if the buyer decides to return and will it need to send to check the authenticity? Who is going to protect the seller? Haha

You get 30 days to return it. You need to keep the eBay guarantee tag on the watch. Once returned, it goes back to the authenticator who revérifies it before sending it back to the seller


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[TimepieceRPP]

Originally Posted by mikhaelj

You get 30 days to return it. You need to keep the eBay guarantee tag on the watch. Once returned, it goes back to the authenticator who revérifies it before sending it back to the seller


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Thanks for the info. Then it is not bad.

[fskywalker]

Nice

[Dsmith1974]

Originally Posted by mikhaelj

You get 30 days to return it. You need to keep the eBay guarantee tag on the watch. Once returned, it goes back to the authenticator who revérifies it before sending it back to the seller


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This is awesome!


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[doboy007]

Who verifies the authenticator didn’t scratch up the watch :)

[928ktgold]

Originally Posted by doboy007

Who verifies the authenticator didn’t scratch up the watch :)

I bought a 16610LV from eBay 3 weeks ago ago unpolished with no rehaut. My fear with authentication was they would dent the lugs upon checking the serial number with the bracelet removed. When I got the watch there were some marks on the lugs. It could have been there prior to authentication but who knows. Also interesting was that another seller who was selling another watch that I called about told me eBay would allow them to put a watch on sale and eBay would pay the difference! They were a high volume seller so that’s prob why. I also use an eBay promotion for $500 off coupon!
I ended up returning the watch since it came out to $16500 with taxes and all and it just felt like too much money for that watch. Plus I have my own original 16610 the time got an authentic green bezel for. I know it doesn’t have the maxi dial that I love, but it just underwhelmed me since I have something similar already

[mikhaelj]

Originally Posted by doboy007

Who verifies the authenticator didn’t scratch up the watch :)

Photos on listing should be examined thoroughly so it matches the watch when your receive it. If it’s not a match you’re in your rights to return it. If it matches the description and still decide to return it, I’d assume you’d follow eBay return rules and not wear the watch as instructed. I’d take pictures and video boxing the watch for a peace of mind before I return it.


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