eBay authentication service

[southtexas]

How long does it normally take for eBay Authenticator to complete his evaluation? I sold a relatively low-value Rolex on eBay (<$2,000) and was directed to ship it to Authenticator. FedEx signed tracking shows the watch was delivered to Authenticator on wed 4/3. Since then, I’ve heard nothing.

FYI “Order details” on my seller page shows “shipped to Authenticator”.

Anyone have recent experience with this? Thanks in advance.

[southtexas]

Disregard. The "authenticators" at ebay are idiots.

[ErichKeane]

I only have experience as a buyer, but they turned it around same-day.

What is the story this time?

[wesdaniel]

Originally Posted by southtexas

Disregard. The "authenticators" at ebay are idiots.

Am curious to know the circumstances? I haven't sold a watch on ebay since they started the authentication process, but have bought multiple.

I'm not a fan of Stoll & Co for repairs to watches (they're the factory service center for many brands including B&M), but haven't had an issue with their authentication.

[southtexas]

I sold a watch advertised as having a refinished dial. Authenticator “rejected” the watch due to it having a refinished dial. Go figure.

[wesdaniel]

Originally Posted by southtexas

I sold a watch advertised as having a refinished dial. Authenticator “rejected” the watch due to it having a refinished dial. Go figure.

Yeah, that's a point with ebay's program. Anything that isn't factory original should be marked as customized and that will avoid the authentication process.

When a watch has been customized in any way, it will be rejected by authentication.

[TimeToGo]

Originally Posted by southtexas

I sold a watch advertised as having a refinished dial. Authenticator “rejected” the watch due to it having a refinished dial. Go figure.

The Authenticator gives the buyer the option to buy the item with "whatever" discrepancies are noted with the watch, whether listed or not. They give you a couple of days to decide or engage with the seller for a discount, if that is what the buyer wants to do.

[wesdaniel]

Originally Posted by TimeToGo

The Authenticator gives the buyer the option to buy the item with "whatever" discrepancies are noted with the watch, whether listed or not. They give you a couple of days to decide or engage with the seller for a discount, if that is what the buyer wants to do.

I bought a Rolex on ebay this past weekend. It was shipped to the authenticator on Monday and arrive Tuesday.

Before noon on Tuesday, the authenticator had rejected it and sent it back to the seller. They didn't make any contact with me about the rejection other than to let me know it had been rejected.

According to the seller, it was rejected because the crown was not original to the watch.

I have no way to totally verify this, but, the seller did send me a screen shot of a redacted email from ebay that seemed to support that. Although, images like that can easily be faked, so I don't really know.

This is the first time I've had a watch rejected by Stoll and I've bought probably more than a dozen that were authenticated by them. It looks like this watch has gone around the horn a few times - it has been advertised and sold (not here) at least three times in the last 8 months in different places.