eBay, etc. General Question/Answer Thread

[dingbat]

Has anyone purchased an item that had an ebay authenticate team guarantee that wasn't authentic? Could you please describe how that process works? I received a Celine bag that was guaranteed through ebay authenticate (https://www.ebay.com/s/itemauthentication/buyer), but when I requested a return due to it not being authentic, the buyer sent me a label to send back to him.... ebay help said to bring it to the store to get it authenticated (!). When I directed them to (their own) website, they said I would receive an e-mail from their team....

To add to the comedy, the seller sent me messages signed as if he were the authenticate team:

New message from: eastvaleluxe (563)
Thank you for contacting our eBay Authenticate store. We sincerely apologize for the delayed response. Unfortunately, our records indicate that we were not able to locate a serial number on this bag. Most Celine bags have a tab inside the pockets with the serial. They can also be hard to read as in most cases the tab cannot be pulled out. Please let us know if you have further questions.

Sincerely,

eBay Authenticate Team

Still waiting and would love to have an idea what to expect. Do they live up to the 200% money back? I've scoured this bag - there is no serial number. I really wanted to find it because I really would love to keep a real one!

 

[whateve]

Has anyone purchased an item that had an ebay authenticate team guarantee that wasn't authentic? Could you please describe how that process works? I received a Celine bag that was guaranteed through ebay authenticate (https://www.ebay.com/s/itemauthentication/buyer), but when I requested a return due to it not being authentic, the buyer sent me a label to send back to him.... ebay help said to bring it to the store to get it authenticated (!). When I directed them to (their own) website, they said I would receive an e-mail from their team....

To add to the comedy, the seller sent me messages signed as if he were the authenticate team:

New message from: eastvaleluxe (563)
Thank you for contacting our eBay Authenticate store. We sincerely apologize for the delayed response. Unfortunately, our records indicate that we were not able to locate a serial number on this bag. Most Celine bags have a tab inside the pockets with the serial. They can also be hard to read as in most cases the tab cannot be pulled out. Please let us know if you have further questions.

Sincerely,

eBay Authenticate Team

Still waiting and would love to have an idea what to expect. Do they live up to the 200% money back? I've scoured this bag - there is no serial number. I really wanted to find it because I really would love to keep a real one!

I have no idea, but I'm interested to hear how they handle it.

 

[dingbat]

I have no idea, but I'm interested to hear how they handle it.

I'll report back! Initial reaction = total confusion .

 

[BeenBurned]

Has anyone purchased an item that had an ebay authenticate team guarantee that wasn't authentic? Could you please describe how that process works? I received a Celine bag that was guaranteed through ebay authenticate (https://www.ebay.com/s/itemauthentication/buyer), but when I requested a return due to it not being authentic, the buyer sent me a label to send back to him.... ebay help said to bring it to the store to get it authenticated (!). When I directed them to (their own) website, they said I would receive an e-mail from their team....

To add to the comedy, the seller sent me messages signed as if he were the authenticate team:

New message from: eastvaleluxe (563)
Thank you for contacting our eBay Authenticate store. We sincerely apologize for the delayed response. Unfortunately, our records indicate that we were not able to locate a serial number on this bag. Most Celine bags have a tab inside the pockets with the serial. They can also be hard to read as in most cases the tab cannot be pulled out. Please let us know if you have further questions.

Sincerely,

eBay Authenticate Team

Still waiting and would love to have an idea what to expect. Do they live up to the 200% money back? I've scoured this bag - there is no serial number. I really wanted to find it because I really would love to keep a real one!

I have no idea, but I'm interested to hear how they handle it.

If an item is found and determined to be fake, there's a 200% money back guarantee. You'll get double your money back.
https://www.ebay.com/s/itemauthentication/buyer

But just saying it's fake isn't going to be the proof they need in order to honor the guarantee.

That said, it looks like your pictures weren't adequate for @unoma to authenticate it so I'd submit the appropriate pictures to get her opinion. If she agrees it's fake, you'll probably need to purchase a professional authentication to submit to ebay. Unoma can tell you who she considers to be dependable and knowledgeable of Celine.

ETA: I saw that you requested an authentication from AT Celine but the pictures you submitted weren't good enough for @unoma to authenticate. Presumably you have the bag in your possession so ask her what additional pictures she needs. You'll have to do that anyway in order to support your claim with Eastvaleluxe/ebay.

 

[dingbat]

If an item is found and determined to be fake, there's a 200% money back guarantee. You'll get double your money back.
https://www.ebay.com/s/itemauthentication/buyer

But just saying it's fake isn't going to be the proof they need in order to honor the guarantee.

That said, it looks like your pictures weren't adequate for @unoma to authenticate it so I'd submit the appropriate pictures to get her opinion. If she agrees it's fake, you'll probably need to purchase a professional authentication to submit to ebay. Unoma can tell you who she considers to be dependable and knowledgeable of Celine.

ETA: I saw that you requested an authentication from AT Celine but the pictures you submitted weren't good enough for @unoma to authenticate. Presumably you have the bag in your possession so ask her what additional pictures she needs. You'll have to do that anyway in order to support your claim with Eastvaleluxe/ebay.

Thank you! Good advice.

 

[dingbat]

Thank you! Good advice.

If an item is found and determined to be fake, there's a 200% money back guarantee. You'll get double your money back.
https://www.ebay.com/s/itemauthentication/buyer

But just saying it's fake isn't going to be the proof they need in order to honor the guarantee.

That said, it looks like your pictures weren't adequate for @unoma to authenticate it so I'd submit the appropriate pictures to get her opinion. If she agrees it's fake, you'll probably need to purchase a professional authentication to submit to ebay. Unoma can tell you who she considers to be dependable and knowledgeable of Celine.

ETA: I saw that you requested an authentication from AT Celine but the pictures you submitted weren't good enough for @unoma to authenticate. Presumably you have the bag in your possession so ask her what additional pictures she needs. You'll have to do that anyway in order to support your claim with Eastvaleluxe/ebay.

Is there such a thing as an authentic bag with no serial number? I mean, I know there are plenty of fakes with them, but hadn't heard of the opposite happening.

 

[N.M.Nevuhmynd]

Now - I just received another offer today from someone wanting to buy another item I have listed outside of eBay. She says......”it doesn’t hurt to ask.” Apparently it does hurt. It will hurt me JUST to ask because now if I end the listing for whatever reason I will be accused of selling outside of eBay. She even goes as far as to tell me that I will save fees iif I sell to her directly through paypal. ALL the red flag words.

I am going to report even if I have to call them. Is there another way?

You need to reply to that message with a professional but sternly worded messages that it DOES indeed hurt and that both buyers and sellers are being punished for those messages even if nothing becomes of the offer. You need to state firmly that you deal ONLY through active listings. Having that reply in your messages can make the difference in regards to future warnings.

 

[N.M.Nevuhmynd]

So I sent a polite email yesterday afternoon, expressing curiousity over the charge versus shipping label, understading that there may be a small fee from eBay and could there have been a miscalution.
She emailed back late yest that she had refunded me the difference! I will confirm my PP account later and leave her + feedback.
Thanks ladies!!

Just catching the end of this, but as I gather, you bought and paid for an item where the shipping rate was shown at checkout before you paid? Then when you received the item, you found postage on the label less than what you paid? Then you contacted the seller and raised the issue of the different rates?

If I have that right, I feel it was inappropriate of you to do so.

 

[dingbat]

By the way, I know I'm creating an irritating number of posts on the same topic, but I do want to say how grateful I am to all of you including @unoma and the other authenticators for the time the volunteer to help us out even if we're posting like nutters (in my case at least, due to inexperience...).

 

[MAGJES]

You need to reply to that message with a professional but sternly worded messages that it DOES indeed hurt and that both buyers and sellers are being punished for those messages even if nothing becomes of the offer. You need to state firmly that you deal ONLY through active listings. Having that reply in your messages can make the difference in regards to future warnings.

Thank you!
I did reply and tell them that yes indeeed it does hurt to ask ....and why.

 

[MAGJES]

Is there such a thing as an authentic bag with no serial number? I mean, I know there are plenty of fakes with them, but hadn't heard of the opposite happening.

Actually there is.

I purchased a bag directly from a Celine boutique. (Micro Luggage - Dune)
The serial number is on a leather tag inside the inner pocket on Luggage bags.
There is a leather tag in my bag but the serial number did not imprint. My SA said several of their Dune bags came that way.
I thought about selling it at one time and had it authenticated by authenticate4u.com in case the missing serial number was a problem.

 

[dingbat]

Actually there is.

I purchased a bag directly from a Celine boutique. (Micro Luggage - Dune)
The serial number is on a leather tag inside the inner pocket on Luggage bags.
There is a leather tag in my bag but the serial number did not imprint. My SA said several of their Dune bags came that way.
I thought about selling it at one time and had it authenticated by authenticate4u.com in case the missing serial number was a problem.

Thank you! That's interesting. In this case there's no tag either but perhaps its a missing stamp....

 

[BeenBurned]

Is there such a thing as an authentic bag with no serial number? I mean, I know there are plenty of fakes with them, but hadn't heard of the opposite happening.

Actually there is.

I purchased a bag directly from a Celine boutique. (Micro Luggage - Dune)
The serial number is on a leather tag inside the inner pocket on Luggage bags.
There is a leather tag in my bag but the serial number did not imprint. My SA said several of their Dune bags came that way.
I thought about selling it at one time and had it authenticated by authenticate4u.com in case the missing serial number was a problem.

Thank you! That's interesting. In this case there's no tag either but perhaps its a missing stamp....

I'm glad @MAGJES is familiar with Celine and commented because I don't know the brand. I also am not a skilled Chanel authenticator but I know there have been cases where the hologram/serial number stickers have fallen off. And in Dooney, a brand I do know, serial number tags are sometimes removed or snipped when items are sold by their outlets. It's Dooney's way of knowing that the bag was sold at a discounted price and not eligible for returns to retail stores and not eligible for warranty.

Keep in mind that parts of bags that are either removable or that can fall off aren't what determines authenticity. It's the actual details of the bag itself that determines whether it's authentic. (In fact, most fakes have "serial numbers" because the counterfeiters do what they think will fool buyers.)

 

[ironic568]

Anyone's package ever stuck in customs for almost 2 weeks? I called (Chicago customs) and was told my package has been detained, but was not given the reason why (CS rep didn't know either). Hope it's just a simple case of duty assessment and nothing else.

Hopefully your seller didn't lie about the value.

No, it's a very honest seller. I bought from her several times and she always declared the correct value (purchase price). Just to make sure, I did email and ask her and she assured me they don't lie about the value, nor was my package declared as gift. The other thing I was thinking of is that the authenticity is being questioned, though I did have the item authenticated and seller reputable. Guess it's just a waiting game now.

Thought I'd update on this. After being held in customs for about a month, I've finally received my package Saturday. I was ready to shell out some $$, but the best and bizarre thing is: no customs charges .
Mailman didn't ask for any, no bill in the box, just signature for receipt required. I still don't understand why the heck it was detained, then? It was delivered by USPS.

 

[nicole0612]

Thought I'd update on this. After being held in customs for about a month, I've finally received my package Saturday. I was ready to shell out some $$, but the best and bizarre thing is: no customs charges .
Mailman didn't ask for any, no bill in the box, just signature for receipt required. I still don't understand why the heck it was detained, then? It was delivered by USPS.

I guess you were rewarded for your patience! I’m glad it came to a happy resolution!