EBAY TO OFFER SNEAKER AUTHENTICATION

eBay said on Monday that it will expand its “Authenticity Guarantee” service for sneaker sales on the platform. Through this program, all new and pre-owned collectible sneakers sold on eBay for over $100 in the U.S. will be fully vetted and verified by an independent team of industry experts. The service launches this month with the initial authentication of the most popular sneaker styles and brands on the marketplace. The online retailer aims to authenticate all sneaker sales over $100 by early 2021.

In 2019, eBay sold nearly six million sneakers in North America. On average, there are more than half a million sneaker listings on eBay each day. These are two of the reasons the company is investing in this new program, according to a statement released on Monday.

“Authentication has become an expectation for today’s consumers in categories of high passion and high value, and this program makes eBay the most attractive platform for enthusiasts in these categories,” said Jordan Sweetnam, senior vice president and general manager of eBay North America. “eBay operates the world’s most diverse sneaker marketplace – with the widest selection and best prices – and by removing any uncertainty with the buying process, our community can buy and sell with total confidence.”

How it works: When a sneakers purchase is made, the seller ships it directly to eBay’s independent third-party authentication facility for a comprehensive, multi-point physical inspection. Following this assessment by partner Sneaker Con, the sneakers are sent via expedited shipping to the buyer.

Upon receiving the sneakers, the independent authenticator confirms they are consistent with the listing title, description, and images, and then performs a multi-point physical authentication inspection. An eBay tag, guaranteeing its authenticity is attached to the sneakers to finalize the process.

For sellers who choose to offer returns, eBay’s sneaker authentication program ensures the exact item initially sold is returned to the seller, via a verified returns process. Returns are shipped back directly to the authentication center, where the third-party experts verify each item and its condition before returning to the seller.

This marks the company’s second significant authentication announcement in as many months. In September, eBay first launched Authenticity Guarantee for every watch sold over $2,000 in the U.S. The announcement also builds on eBay canceling selling fees on any sneakers purchase of $100 or more, which has helped attract more top sneaker sellers and bring the most coveted inventory to the marketplace at the most competitive prices.