What is Authenticity Guarantee?
eBay's Authenticity Guarantee is designed to help buyers shop with confidence and protect sellers with verified returns. Authenticators physically inspect all eligible items before they are posted to the buyer and inspect all returns prior to sending them back to the seller.
How does Authenticity Guarantee work?
An “Authenticity Guarantee” blue tick badge is applied to all eligible items. When an eligible item is purchased, the seller is required to post the item to the authentication facility, where the item goes through a multi-point inspection process. Once verified, the authenticator posts the item directly to the buyer via fast, tracked delivery.
Will I be charged a fee for Authenticity Guarantee?
No. As part of the Authenticity Guarantee, eBay covers the cost of authentication as well as fast, tracked, delivery from our authentication facility to the buyer.
What items are eligible for Authenticity Guarantee?
Authenticity Guarantee is available for selected brands, in new or preowned condition, listed under the Women’s clothing & Men’s clothing categories, and sold for £200 or more via Fixed Price or Auction listings by business sellers. You can identify eligible listings by looking for the blue Authenticity Guarantee tick in the search results or the top right of the item’s page.
The eligible brands for Authenticity Guarantee are Dior, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Alexander Mcqueen, Off-white, Givenchy, Burberry London, Burberry, Adidas, Nike, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Versace, Stone Island, Fendi, Moncler, Polo Ralph Lauren, Barbour, Canada Goose, The North Face, Belstaff, Tom Ford, Valentino, Chanel, Balmain.
Only items purchased on eBay.co.uk are eligible for Authenticity Guarantee. Items that post to a buyer address outside the UK are not eligible for the service at this time. Listings that offer only local pickup or items posted to P.O. Boxes will not be eligible for Authenticity Guarantee. Any item purchased using an offline payment method will not be eligible for Authenticity Guarantee.
Items in breach of the prohibited item policy are not eligible for Authenticity Guarantee. Items with hot stamping of initials or initialling using another method, such as embroidery, may be accepted for Authenticity Guarantee where the relevant brand provides such stamping or other initialling services. However, only the item would be authenticated and not the hot stamping or any other initialling method.
For further details learn more about Authenticity Guarantee Terms & Conditions here.
I sell eligible items on eBay now, do I need to do anything?
In order to properly protect you and the buyer, our authentication process will be more stringent about how items are described. You should review your items listed in the Women’s clothing & Men’s clothing categories, making sure you accurately describe and photograph your item and follow steps 1-2 set out below.
Select the appropriate Item Condition when you list your item for sale (please make sure this is accurate to avoid your item not passing the authentication process and being returned to you)
“New with tags” This item is brand new and has never been worn. It still has the original tags and/or original packaging
“New without tags” This item is brand new and has never been worn, but doesn’t have tags and/or is missing the original packaging. The item doesn’t have flaws or imperfections
“New with imperfections” This item is brand new, has never been worn, but has some type of defect. New irregular items may fall into this category. The original tags may or may not be attached
“Preowned - Excellent” This item has been previously worn; however, it is in excellent condition. Any signs of wear should be shown and described in the seller’s listing
“Preowned - Good” This item has been gently used but is in good condition. It might have a few signs of wear, but all imperfections should be shown and described in the seller’s listing
“Preowned - Fair” This item has significantly visible imperfections and signs of wear. All imperfections should be shown and described in the seller’s listing
Accurately describe your item in detail and take as many photographs as needed. Ensure that you capture any defects, any anomalies on the item of clothing. If using stock images or screenshots, they must include original accessories. If taking your own photographs, everything pictured will be assumed as included. Accurate documentation & photographs will ensure your item can flow through the authentication process smoothly.
How can I confirm my item qualified for Authenticity Guarantee?
A blue tick with "Authenticity Guarantee" will automatically appear on your item's listing page. Upon making a sale, you can also check your order details in the Seller Hub sold section. If eligible, you will receive a confirmation email indicating your item sold with Authenticity Guarantee and the delivery address will be our authentication centre.
If I list my clothing for £200 and accept a Best Offer below £200 will it be eligible for Authenticity Guarantee?
Yes. Your item will be eligible for Authenticity Guarantee and will be sent to the authenticator for inspection. Items with a Buy It Now price of £200 or more with either auction format or Best Offer are also eligible.
How do you determine Authenticity Guarantee eligibility for auction-style listings?
All auction-style listings that sell for £200 and over are eligible for Authenticity Guarantee, regardless of the starting price.
What happens at the authentication facility?
The authenticator first confirms that the item and any brand papers are consistent with the listing title, description, and images. Then, the authenticator will perform a multi-point physical authentication inspection. Once verified as authentic, the item will receive a unique Authenticity Guarantee card providing detailed information about the item.
Finally, the item is placed inside an eBay branded bag and securely packaged inside an eBay box along with brand papers.
Is there an authentication card?
Yes, all verified items come with an Authenticity Guarantee card containing details about the item such as brand.
Who is providing the authentication services?
eBay’s team of professionally trained authenticators vet and verify each item, using detailed, physical inspection and advanced technical equipment in a state-of-the-art facility.
Can I offer combined postage?
Authenticity Guarantee items will not be eligible for combined postage promotions since each authenticated item is put into a separate order for processing. Please post all orders individually.
Can I send orders in bulk to the authenticator?
Items must be sent to the facility individually unless part of a multi-item order.
What is the estimated delivery time for Authenticity Guarantee items?
The authenticator will inspect the item within two business days after they receive it. Following inspection, the item will be posted to the buyer with fast, tracked delivery. Estimated delivery dates will automatically be adjusted on eligible listings.
How do I track the status of my item?
You can track the status of your item throughout the process in the View Order Details section of your Seller Hub.
How should I post my item to the authentication facility?
It is recommended to use a tracked delivery service to post your item to the authentication facility. For further details learn more about Tracking Items You've Sold.
Can a buyer choose to not have the item authenticated?
No, eBay's Authenticity Guarantee is a service designed to protect buyers and sellers.
When I sell my item, where am I posting to?
eBay will provide you with the address of the authentication facility along with the buyer’s name and an eBay authentication code in the format 'ebay:xxxxxxx'. Be sure to use the exact delivery address eBay provides including the authentication code, as the authenticators need that to process your order. The item must be posted to the address provided, sellers cannot drop off or deliver items to the authentication facility in person. Once your item is verified and authenticated it will be forwarded on to the buyer’s address at no extra cost to you.
How do I provide tracking information?
Once you've posted the item, you'll need to upload tracking information through "My eBay." Providing tracking information helps ensure that your item will be processed smoothly at the authentication facility and that seller protections cover you. It also allows buyers to track the progress of their purchases through each step of our authentication process.
Can buyers return items purchased with Authenticity Guarantee?
Buyers can return an item if the seller accepts returns, as stated in the listing, and the return takes place within the seller's return window, or in the unlikely event the item is ultimately found to be not as described. Please note that business sellers, and consumer sellers, are required to offer certain types of returns options in the UK. Learn more about setting up return policies here.
How does the return process work with Authenticity Guarantee?
When a buyer decides to return an item in accordance with the seller's return policy or if the item is not as described, they will be instructed to send the item back to the authentication facility. eBay will provide the buyer with a return postage label, once the return request has been generated.Your return policy determines whether you or the buyer pays for postage costs back to the authenticator. Within two business days of receiving the item, the authenticator will verify that the returned item matches the authenticity and condition in which it was originally sent to the buyer. If the item passes the authenticity and condition inspection, the buyer will be refunded and the item will be returned to you with fast, tracked delivery, at no cost to the seller.
Why would my item be returned to me by the authenticator?
Your item will be returned to you if the item condition is not consistent with your photographs and item description. You will not be charged for the cost of posting the return and a refund will be issued to the buyer immediately. If the item's authenticity cannot be verified, you will cooperate with removing the item from marketplace circulation.
What will happen if my item is damaged or lost while in possession of the authenticator?
In the unlikely event your item is lost or damaged while in the possession of the authentication facility, eBay will cover such loss or damage of the item. Should the item be lost or damaged before reaching the authentication facility, the seller is responsible.
What will happen if my item is damaged or lost in transit when the authenticator posts it to the buyer?
In the unlikely event your item is lost or damaged, please notify eBay Customer Support.
What protections does eBay have for sellers?
We have protections for sellers who send their items to the authenticator within their stated handling time. Once the item goes through inspection and is sent to the buyer, sellers are fully protected against any negative or neutral feedback. The Item Not Received cases will be removed from the Service Metrics dashboard before the next evaluation cycle. Should an Item Not Received case be closed and a refund issued to the buyer, the seller will not be responsible for that refund as long as eBay has tracking confirming delivery to the Authenticator, which can be found in the View Order Details.