eBay November Seller News: Ship To PSA Vault, Germany Authentication Update, UK AI Activate & More
eBay has announced seller updates for the month of November with US buyers able to ship trading cards directly to PSA for grading and vaulting, UK sellers getting item not received protections and an invite to join AI Activate, and a shake up to Authenticity Guarantee in Germany.
US
Buyer who choose to add PSA Grading Service to their eligible trading card purchases on eBay can now also have those cards sent directly to the PSA Vault after grading.
Buyers who purchase a raw trading card worth $250 or more and add eBay’s PSA Grading service can have it shipped directly from PSA grading to the PSA Vault in Delaware.
This new option adds a layer of convenience and security that gives collectors more confidence in their purchases—helping sellers like you close more deals and boost buyer satisfaction.
Build buyer trust
PSA Vault is a secure storage facility that protects valuable trading cards. Previously, this service wasn’t available to buyers who added PSA Grading to their purchase at checkout. With this update, you are able to offer buyers more choice and confidence when shopping. This can lead to stronger buyer trust, more repeat purchases, and increased sales for graded trading card sellers.Next steps
No action is required and you won't see any changes in your selling process. You’ll still ship to the Authenticity Guarantee facility as normal. From there, PSA handles grading and fulfillment based on the buyer’s chosen option.Direct shipping to the PSA Vault is optional—buyers can still have their graded card shipped directly to them, just as before.
This comes as the latest move consolidating the tie up between PSA (owned by Collectors Holdings) and eBay after eBay sold their vault operations to PSA in 2024 while acquiring Goldin Auctions from Collectors.
Liz Morton
UK
Sellers in the UK will be getting the same protections from Item Not Received claims that eBay announced for the US in August, plus eBay UK is pushing hard to get sellers interested in their AI Activate program in partnership with OpenAI.
To qualify for INR protection, sellers will need to purchase their labels through eBay.
Carrier shipping delays can sometimes lead to buyers filing an Item Not Received (INR) claim, only for the item to arrive days later. Starting in November, we’re improving protections to help make sure sellers like you aren’t negatively affected by things outside your control.
Our new policy
If you ship on time using a tracked shipping service purchased through eBay labels, you’re covered. If tracking shows the item was delivered after you’ve already issued a refund to the buyer, you’ll be reimbursed for the item cost. We’ll also remove any negative or neutral feedback tied to the delay.What is an Item Not Received claim?
When an item hasn’t been received by the day after the estimated delivery date, the buyer can submit an “Item Not Received” claim. Sellers then have the opportunity to resolve the claim directly with the buyer. If the claim remains unresolved, it’s escalated to the eBay Money Back Guarantee program for review.
eBay is also encourage UK users to sign up for AI Activate, offering access to ChatGPT Enterprise and expert-led training, fully funded by eBay, to help them work smarter and streamline their business.
But sellers who attending sessions at eBay Open UK and/or have already signed up for AI Activate say their earlier experiences have been disappointing as they had hoped for a closer integration of OpenAI tools with their eBay accounts.
Liz Morton
Also not included in the November news update for UK sellers - Smart Shipping for businesses and changes to how Buyer Protection Fees are calculated on private sales.
Liz Morton
Germany
Sellers in Germany now have access to eBay pricing suggestions in the app, but the big news is eBay is introducing optional, paid authentication for clothing, shoes, and accessories to the German market.
eBay rolled out Authenticity Guaranteed for sneakers, handbags and watches in Germany as well as other markets 2021 as part of CEO Jamie Iannone's "high value enthusiast buyer" strategy, offering free but mandatory authentication services for items from certain brands at eligible price points.
Now, authentication is expanding in Germany to include more shoes, clothing and accessories but eBay is making the service optional with buyers paying a €10 fee if they chose to have items verified (translated by Google).
eBay authenticity verification is now also optional for clothing, shoes and accessories.
From mid-November, we will offer your buyers an optional authentication service for branded and designer items. Experts will examine and certify the selected item upon request. This service gives your buyers the assurance of receiving genuine branded goods, thus increasing your sales opportunities.
Here's how it works:
- The optional authentication service appears automatically in your listings for selected brand and designer items. Buyers can use this service before delivery for a small fee.
- After purchase, you send the branded and designer item to our team of experts, who will thoroughly examine it.
- After authentication, the item will be sent directly to the buyer(s) along with a certificate of authenticity.
The following conditions, among others, apply:
- The optional authenticity check is offered for items from 37 selected brands with a merchandise value of over €100*.
- A fee of €10* is charged for the authenticity check requested by the buyers.
It's not entirely clear which 37 brands are eligible or if this service is meant to take the place of the existing Authenticity Guarantee or simply be an add on to it - the November News announcement alludes to a terms and conditions page to learn more, but eBay apparently forgot to actually include the link.
I'm guessing this will likely be an additional feature, not a complete replacement of the existing program, similar to when eBay has introduced optional, paid authentication services for watches and handbags in the US to include items that don't meet the price threshold to qualify for the free, mandatory authentication.
Liz Morton
Also starting this month, eBay Germany has introduced Authenticity Guaranteed for jewelry, with sellers across the category footing the bill with a final value fee increase.
Liz Morton
What do you think of eBay's November Seller Updates? Will any of these changes impact your business on the platform? Let us know in the comments below!
