Snype Offline After Failed Launch: Rick Probstein's New Marketplace Cancels Auctions Amidst Security Concerns
UPDATE 11-24-25
Snype will be shutting down indefinitely and Rick Probstein is heading back to eBay after massive failure to launch, technical issues, data breach and shill bidding allegations made new platform DOA.
According to a statement Probstein provided to Cllct:
“Probstein Auctions confirms our return to eBay. As part of this transition, we will be winding down operations of snype indefinitely, with every transaction on the platform cancelled, and all associated funds to be returned to buyers.”
“The shutdown of snype is being executed through a careful process that places user safety and digital security at the forefront. We are following a methodical wind-down plan designed to ensure stability and clarity at every step.”
Probstein also once again told Cllct he was looking into the possibility the platform was the target of a cyber-attack, but did not directly address concerns about sloppy programing exposing customer data publicly or accusations of shill bidding.
But some hobby enthusiasts are not convinced, including YouTuber KetchumAllCollectibles who was not satisfied with the answers he received when speaking directly with Rick Probstein by phone earlier today.
The Probstein Auctions account on eBay is now once again showing items actively for sale as of ~7:30 PM Eastern.
When asked whether it vetted Probstein's return to its platform, eBay provided Cllct with the following statement: "eBay is committed to ensuring that all sellers are held to the same rigorous standards, policies, and requirements to maintain a trusted marketplace for the community."
Reminder: if you personal data was exposed publicly by Snype, or you are a bidder or consignor with concerns about Snype/Probstein Auctions business practices, you can file an IC3 report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center here:
Will you continue to do business with Probstein on eBay after the Snype debacle and if you have items consigned with Probstein will you let them go back on eBay or request to have them returned? Let us know in the comments below!
Former eBay mega-seller Rick Probstein's new marketplace, Snype, experiences failure to launch as first round of auctions cancelled due to "technical issues" and site is taken offline amidst growing security concerns.
The new marketplace launched earlier this month after Probstein ended his 21 year, almost $1 Billion eBay selling streak and hobby enthusiasts were initially hopeful Snype (originally going to be called BYD) might have a shot at being a real eBay competitor.
Liz Morton
Some users were less than impressed with the initial launch, noting that the use of AI generated images did not exactly bolster trust in the platform.
Interesting launch strategy. Nothing says trust our new site, like a bunch of garbage AI generated images. https://t.co/2Cj6Ydxl1N pic.twitter.com/xZUGmUH9xb
— auburn35 (@35auburn) November 3, 2025
And as the first round of auctions came to a close earlier this week, the site experienced massive"technical issues" - for some users, the main feature that allows a bidder to put in a “snype” (a pre-programmed last-second bid) instead causing the auctions to end, no matter how much time was left while other auctions had bidding features completely disabled.
Affected auctions were cancelled and refunded and the site remains down days later, indicating the extentent of the technical issues may be significant.
But while the generic message currently displayed on the site indicates the issues were caused by "high volume", Darren Rovell at Cllct says Probstein is "looking into the possibility snype was a target of a hacking scheme and is not sure of a timeline for its return."
Darren Rovell
Meanwhile, a post on Elite Forums alleges Snype customer data might be compromised/publicly exposed not due to hacking but because a developer may have left database endpoints public, causing listing and bidder information to be accessible without needing login credentials.
gottaketchumall
YouTuber Rattle Pokemon also covered the Snype security concerns and "technical issues" in a recent video, bringing attention to allegations of shill bidding by Probstein as well.
At this point there are serious questions about whether Snype will be able to recover and some are already asking if Probstein will try to return to eBay if Snype fails.
Liz Morton
The Probstein eBay account is still active, it just doesn't have any items listed for sale, so in theory it may not be difficult for him to make that move - though it remains to be seen if eBay would offer him the same kind of contract deal with lower than usual final value fees he reportedly had with the company previously.
There are already rumors swirling on Reddit, with multiple comments saying they've received emails from Probstein indicating a new deal with eBay is imminent but it's important to note these claims are unsubstantiated and even if true, it could simply be a stall tactic trying to put off the flood of requests to have cards returned.
But even if he does end up back on eBay, buyers may not follow - especially the ones who were left in the lurch when Probstein cancelled and refused to ship some of the final sales he made on the platform.
Yup! I won two auctions last night. Requested combined S&H and this morning, order cancelled. Great way for him to leave the platform with a "meh"...@CardPurchaser
— David Haar (@davidhaar) October 23, 2025
The news comes amidst growing concerns that Beckett Collectibles has also experienced an alleged data breach, though it appears Beckett may have actually been hacked.
Liz Morton
While the incidents do not appear to be related, neither Snype nor Beckett have publicly acknowledged the alleged leaking of private customer data at this time, leaving customers in the dark about their potential exposure.
Customers who believe their data may have potentially been compromised should take immediate action to mitigate personal risk, including but not limited to:
- Resetting passwords for the affected sites and any other accounts using the same email
- Enabling multi factor authentication on all critical accounts
- Monitoring inboxes for phishing attempts referencing affected accounts.
- Reviewing shipping notices for suspicious changes
- Scanning personal devices for malware or viruses
- Watching for unexpected financial activity
Customers should also be cautious of unsolicited calls or emails asking for verification codes, password resets, or payment details as criminals may impersonate staff or card buyers using information extracted from the alleged data breaches.
Any suspected criminal activity should be reported to proper law enforcement authorities and any buyers or sellers who were directly involved in these auctions who has concerns about potential fraud can file an IC3 Internet Crime Complaint with the FBI.
Stay tuned for updates in this developing story and if you were a bidder in any of Snype's inaugural auctions, I'd love to know if the company has informed you about the potential exposure of your personal information - leave a comment below or contact VAR!
