Ebay Authenticate launches to boost shopper confidence in luxury handbag purchases

By

Cassidy Mantor

Published
Oct 17, 2017

Ebay Authenticate has launched to target shoppers buying and selling handbags. Sellers send the handbag to Ebay's team of experts who examine the bag and validate its authenticity before the buyer receives it.

The white glove service rolled out to increase shopper confidence that they are buying authentic luxury handbags. Ebay Authenticate is now offered for handbags listed at $500 or more from twelve luxury brands including Balenciaga, Burberry, Céline, Chanel, Christian Dior, Fendi, Goyard, Gucci, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Valentino.

Laura Chambers, Vice President of Consumer Selling at eBay said the service is "primed to boost customer confidence in selling and shopping" for designer merchandise on the site.

Sellers select the option to "Sell with Ebay Authenticate." They receive a prepaid shipping label to FedEx the handbag to Ebay's experts. The experts verify, photograph, list and sell the handbag and ship it to the buyer.

Sellers receive 80 percent of the final selling price for using the service. Comparable services online charge double the rate Ebay is charging for the service.

As part of the launch, Ebay is offering the service for luxury handbags priced at $250 and over, and sellers receive a promotional rate of 90 percent of their sale. Buyers purchasing through the program get peace of mind and also a 200 percent money back guarantee if their purchase is later found to be a fake.

While Ebay has been host to counterfeit goods, the site actively attempts to fight the counterfeit wars. It has a decade old Verified Rights Owner program that allows the rightful owners to report possible counterfeit goods. 40,000 rights owners have used the program. Previously Ebay has also partnered with the CFDA to draw awareness to its commitment to authentic fashion.

A handbag is sold on Ebay every 13 seconds in the US and 80 percent of merchandise on Ebay now sold is new, with 88 percent being sold through the Buy it Now feature that involves no bidding. 

Chambers said Ebay plans to expand the Authenticate service to more brands and categories next year.