EBay Authentication Damage

[grizz2red]

Hi, 

I’ve been an eBay member for 20 odd years and have had negligible issues overall. 

I recently purchased a watch that had the old hands swapped out during a manufacture service. The original hands were packaged separately in small sealed envelope.  This envelope is obviously delicate and had been folded during authentication and the original hands damaged. 

Having spoken with the seller to confirm it was not previously damaged and the lack of any fold in the listing photos — it had to have occurred during authentication. 

I assume this is eBay’s responsibility to insure packages sent from authentication to the buyer but how might I go about claiming? 

I probably should state that I do wish to keep the watch as it is relatively rare but I am seeking compensation for the damaged hands. 

any help would be greatly appreciated. 

[papso22]

Items that go through authentication are covered by the money back guarantee but that does not provide compensation,  just a full refund on return.  

You can try opening an 'arrived damaged' claim, but it may be difficult making sure it's not the seller that ends up refunding.

[grizz2red]

Thanks for the reply. I suspected that may be the case.  I may just leave it and just deal with it. 

Just for my own education, how would it work out for the seller if I did initiate a refund and return the item etc under the buyer’s guarantee? I assume the seller wouldn’t have a claim to any compensation either during shipping as their liability and insurances ended once it arrived at the authentication center safely? 

There just seems very little liability on eBay during their authentication process, which they insist upon. 

[papso22]

There is no specific guidance that covers problems caused by the authentication service.  Perhaps ebay assumes there won't be any?

We get posts from sellers in much the same position as yours, but we never hear the outcome, so I really don't know what happens to the seller.