ebay limiting TPGs to 4

[eagames]

The rumor is that ebay is now limiting to only:

PCGS
NGC/NCS
ANACs
ICG

If it's not one of these TPGs it's raw and you can't list the numeric grade in the title.

I sort of think they should have included PCI and SEGs since they're way better than the self slabbers.

Can anyone confirm this rumor?
What do people think about it?

[Bob P]

I hadn't heard of it at all. I also don't think they can do that. You are correct in that some of the mentioned TPGs are less well known or thought of than PCI and SEGS. I also think it would be impossible for EBAY to enforce such a rule. They can't even (or won't even) enforce fraudulent items put up now, and it seems they could be in for a law suit if they try to discriminate against legitimate third party graders.

[Gabe]

I've also heard of these rumors.. and I think its bs.

I have to agree that I can't believe that PCI or SEGS were not included in the list. PCI now has its Signature Series option for variety coins, that I think will begin to rival variety designations by ANACS.

If this is true, you will begin to see all the other slabbers not included in the list have a hard time staying in business..

[Earwig]

I think what they are doing is letting you type the serial number from the slab from those 4 companys, At the moment you can only enter NGC and PCGS numbers and ebay connects to there site or a database to verify that the slabbed coin is authentic then creats a title for you. If you enter others it says that they cannot authenticate the coin. But still gives you the drop down menu for certified.
Also there are alot of people slabbing coins and putting a sticker on them and a uneducated collector buys them to find out they bought a a junk coin. I believe that they would have no problem listing PCI and SEGS if there was a database offered to them for authenticating the coins.
Also there was a day that PCI grading and attributions were almost worthless. I bought a coin a few years back that was suppose to be a 50 s over d dime I think that it has since been reattributed as rpm 5 and 50s omm1 was marked on the slab just to get it and find it was a minor rpm that wasnt listed.

Eric

[Bob P]

Now that actually makes sense. I was not aware that there was a menu item for entering a slab number from the mentioned TPG services.
It does not mean that they won't list PCI or SEGS coins, it is just that they won't be able to link to them by using their numbers. The service can still be mentioned in the narrative.
As far as those fly by night grading services, this is where education is the key. I actually saw an EBay item once that listed a Kennedy half as MS 70, but the pic shows a deep scratch and corrosion on the coin, and it wasn't on the slab.
Anyway...thanks for the clarification Eric.

[eagames]

I heard again from multiple people that ebay customer service has said it's true and begins next week. (I think the 17th)

You can sell anything but can't say certified or the numeric grade in the title unless it's from the 4 approved TPGs. If it is from the 4 approved ones you must give a full photo of the slab.

I expect they might have some other companies asking to be added to the list. We'll see how it goes.

[eagames]

Here's the new policy as of Monday the 17th, it probably will not get completely enforced unless people report the listing:

-------------------------------------------------

When listing a certified coin, the coin must be certified by one of the following authorized grading companies:

* Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC)

* Numismatic Conservation Services (NCS)

* Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS)

* Independent Coin Grading (ICG)

* ANACS

In addition, listings for certified coins:

* Must be assigned the appropriate grading attributes in each listing. Sellers must select the appropriate grading attributes within the Sell Your Item form, including "Grading Company," "Grade" and "Serial Number" provided with that grading.

* The listing must include an image of the item, showing the coin in its graded holder, front and back.

If the coin listed is not certified by one of the above authorized
grading companies, the coin is considered raw/uncertified and is subject to additional requirements for their sale.

A raw or uncertified coin is defined as any coin not graded by one of the authorized grading companies. Sellers are permitted to list these items on eBay under the following conditions:

* A numeric grade is not included in the title of the listing, such as MS-65, VF-25, etc. A numeric grade may only be included in the description of the listing.

* The grading company or price guide is not referenced in the title or description.

* A dollar value (even if personal opinion) is not included in the title or description.

[Earwig]

Another service must of provided them with a database and im sure SEGS and PCI will soon follow. They have had this option for a year or two for graded coins but just for NGC and PCGS. I think its good idea to weed out the coin shops that took it upon there self to buy a sonic sealer and start slabbing and grading there own coins. I think if you were to contact ebay the answer you would recieve would be close to that. I also think that this is a first step to ebay getting rid of fraudulent listings and will bring the coin trade on ebay to what it used to be. Lets wait and see and give it a chance and see what they do

Eric

[coppercoins]

eBay will tank for this decision. I'm just glad I don't depend on them for any form of income.

This is tantamount to advertising for certain companies and keeping others out for no realistic reason. If I grade a coin myself and believe it to be VF25 and want to put that in the title of the lot, I should be able to and they should accept their fee and shut their mouth.

My complete boycott of eBay will start now and end as soon as they repeal this ridiculous rule.

[coppercoins]

Are people missing something here, or is it just me??

eBay is saying that if I grade a coin VF25 and don't have it slabbed, I cannot mention the grade of the coin in the title of the lot. That's telling me they are playing into the bullshit idea that ONLY grading companies know how to grade coins.

They are also saying that if I know the value of a coin I cannot state that value even if it's correct...UNLESS the coin is slabbed. So, in other words, unslabbed coins cannot have a grade and have no value.

Bottom line...eBay thinks you should have all your coins slabbed to sell them there. That's what it's coming down to. Let's all forget about "buyer beware" and learning what you're doing before jumping in, let's just have Big Brother Organization oversee our spending so we can't hurt ourselves. Let's further feed the slabbing monster so we can proliferate the idea that if a coin isn't entombed in plastic, it's valueless and is most likely a problem coin you don't want in the first place. Horse Crap!!!!

I would certainly hope everyone else would join me in boycotting this crap.

[Bob P]

Seems like we got ole Chuck riled up here, but to be perfectly honest, he has every right to be. I see a lot of this as unenforceable. I don't see them checking every listing to make sure someone hasn't provided a grade or value. In addition, stating a value based on a TPG services assessment is also outrageous. When and if I ever sell on Ebay again, you bet I am going to grade it and put a price on it. I am curious to see how they will, or if they will enforce this absurd ruling. Auctions are supposed to be just that...auctions. Not advertising for the grading services.

[smed]

Posted on the ebay coin chat today by a former regular:

[eagames]

ICCS is a good point, they're probably the tightest grading service on the planet.

I did hear one rumored explanation for how they selected the approved TPGs that it might be based on their guarantee. PCGS and NGC have good guarantees, I've never heard ANACs guarantee but I think they have one. SEGs has a guarantee but it has a time limit so if you buy a SEGs coin there's no date on the holder so you won't know if it has a guarantee. I don't know about PCIs guarantee. To be fair I hope they give SEGS and PCI the opportunity to be listed if they have a guarantee.

I think that even if they limit the TPGs they should allow the raw coins to list a grade. Grading is just an opinion even if it's a big TPG. There's no reason to not let sellers put their grade. Just like the TPGs you use a seller or see the photo and decide if you agree. The numeric grades are a standard and it seems crazy to only let TPGs use it. Since you see the coin is raw you already know it's only the opinion of the seller so I don't see a reason not to let them list it.

It's good that they tried to do something to clean up the wild west coin listings and self slabbers but I bet these new rules cause a lot of fights and never get fully enforced. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.

[Earwig]

I agree it will be interesting to see if the listings go into the gutter. Im sure they will do everything in there power to keep the dead presidents coming in. I wonder if this is just in coins or are they revamping every type of collectable with tgs's? Glad im not selling much anymore or buying as that goes. Btw i stopped buying unless i knew the person i was buyin from was reputable.

Eric

[GarryN]

wow ebay has started a real firestorm this time. I think half their ads on coins are from other service besides those five. How crazy is that. It may result in an anti trust question. Its not over till its over, to paraphrase, Yogi Berra