eBay Launches Authentication For Sales Of Pokémon & Yu-Gi-Oh Cards

Auction site eBay has expanded its Authentication Guarantee to now include sales of Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh cards. Since both Pokémon Trading Card Game and Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game have been around for decades, dedicated fans have scrambled to get their hands on rare cards, either to admire or to use in gameplay. While older cards can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars, even newer rare cards are valuable, with some 2021 Pokémon TCG cards worth hundreds. With such valuable cards, the market attracts a lot of unsavory activity.

YouTuber Logan Paul is one of many with a passion for card collecting, with a video series dedicated to unboxing rare and expensive Pokémon Trading Card Game packs. Recently, Paul made one of the most expensive purchases in Pokémon TGC history when he bought six booster boxes of Base set first edition cards for $3.5 million. Opening the box with representatives from the Baseball Card Exchange, Logan Paul discovered that his major purchase was actually a scam. Of the eleven boxes Paul bought, six of the boxes actually contained relatively worthless G.I. Joe cards. Following Logan Paul’s Pokémon TCG card scam is an investigation into the sale.

On January 25, eBay released a press release detailing the launch of authentication for sales of both Pokémon Trading Card Game and Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game cards. This authentication service is already provided for sneakers, watches, and handbags, and will now include trading cards. Single ungraded trading cards that are sold for more than $750 in the U.S. will be authenticated. Graded, autographed, and patch cards sold for over $250 will be authenticated by mid-2022. The authentication process for trading cards will happen through a third party, who will inspect the card’s condition, give proof of authentication via an e-tag with a unique QR code, and verify the condition of the card if it is returned to the seller.

Though there are Pokémon TCG cards that are inexpensive, for those with a high value, eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee should come in handy to avoid situations like Logan Paul’s. The expansion of the Authenticity Guarantee coincides with the notable increase in trading card sales, as eBay reported that in just the first half of 2021, there were $2 billion worth of transactions for trading cards – equal to all the transactions of 2020. Buyers and sellers may be relieved to know that valuable trading cards will be covered under the Authenticity Guarantee.

eBay remains a popular place to find rare Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh cards from around the world. Fans have the opportunity to own extremely rare trading cards in pristine condition via the auction site, but due to a general lack of regulations, many have been wary of making expensive purchases in case of scams. With new measures in place, eBay may become the best place to buy rare Pokémon cards and Yu-Gi-Oh cards.

Source: eBay

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