SAN JOSE, Calif., April 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Addressing the
enormous surge in popularity of collectible goods – such as
sneakers, luxury watches, and trading cards – eBay today announces
that it will host events across the country to authenticate some of
the most sought-after items in these top sales categories. Taking
place in select major cities over the next several weeks, eBay will
invite enthusiasts to have their items authenticated on-site,
mirroring the authentication practice that the online marketplace
offers across these categories.
"Younger generations have upended the idea of a traditional
portfolio by marrying their passions with financial opportunity,"
said Jordan Sweetnam, Senior Vice
President, eBay North America.
"We've transformed the eBay experience to reflect that change in
behavior, ensuring the authenticity of the most covetable,
collectible and investment-worthy items in our marketplace."
In each city, eBay will also give fans an all-access look at
some of the most unique collections of athletes and celebrities,
starting in Atlanta with
basketball star Trae Young's
collection of luxury watches.
"Today's most recognized personalities are frequently known for
their unique collections as much as they are their professions –
for a lot of celebrities, it's become part of their brand," said
Charis Márquez, Vice President of Fashion, eBay. "We're partnering
with these high-profile collectors to unearth incredibly rare and
one-of-a-kind collectible items, offering a peek into the most
jaw-dropping collections across the country."
Basketball Star Trae Young Shows
Off his Enviable Watch Collection:
The first stop in
Atlanta will be to visit
basketball star Trae Young to check
out his collection of new and vintage wristwatches. From Rolex and
Cartier to Hublot and Tissot, Trae will give eBay an inside look at
his collection, share what he considers before investing in a watch
and discuss the pieces that are on his radar for the future. Fans
can check out @eBay for a behind-the-scenes look at the shoot and
his one-of-a-kind portfolio.
Collector Events:
At each collector event taking place
across the country, enthusiasts can bring their own items -
including sneakers, watches and trading cards - for authentication
and appraisal. Guests will pull up to a drive-in authentication
station and watch while third party authenticators evaluate their
items. They will leave with an estimation of the item's worth and
the option to list their items on eBay. The first event will take
place on April 9 and April 10 in Atlanta.
After Atlanta, eBay will host
additional collector events in Nashville, Seattle, Las
Vegas and Austin,
showcasing top collections in each city, including rare and 1 of 1
items from celebrities, sports stars and collectors.
How it works:
- Collectors will drive up and pass their item to a staff
member
- The item will be photographed and delivered to the third party
category expert
- Collectors can watch their item go through the evaluation
process on the screen in front of their cars and fuel up with a
beverage and treats provided by eBay
- The item will be returned along with an estimated value based
on current marketplace trends
- One item per collector can be
authenticated/evaluated
- The event is free and appointments are not required
- Masks are required and social distance protocols are in
place
Event dates:
- Nashville,
TN: April 13, 14
- Seattle, WA:
April 21, 22
- Las Vegas,
NV: April 30, May
1
- Austin, TX:
May 7, 8
Recent data1 show that the global sneaker, watch and
trading card resale markets are valued in the billions, and
expected to continue to surge. As collectors begin to regard these
"hobbies" as serious investment opportunities, authentication has
never been more important for confirming the value of these
collections.
As the original marketplace for enthusiasts and collectors, eBay
acts as one of the biggest "trading platforms" for these growing
investment categories, including new and vintage sneakers, luxury
watches, and trading cards from sports, to Pokemon to Magic the
Gathering.
With the launch of Authenticity Guarantee, eBay has changed the
way people buy and sell on the platform. Since launching the
program six months ago, the variety of products that eBay is
authenticating has kept pace with the types of items and inventory
that its collector base is seeking out. Core to eBay's Authenticity
Guarantee offering are the third party independent experts that
fully vet and verify items through comprehensive inspections. More
categories will be added to the program in the coming months.
Learn more about eBay's elevated authentication experience
at ebay.com/buyauthentic, and head to ebay.com/sneakers
and eBay.com/luxurywatches to shop. Follow @eBaysneakers on
Instagram and Twitter, @eBaywatches on Instagram and @eBay
on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.
More on eBay's Most Popular Collectibles:
eBay Sneakers by the Numbers:
- On average, there are 1.64M
sneaker listings on eBay each day*
- In 2020, eBay sold 7.69 million sneakers in North America
- 15 pairs of sneakers are bought every minute on eBay
*average daily live listings number for 2020
eBay Luxury Watches by the Numbers:
- eBay sold over 4 Million watches in 2020 with over 12 Million
watches sold over the past three years
- 57% of eBay's watches inventory comprises new
watches, contributing to 33% of watch sales. 42% of eBay's
watches inventory comprises pre-Owned inventory, contributing
to 63% of watch sales
- There were over 1.2M daily live listings on average
for watches in 2020
- In 2020 Rolex sales increased by 4% compared to 2019
eBay Trading Cards by the Numbers:
- eBay's trading card category grew by 142% in 2020 with over 4
million more cards sold on eBay than in the prior year
- eBay trading card sales to other countries grew 162%
- The most notable sports trading card ever sold on eBay is the
2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Rookie RC Auto #144 PSA 10 Gem
Mint card for $555,988, and the most
notable collectible card ever sold is the Gem Mint PSA 10 Magic:
The Gathering Black Lotus card for $511,100
- Gross sales in basketball cards on eBay have exploded in the
past year, increasing by more than 370%
- Pokemon trading card sales increased 574% from 2019 to
2020
About eBay
eBay Inc (NASDAQ: EBAY) is a global
commerce leader including the Marketplace and Classifieds
platforms. Collectively, we connect millions of buyers and sellers
around the world, empowering people and creating opportunity for
all. Founded in 1995 in San Jose,
California, eBay is one of the world's largest and most
vibrant marketplaces for discovering great value and unique
selection. For more information about the company and its global
portfolio of online brands, visit www.ebayinc.com.
1Boston Consulting Group Survey, Secondhand Luxury
Market; Cowen & Co Survey, Sneaker Resale Market
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SOURCE eBay Inc.