The return of eBay Escrow expected in late 2020

[Modee]

Some of you may remember eBay escrow (2002)
eBay brings escrow aboard
which safeguarded high end transactions from both buyer and seller fraud.

Based on inside information, I understand that eBay will start rolling out a form of eBay escrow again, on or about July 2020.

[Modee]

eBay has had escrow for some time, but recently it has started to make escrow obligatory where eBay itself examines the item being sold for authenticity. The eBay program for luxury watches over $2000.

eBay Launches Authentication On All Watches Sold for $2,000 or More in the US with New Service, “Authenticity Guarantee”

was started in September 2020, and is based on prior similar programs that have come and gone at eBay. Nowadays, buy an expensive watch and you pay eBay, which holds the money until the watch is shipped to it, and then releases the money to the seller after it both authenticates the watch and makes sure you have received it. Issues between buyer and seller over authenticity or returns of something other than what was originally shipped by the seller, and credit card chargebacks by buyers become a thing of the past.

eBay is next looking to expand this program to other luxury goods, such as designer items and diamonds.