An old Los Angeles gas station is getting a new life as a drive-thru authentication hub for eBay, according to a company statement on Friday (Nov. 20).
The vintage 1941 former Texaco Station is located in the Koreatown neighborhood on Beverly Boulevard. eBay’s first-ever “Authentication Station” can be used by sellers to verify the authenticity of frequently counterfeited merchandise like sneakers and watches.
The move to open a physical location for verification follows eBay’s introduction of its Authenticity Guarantee, which taps experts to fully vet and verify merchandise. Right now, authentication is available for sneakers and watches through Nov. 21.
“The community response to authentication on eBay has been incredible, and we wanted to find a way to really bring this to life ahead of the holiday shopping season,” said Tirath Kamdar, general manager of luxury, eBay North America.
Kamdar added that the drive-thru station gives sellers “a look under the hood” and lets them know the value of their merchandise, “all while staying in your car.” They also have the option to sell on the spot and receive cash for their items.
eBay has partnered with Sneaker Con and leading eBay sellers to offer a comprehensive inspection of luxury and rare merchandise.
The online marketplace sold more than two million watches last year; 54 percent of the inventory is pre-owned. Rolex accounts for 40 percent of luxury watch sales on eBay.
eBay was founded in 1995 in San Jose, California by Pierre Omidyar, who became a billionaire at the age 31 when the marketplace went public in 1998. He stepped down from the board this year.
The company is closing a $9.2 billion deal to sell its classifieds business unit to Norway’s Adevinta, which will create the world’s largest online classifieds company. The deal is supposed to close in early 2021.
Keala Gaines, head of global payments services for eBay, said in a June PYMNTS interview that the acceleration of digital payments worldwide has helped it grow across 100 countries. Consistent payments between buyers and sellers enable merchants to concentrate on sales without needing particular payment acceptance capabilities.
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