eBay tightens trading card repack rules, limiting sales to vetted Live sellers only starting June 15

eBay is rolling out a new trading card repack policy starting June 15 that will restrict the sale of repacks to pre-approved Live sellers only, according to an email eBay sent to sellers this week. Sellers who wish to continue selling repacks must apply through a form that asks about previous repack sales, manufacturer sourcing, pack odds disclosure, and openness to a “standardized pricing or fee structure for eBay fulfilled repacks,” suggesting eBay may be considering deeper involvement in managed fulfillment services. The change comes as breaking and repacking practices across the hobby face increased legal and regulatory scrutiny, including multiple arbitration challenges against rival Whatnot alleging that breaking and repacking practices amount to illegal gambling. Liz Morton wrote in Value Added Resource, “given business investment in warehouses and authentication centers, it would not be surprising to see eBay offer broader fulfillment services in key categories like trading cards.”