eBay Resources
They say you can never be rich enough or thin enough. While that’s arguable, I firmly believe you can never have enough resources. Therefore, I’m giving you a wealth of sources to check into, check out, and harness for your own personal information blitz.
These sources are tidbits—ideas to get you started on your research. They are by no means the only sources out there, and they should not be taken as the ultimate answer. I have done our research, but businesses tend to move, change, fold, and expand. As I have repeatedly stressed, do your homework. Get out there and start investigating!
Password and Identity Registration and Protection
LastPass: http://www.lastpass.com
Namechk: http://www.namechk.com
Avvo: http://www.avvo.com
Freightquote: http://www.freightquote.com
U.S. Postal Service: http://www.usps.com
U.S. Postal Inspection Service: http://www.uspis.gov
Government Business Mentorship and General Resources
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE): http://www.score.org
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): http://www.sba.gov
Federal Trade Commission (FTC): http://www.ftc.gov
QR Stuff: http://www.qrstuff.com
eBay for Charity: http://www.ebayforcharity.org
Terapeak: http://www.terapeak.com
Authentication and Grading Services
Here are the official eBay partners (sanctioned but completely independent of eBay) that provide these services:
Sports Autographs and Memorabilia
James Spence Authentication: http://www.spenceloa.com
PSA/DNA: http://psadna.com/ebay/welcome.xhtml
Beckett Authentication: http://www.beckett-authentication.com
Sportscard Guaranty: http://www.sgccard.com
Pre-Certified Autographs
Fanatics Authentic: http://www.fanaticsauthentic.com
Sports Memorabilia: https://www.sportsmemorabilia.com
Steiner Sports: https://www.steinersports.com
Tristar Productions: http://www.tristarproductions.com
Upper Deck: http://www.upperdeck.com
Beanie Babies
Peggy Gallagher Enterprises: http://www.peggyg.com
Coins
Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC): http://www.ngccoin.com
Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS): http://www.pcgs.com
Independent Coin Graders (ICG): http://www.icgcoin.com
American Numismatic Association Certification Service (ANACS): http://www.anacs.com
Comics
CBCS: https://www.cbcscomics.com
Jewelry, Diamonds, and Other Gemstones
International Gemological Institute (IGI): http://igionline.org
Gemological Institute of America (GIA): https://www.gia.edu
Political Memorabilia
American Political Items Collectors (APIC): http://www.apic.us
Stamps
American Philatelic Expertizing Service (APEX): http://stamps.org/Home
Philatelic Foundation (PF): http://www.philatelicfoundation.org
Professional Stamp Experts (PSE): http://www.psestamp.com
Trading Cards
Beckett Grading Services (BGS): http://www.beckett.com/grading/ebay
Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA): http://www.psacard.com
Sportscard Guaranty (SGC): http://www.sgccard.com