Have you ever seen second-hand brand-name items for sale on Japanese online shopping platforms at a very low price, but worried about buying counterfeit goods? Recently, Rakuten Rakuma launched a new Rakuma Authentication Service (ラクマ最強鑑定), which helps you authenticate brand-name products for free! 

 

What is Rakuten Rakuma's "Rakuma Authentication Service"（ラクマ最強鑑定）?

"Rakuma Authentication Service" is a service where professional appraisers authenticate each purchased brand-name product, ensuring you can shop safely on Rakuten Rakuma. If the authentication result shows that the item is counterfeit, the buyer can choose to cancel the transaction. Through this service, buyers can confirm the authenticity of brand-name products, effectively reducing the risk of encountering counterfeit goods.

1 Products Eligible for Authentication

Not all second-hand brand-name items sold on Rakuten Rakuma are eligible for the authentication service. In general, only products that meet the following "Rakuma Authentication Service" criteria can be authenticated:

・Products from sellers who have completed identity verification
・Products that meet the authentication criteria, including category, brand, and shipping method. For more details, please refer to the Rakuten Rakuma official website for guidelines: https://faq.fril.jp/a4vy/

It is important to note that even if a product is marked as eligible for authentication, whether it can actually be authenticated will depend on factors such as the condition of the product and any included accessories. If the product has obvious damage or other issues, it may not be eligible for authentication. Furthermore, whether a product can be authenticated and the type of authentication are not chosen by the seller, but are determined by Rakuten Rakuma based on the selling content and method etc. This ensures that sellers cannot arbitrarily select the authentication service or its method, protecting the buyer's rights.

2 Authentication Company and Authentication Method

In the "Rakuma Authentication Service", professional authentication is carried out by KOMEHYO. KOMEHYO is a well-known Japanese company specializing in product authentication and second-hand luxury goods, established in 1947. They have years of experience and expertise in the field. Please note that the authentication result will be based on whether the product meets KOMEHYO's standards, rather than the authentication methods of the brand store selling the product.

The authentication results will be divided into three types:
・基準内：Meet Standards. The product meets KOMEHYO's authentication standards and is confirmed as genuine.
・基準外：Does not meet standards. The product does not meet KOMEHYO's authentication standards and may be counterfeit or have other issues.
・判定不能：Unable to Determine. The product cannot be determined as authentic or not under KOMEHYO's authentication standards.

3 The Process of Usage
 

The "Rakuma Authentication Service" offers two types of authentication services: "お届け前鑑定 (Pre-shipment Authentication)" and "後から鑑定(Post-shipment Authentication)". The type of authentication applied to a product is automatically determined based on the shipping method and other criteria set by Rakuten Rakuma, and neither the seller nor the buyer can choose. Now, let's take a closer look at the process for using these services!

（１）お届け前鑑定 (Pre-shipment Authentication)

STEP 1：The buyer purchases a product eligible for "Pre-shipment Authentication" (the product page will display the following image).
 

STEP 2：The seller ships the product to KOMEHYO.
STEP 3：KOMEHYO will authenticate the product within 1 to 3 days. If the result is "Meet Standards," the product will be sent to the buyer.
STEP 4：Transaction completed.

If the authentication result is "Does not meet standards"
STEP 3：If the result is "Does not meet standards," Rakuten Rakuma customer service will cancel the transaction.
STEP 4：Rakuten Rakuma will refund the payment to the buyer.
STEP 5：KOMEHYO will return the product to the seller.

If the authentication result is "Unable to Determine"
STEP 3：If the result is "Unable to Determine", the buyer can choose to proceed with the transaction or cancel it.
STEP 4：If the buyer chooses to proceed, KOMEHYO will send the product to the buyer. If the buyer chooses to cancel, Rakuten Rakuma will refund the payment to the buyer.

（２）後から鑑定 (Post-shipment Authentication)

STEP 1：The buyer purchases a product eligible for "Post-shipment Authentication" (the product page will display the following image).

STEP 2：The seller ships the product to the buyer.
STEP 3：After receiving the product, the buyer applies for the "Post-shipment Authentication" service through the transaction page.
STEP 4：The buyer ships the product to the address designated by Rakuten Rakuma, and KOMEHYO will authenticate the product.
STEP 5：KOMEHYO will authenticate the product within 1 to 3 days. If the result is "Meet Standards," KOMEHYO will return the product to the buyer.
STEP 6：The buyer receives the product and leaves a rating, completing the transaction.

If the authentication result is "Does not meet standards" or "Unable to Determine", please refer to the previous "Pre-shipment Authentication" process.

Is the "Rakuma Authentication Service" really completely free?

YES! The authentication service is completely FREE! However, for products eligible for "Post-shipment Authentication," the buyer is responsible for the shipping cost to send the product to the designated Rakuma address for authentication.

Shop authenticated products on Rakuten Rakuma with BEX Market’s hassle-free purchasing service!

Simply search for authenticated products on Rakuten Rakuma through BEX Market to enjoy the free authentication service! If you have any inquiries, feel free to contact us!