Before bidding or buying
Before sending payment
Resolving transaction problems
About the buyer’s commitment to purchase
As a buyer, you can take precautions to help ensure a successful trading experience.
Before bidding or buying
Before you bid or buy, make sure you’re comfortable with the listing and the seller. Your bid or use of Buy It Now is a commitment to purchase the item.
Evaluate the listing |
Review the postage terms, refund and return policy, and other terms and conditions. Make sure that you’re eligible to bid on the item. If the seller has any buyer requirements that you don't meet, contact the seller for permission prior to placing a bid or using the Buy It Now feature. Make sure that the seller offers your preferred payment method and that the payment method offers purchase protection.
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Know the item |
Confirm the authenticity of the item. If you have questions, use the "Ask seller a question" link on the listing. Use common sense. If something seems too good to be true, it often is.
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Know the seller |
Check the seller's Feedback Profile. Review the seller's current items to get an idea of this person's areas of expertise. For example, if the seller has only sold recipes, and then lists a plasma television, make sure that you’re comfortable with the transaction before you bid. If you’re unable to contact the seller, don’t bid on the item.
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Make sure your seller can communicate with you |
Make sure that you don't have any spam blocking software installed that may limit a seller from communicating with you. If you have computer or connection problems, you can access your eBay account through any computer with Internet access, such as those at a library or a friend's house.
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Tip: If the seller offers to sell you the item directly without bidding on and winning the item on eBay, please don't respond. Instead, report it to us immediately.
Before sending payment
Learn what you can do to protect yourself before sending payment to your seller.
Contact the seller to arrange payment. If you have a problem communicating with the seller through email after you’ve won the item, you can request the seller’s contact information (including a phone number).
Consider insuring the item. Many sellers include postage insurance or offer it as an option.
Exercise caution with international transactions, as well as high-priced and popular items.
Don’t pay with cash or with instant money transfer services, such as Western Union or MoneyGram.
Keep records of all purchases.
Resolving transaction problems
If you ever have a transaction problem, eBay can help you work it out with the seller with communication guidelines and in our Resolution Centre. We also offer buyer protection services.
About the buyer’s commitment to purchase
If you’re the winning bidder or if you use the Buy It Now feature, you’re obligated to purchase and pay for the item. All bids are active until the auction ends.
When sellers don’t receive payment for an item, they can file an unpaid item case using eBay's Resolution Centre. A case may be resolved when the buyer pays or both trading partners decide to cancel or otherwise work out the transaction. If the case isn't resolved, we may place an unpaid item strike on the buyer's account. Unpaid item strikes can lead eBay to take actions such as account restriction or suspension. If you feel you receive an unpaid item strike unfairly and want it removed from your account, you can talk to the seller or appeal the strike.
Must use Buy It Now and PayPal.
