There are many ways to pay on eBay and most sellers offer more than one type of payment method and postage option. Some options offer more protection than others. Information on payment methods is below.
What payment methods can I use to pay for an item and how safe are they?
Recommended:
PayPal, Paymate and Merchant credit card are eBay’s recommended safer payment methods. All sellers are required to offer at least one of these.
Not recommended:
eBay does not recommend cash. Cash wire transfers are strongly discouraged as a payment method.
You'll be offered payment options when you list your item. Payment options for most listings include:
Here's a comparison of payment options for most listing types. For details on each electronic option, click its name.
PayPal
 | How does it work? When buyers check out, they're asked to log into PayPal and can pay with their PayPal account balance or by credit card or checking account through PayPal. Learn more about using PayPal on eBay. |
| Do I need to register? Yes, you need to register with PayPal before offering it as a payment option. |
| Do I pay a fee? Yes. |
| Does the buyer have to register? No, but they can. If the buyer is registered, they can pay from their PayPal account. |
| Does the buyer pay a fee? No. |
| How soon am I paid? Immediately, to your PayPal account. |
| Is there seller protection? Yes. PayPal Seller Protection may protect sellers when tracking information shows an item has been delivered, or sellers show an item was properly described. |
| Is there buyer protection? Yes. PayPal Buyer Protection may cover the purchase price plus original postage if the buyer doesn't receive the item or the item doesn't match the seller's description. |
| Does this method require eBay checkout? Yes. |
| |
Paymate
Merchant credit card
| How does it work? Sellers can accept credit card payments to their Internet merchant account directly through eBay checkout by providing their payment gateway account information. This is a free service for eBay sellers. Buyers pay immediately using the Pay Now button. Payments are securely and instantly processed online from eBay checkout through your payment gateway. Sellers receive an email telling them they've been paid and they know they can post the item. |
| Do I need to register? Yes, you need an Internet merchant account with your bank or credit card processing company, and you need a payment gateway account. |
| Do I pay a fee? eBay checkout does not charge any fees. However, your bank or merchant credit card processor and payment gateway provider may charge you per-transaction fee or other fees, and a percentage of the total amount charged by the buyer.
Depending on your credit card processing agreement and your monthly transaction volume, Internet merchant account fees may be higher than fees for PayPal and Paymate. If you don't have an Internet merchant credit card account already, take a look at your options before signing up for this service. If you haven't needed a merchant account up to now, you'll probably pay less per transaction by using one of the other payment options. |
| Does the buyer have to register? No, buyers can use their credit card as they would at any online or offline store. |
| Does the buyer pay a fee? No. |
| How soon am I paid? Your merchant account is credited immediately after the buyer's card information is received and processed. |
| Is there buyer protection? eBay Buyer Protection is only available to buyers who have purchased items on the US eBay.com site. Buyers who file a case through eBay Buyer Protection, but who did not purchase an item on the US eBay.com site, will be redirected to the resolution process (if any) for the site they used. |
| Does this method require eBay checkout? Yes. |
| |
Payment upon pickup
| How does it work? Your buyer pays you when they pick up the item. |
| Do I need to register? No. |
| Do I pay a fee? No. |
| Does the buyer have to register? No. |
| Does the buyer pay a fee? No. |
| How soon am I paid? Immediately. In-person payment methods can include checks, money orders, cash, PayPal, or credit card. In your listing, be clear about which of these payment methods you'll accept.
Most sellers don't accept checks or money orders, because if they don't clear after the buyer has picked up the item, the seller has fewer options for resolving the problem. See our accepted payments policy.
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| Is there buyer protection? eBay Buyer Protection is only available to buyers who have purchased items on the US eBay.com site. Buyers who file a case through eBay Buyer Protection, but who did not purchase an item on the US eBay.com site, will be redirected to the resolution process (if any) for the site they used. |
| |
Escrow services for high-priced items
For high-priced items, many sellers use eBay's approved escrow service. Learn more
about using an escrow service.
Setting up your buyer payment preferences
Online payment methods and eBay checkout
All online payment methods require you to use eBay checkout. When you use checkout and one of the eBay-approved online payment methods (PayPal, Paymate or Merchant Credit Card), your buyer sees the Pay Now button in their email notification and in the Messages section of My eBay.
Checkout is set up as a default when you create a seller account. To be sure checkout is on:
Place your pointer over the Account tab, and then click Site Preferences.
In the Selling Preferences section, click the Show link next to Payment from buyers.
On the Payment Preferences page, select Use Checkout.
If you'd rather not use checkout when you list an item, you can disable it:
Place your pointer over the Account tab, and then click Site Preferences.
Under Selling Preferences, in the Payment from buyers section, click the Show link.
Click the Edit link. You may need to sign in.
Under Checkout Preference, clear the Use Checkout check box.
To register with PayPal and link it to your eBay account:
Click My eBay at the top of most eBay pages.
Click the PayPal Account link on the left side of the page.
Click the Link My PayPal Account button.
Log in to PayPal to finish linking your accounts as directed.
Once you've signed up with PayPal, it appears as an option when you create a listing. When you select PayPal, buyers see it in your listing. You'll also see it in your payment preferences in My eBay.
To register with Paymate, and link it to your eBay account:
To change your buyer payment preferences:
Place your pointer over the Account tab, and then click Site Preferences.
In the Selling Preferences section, click the Show link next to Payment from buyers.
On the Payment Preferences page, select or clear your options.
Be sure to select Use Checkout.
Select the payment options you want to offer. For most listings, this can include:
Credit and debit card payments (if you already accept credit cards through your Internet merchant account, have checkout enabled, and have signed up for a free Payflow payment gateway account)
Setting up a payment gateway for your Integrated Merchant Credit Card account
If you already accept credit and debit cards through an Internet merchant account, you can use checkout to accept these types of payments once you provide us with your payment gateway account information.
To set up your payment gateway on eBay checkout:
Click My eBay at the top of most eBay pages. You may need to sign in.
Place your pointer over the Account tab, and then click Site Preferences.
In the Selling Preferences section, click the Show link next to Payment from buyers.
On the Payment Preferences page, select Accept credit or debit card payments to your Internet merchant account.
Next, you'll need to enter your payment gateway information.
Note: If you need help finding any of this information, please contact your payment gateway provider.
To enter your payment gateway information:
Choose your payment gateway provider from the drop-down menu at the top of the page.
Enter your Merchant login (sometimes called "gateway login" or "API login ID"). This is the ID that identifies your account at the gateway for transaction processing.
Note: This ID is usually different from the user ID you use to log into your gateway's website.
Enter your Password (sometimes called the "password" or "transaction key")
Note: Usually, this is a password that was generated by the payment gateway for you, not a password that you created.
Depending on the payment gateway you use, you may need to enter a Vendor ID or User ID.
Depending on the payment gateway you use, you may need to enter a Partner ID.
Select the credit cards you'll accept through this payment gateway.
Select your merchant preferences, such as whether you'll require buyer's credit cards to pass Address Verification (AVS) and Card Security Code (CSX/CVV) checks.
Enter the credit card information for a credit card you accept and that's accepted by your gateway.
Note: Your credit card won't be charged. We use this information to test that everything works correctly.
Review your information and confirm it is correct.
Once you have your payment gateway account information set up with checkout and enabled in your preferences, buyers have the option of paying you online by credit card.
Notes
When your Payflow payment gateway account is set up, your payment preferences show up in any new listings you create, but not in any of your existing listings or listing templates. You can update this information by revising your listings.
Payflow is governed by PayPal's user agreement and privacy policies, but isn't linked to a PayPal account. You don't need to have a PayPal account to use Payflow on eBay.
A message from eBay's lawyers
The PayPal service is provided by PayPal Australia Pty Limited (ABN 93 111 195 389) which holds an Australian Financial Services Licence, number 304962. eBay International A.G is an authorised representative number 308318 of PayPal for the purpose of providing information about PayPal. eBay and PayPal are not acting as your agents, are not providing personal financial advice to you and do not take your individual circumstances into account in providing information about PayPal. You should consider PayPal's
Combined Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement
before deciding to sign-up for or use the PayPal online payment service. For further information about PayPal services visit the PayPal website at
www.paypal.com.au.
PayPal Buyer Protection and PayPal Seller Protection are also subject to the terms and conditions in PayPal's User Agreement, incorporating the Buyer Protection policy and Seller Protection policy which include details on eligibility criteria and the discretionary nature of the policies.
