Most disputes on eBay arise from simple misunderstandings between the buyer and the seller. As a result, early and open communication is the best way to solve the majority of disputes.

If you have a dispute with another eBay member, here are some steps to help resolve the issue:

Try communicating directly with the person you're trading with.

Reach out to your trading partner by email or phone. You can contact your trading partner through the eBay site. You can also request your trading partner's phone number by requesting their contact information. Addressing the problem right away prevents the issue from becoming more complex, which is harder to resolve.

Note: Sellers can only obtain the contact information of a bidder or buyer of one of their listings. Buyers can only obtain the contact information of a seller if they are a bidder or buyer on one of the seller's items.

Note:

• If your item is lost or damaged, you should contact the shipping company directly to learn about the type of coverage they provide.

• If you paid for an item with a credit card and you did not receive the item, contact your credit card company and ask about their protection services. Most credit card companies provide 100% online protection.

If you are not able to work out the problem with your trading partner directly, eBay provides some processes that may be able to help:

• If you are a buyer who has not received an item you paid for, or if the item you received was significantly different from the item description, you can use the Item Not Received or Significantly Not as Described process.

• With the exception of a few categories, all items paid for by PayPal on eBay.com.au will be eligible for at least AU$400 PayPal Buyer Protection in the event that you don't receive your item or it's significantly not as described by the seller. Conditions apply. Certain items may be eligible for up to AU$3,000. To check if the item you're buying is eligible, look for the PayPal logo in the Buy Safely section of the item description page and check the eligibility requirements of the PayPal Buyer Protection Policy.

• If you are a seller who has not received payment for an item you sold on eBay, you can use eBay's Unpaid Item process.

These processes enable you to communicate directly with your trading partner on the eBay site, which helps avoid many communication problems often caused by email spam filters and out-of-date contact information.