Creating a valid user ID Invalid characters and elements Creating eBay Shop names

A user ID is the unique name you use to identify yourself on eBay and can be seen by other eBay users. Your user ID is shown when you buy or sell on eBay or communicate with other members. However, other members can't see your real name and other personal information.

When you register on eBay, you'll be asked to choose a user ID. To prevent confusion for other members, you must wait at least 30 days before changing your user ID. After this time, you can change your user ID but only once in a 30-day period.

Creating a valid user ID

You sign into eBay with your user ID, so choose an ID that you like and will remember. Since other members will see your user ID, we recommend that you don't include your real name or other personal information in your user ID.

Valid user IDs must be at least 6 characters in length. Your user ID can only include letters, numbers, full stops, asterisks, underscores, or dashes. As you type in a possible user ID, we'll provide suggestions of what's available.

Invalid characters and elements

User IDs can't contain:

• Any characters except letters, numbers, full stops, asterisks, underscores or dashes

• Elements that imply an email address or web address - including but not limited to .com, .net, .org, .edu or any variation (for example, _com or -com). However, your user ID can contain an element of an email address or web address that identifies you or your brand. For example, if your web address is xyz.co.uk you can use xyz as an element of your user ID

• Consecutive underscores

• An underscore, hyphen or full stop at the beginning or end of a user ID (for example, -cardcollector)

• The word 'eBay'

• The letter 'e' followed by numbers

• Obscene or profane words that breach our profanity policy

• The same user ID as another member

• A user ID that is similar to the name of an eBay Shop

• A term that could be confused with someone else's trademark or brand (for example, 'CocaColaSeller')

Creating eBay Shop names

Shop names are another form of identification on eBay. You have more flexibility in creating eBay Shop names. For example, spaces and symbols (such as '&') are allowed in Shop names. However, Shop names must otherwise follow the same guidelines and restrictions as other user IDs.