Safe trading tips for buyers
As a buyer, you can take precautions to ensure you have a successful trading experience.
Before bidding or buying
Before you bid or buy, make sure you’re comfortable with the listing and the seller. Remember, your bid or use of the Buy It Now feature, is a commitment to purchase the item.
Evaluate the listing |
 | Review the postage & packaging (P&P) terms, refund and return policy, and other terms and conditions. | | Ensure 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. | | Check that the seller is offering your preferred payment method and that the payment method provides purchase protection. |
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Know the item |
| Confirm the authenticity of the item. | | If you have questions, use the Ask a question link in 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 completely 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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Ensure your seller can communicate with you |
| | | Check 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 offering third-party insurance as an option |
| Exercise caution with international transactions, as well as high-priced and popular items. |
| For high-priced items, you can pay using an eBay-approved escrow service like Escrow.com. Beware of fake escrow services. Learn more about using escrow services. |
| 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 have a transaction problem, try communicating with the seller. If you aren't able to work things out with the seller, contact us so that we may help. Click the My item hasn't arrived yet, what do I do? or What can I do when I get an item that's not as described? link and follow the instructions.
You may also be eligible under our buyer protection programme.
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 is resolved when the buyer pays for the item, 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 may result in the buyer's account being restricted or suspended.
If you feel you received an unpaid item strike unfairly and would like it removed from your account, contact the seller or appeal the strike.
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