Paying for Items with Vouchers

eBay occasionally sends out vouchers that our members can use to pay for items where the seller accepts PayPal as a payment method. If you've received a 'coupon', you can use that in the same way as a voucher.

Using Vouchers

To use a voucher you have to find and buy an item where the seller accepts PayPal as a payment method. Pay for the item with PayPal. You will then be given the opportunity to enter the voucher redemption code and receive the discount offered.

Redeeming Vouchers

You can use a voucher on any item that accepts PayPal and meets the voucher's restrictions (see "Important Restrictions" below). To redeem the voucher you'll enter the redemption code from the voucher while you're paying for your item on the PayPal website. PayPal will validate the voucher and display your discount.

Tip:
Sometimes the redemption codes on the vouchers are long. It's easier to select the code and copy it into the redemption code field rather than try to type it in and risk making a mistake.

Sharing Vouchers

Some vouchers that you'll receive from eBay can be shared with other people, and some can be used only by you. If the voucher contains a specific email address, then only the owner of that email address can redeem the voucher. If you are the owner of the email address, but the email address is not included in your PayPal account, you'll need to add the email address to your PayPal account. If the voucher doesn't specify an email address, then you're free to share it with others.

Vouchers and your eBay and PayPal accounts

You need to have both an eBay and PayPal account to use vouchers. If you don't have an eBay account, you'll be given the opportunity to register on eBay when you go through the buying process. You can sign up for a PayPal account during the process of paying for an item on PayPal. PayPal lets you pay securely over using your credit card, debit card, bank account or a PayPal account balance.

If the voucher specifically displays your email address, but you have not included that email address in your PayPal account, you will need to add the voucher email address to your PayPal account before being able to redeem the voucher. Just follow these steps:

To add an email address to your PayPal account, log in to your PayPal account and select "email" under Account Information on the Profile tab. Click on the Add button to add an email address to the account. Once you've added the voucher email address to your PayPal account, follow the instructions to confirm that address. When you're done, you'll be able to redeem the voucher.

Important restrictions

If you buy or win an item you are required to purchase it even if you cannot use the voucher you intended for that purchase. If that's not possible, you should contact the seller by clicking on the seller's User ID on the item listing page.

Currently, you can use only one voucher at a time.

Vouchers can only be redeemed for eBay items that meet the following requirements:

The seller accepts PayPal as a payment method.
Items meets all voucher requirements
Item must be paid for using PayPal within 10 days of the item listing's end on eBay.

If your payment is declined for a purchase, the amount of the voucher will be returned to eBay and you will receive a refund for the amount that you paid.

If the voucher didn't cover the total price of your purchase, you can pay the balance with your PayPal account using other funding sources, such as your PayPal balance, bank account, or your credit card.

Vouchers can expire

Keep in mind that most vouchers will have expiry dates. The expiry date will be on the voucher.

Further questions about Vouchers?

If you have additional questions about redeeming a specific voucher, please visit the PayPal Help Centre.

Information for Sellers

If you're an eBay seller and you accept PayPal as a payment method, buyers can use eBay vouchers to pay for your items. Vouchers are automatically converted to regular currency at the time of redemption, so you won't notice that a voucher was used to fund the payment.

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