Payment options for most listings Escrow services for high-priced items Payment tips The small print

Offering your buyers safe and convenient payment choices can help your sale go smoothly, get you good Feedback, and bring them back for more.

Payment options for most listings

If you registered after 17 January 2007, you need to offer at least one electronic payment or merchant credit card option. Payment upon pickup is an option, too. You can set most payment preferences using My eBay.

You'll be offered payment options as you list your item. Payment options for most listings include:

• PayPal

• ProPay

• Payment upon pickup

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? Upon Checkout, the buyer logs into PayPal and can pay by credit card or bank account to your PayPal account.
	Do I need to register?Yes, you need to register with PayPal before you offer this 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. See PayPal Seller Protection.
	Is there buyer protection? Yes. See PayPal Buyer Protection.
	Does this method require eBay Checkout? Yes
	Is there help if I have a transaction problem? Yes. See PayPal Resolution Centre.

ProPay

	How does it work? Upon Checkout, the buyer enters their credit card information and payment goes right to your ProPay account.
	Do I need to register? Yes, you need to register with ProPay before you offer this as a payment option.
	Do I pay a fee? Yes
	Does the buyer have to register? No
	Does the buyer pay a fee? No
	How soon am I paid? Immediately, to your ProPay account.
	Is there seller protection? No.
	Is there buyer protection? Not through ProPay. The buyer may have protection through their credit card company.
	Does this method require eBay Checkout? Yes
	Is there help if I have a transaction problem? Yes, through the eBay Resolution Centre. See what to do if a buyer doesn't pay.

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 cheques, postal orders, cash, PayPal, or credit card. In your listing, be clear about which of these payment methods you’ll accept. Most sellers don't offer cheques or postal orders, because if they don't clear after the buyer has picked up the item, the seller has little or no recourse. See Accepted Payments policy.
	Is there seller protection? No
	Is there buyer protection? Only if the buyer pays with PayPal. See PayPal Resolution Centre.
	Does this method require eBay Checkout? No
	Is there help if I have a transaction problem? Yes, through the eBay Resolution Center. See what to do if a buyer doesn't pay.

Escrow services for high-priced items

For high-priced items, many sellers use eBay's approved escrow service. (For more information, see using an escrow service.)

Payment tips

• We don’t recommend cash or cash wire transfers as payment methods, as they don't provide transaction protection, payments are difficult to trace, and if you run into trouble, there’s often little or no remedy.

• Never accept overpayments from buyers for items, especially if the buyer asks to be reimbursed for overpayment. Requests like this are often part of a counterfeit banker's draft scheme. See Avoiding payment problems.

The small print

• The payment methods described in this article are for eBay.co.uk and eBay.ie listings only. For payment options in other countries, see the eBay help pages for that country.

• Sellers can’t require buyers to pay using methods that aren’t allowed on eBay or that they didn't name in their listing. For details, see Accepted Payments Policy.