When should I pay?
All sellers appreciate quick payment and most dispatch after receiving payment, so it's good to pay as soon as you win an auction or commit to buy a Buy It Now item. To make an online payment, click the Pay Now button in the email notification or in the listing. The seller will be paid and know to dispatch your item immediately. Otherwise, we recommend paying within 3 days of the sale. Some sellers include information on when they expect to be paid in their listings.
What payment method should I use?
How you pay for items you buy on eBay depends on the payment options offered by the seller. Before you bid, read the item description carefully to learn what kinds of payments the seller accepts.
Cash, checks, and other nonsecure methods aren't allowed for most eBay purchases, with a few exceptions.
All sellers offer at least one of the approved electronic payment methods—such as PayPal—or accept credit card payments through their merchant credit card account. (When you pay with a credit card to the seller's merchant account using the Pay Now button, your payment is securely processed without the seller seeing your credit card number.)
There's also the option of payment upon pickup, where you can use whatever method the seller specifies, including cash.
To compare payment methods, see choosing a payment method (for buyers).
If you have questions about your payment, contact your seller.
Tip: On search results pages, you can set the search option to show only listings that accept the payment methods you want to use.
How do I make an online payment?
After you’ve won an auction-style listing or clicked the Buy It Now button, you’ll see the Pay Now button:
In the confirmation email you receive from eBay
In the Won section of My eBay
On the invoice email we send you on behalf of the seller
To pay for an item:Click the Pay Now button.
Check your postage information. If you need to correct or update anything, click the Change postage address link.
Review your purchase, including P&P. Select the box next to the items you want to buy. If you’re redeeming a gift certificate, or voucher
, enter the redemption code (you’ll need to pay with PayPal to redeem any eBay vouchers or gift certificates. If you have questions about the total amount you owe, click the Request total from seller link.
Confirm your payment. Make sure your postage details, payment method, and order details are correct.
Click the Confirm Your Payment button. You'll receive an email confirming receipt and letting you know when your item will be dispatched.
What if a seller wants to change payment methods?
Sellers can’t require you to use payment methods that aren’t allowed on eBay or weren't described in the listing. If a seller wants to change payment methods after a listing ends, you can still pay using one of the methods mentioned in the original listing. For details, see the accepted payments policy.
The fine print
If your seller doesn't use eBay checkout, you’ll receive an invoice or other payment instructions from the seller to help you complete your purchase.
Contact your seller right away with any questions about payment. Once you've won or bought an item, you need to pay within 7 days or the seller may open a case to work this out with you in our Resolution Centre. This creates open communication between sellers and buyers and helps them resolve transaction problems.
Must use Buy It Now and PayPal.
