eBay vouchers - Frequently Asked Questions

Vouchers and coupons

I've received an eBay coupon. What's the difference between a coupon and a voucher?

There is no difference between an eBay coupon and a voucher, apart from the name. You can use your coupon in the same way that you use a voucher, as detailed in these FAQs.

Using a voucher

What is a voucher?

Vouchers are discounts offered on eBay items. You need to meet the requirements of the voucher in order to redeem it. The option to use the voucher will only be available if the seller of the item accepts PayPal, and you need to pay for the item using your PayPal account.

How do I get a voucher?

Vouchers get distributed through various channels such as e-mail, offers on the eBay website, on social media sites like Facebook. The voucher will contain a redemption code you need to have available when you want to redeem it.

Where can I see the voucher code?

You can find the voucher code on the voucher itself and in some cases in My eBay. A voucher can be distributed through various channels, as detailed under the point "How do I get a voucher?"

How can I redeem a voucher?

Follow these 3 steps:

  • Select an eligible item on eBay from a seller who accepts PayPal as a payment method
  • Copy and paste the voucher code you received at the check-out page and click 'Apply.'
  • Pay for your item on eBay using PayPal before the expiry date of the voucher

Do I have to be an eBay member to use a voucher?

Yes. You need to be an eBay member in order to use the voucher.

Do I need to have a PayPal account to redeem a voucher?

Yes. You need to have an active, registered PayPal account.  You can sign up for a PayPal account on https://www.paypal.co.uk.

Can I redeem a voucher with a PayPal guest account?

No, with a PayPal guest account you can't redeem a voucher

Can I see the redeemed voucher in my PayPal account?

You can see it in your PayPal account - View > all transactions with credit

What are my payment options when using a voucher?

You need to pay with PayPal if you want to use your voucher.

Can I give my voucher to someone else?

Most vouchers can only be used with the eBay account the voucher has been sent to. However if the voucher was not directly addressed to you, then it can be redeemed by someone else. To find out if it's only redeemable by you, please check the Terms & Conditions.

Can I use more than one voucher at a time?

Vouchers can be redeemed with Nectar points. If you’ve a Nectar card, you can apply your Nectar voucher at check-out while selecting them and clicking on apply but at the same time, you can also apply your voucher code by entering the code in the “Have a redemption code” field. To see more details about Nectar, click here. Other than this, vouchers are not valid with other offers and can’t be combined.

Can I use vouchers for items on any eBay site and in any currency?

The voucher might be restricted for certain countries only. You can find this information in the terms & conditions of the campaign.

Who can I contact if I am experiencing any difficulties using a voucher?

For enquiries about vouchers please contact PayPal Customer Support

My voucher states I can only use it in a particular category. Is this normal?

Some of our vouchers may restrict redemption within certain categories. This will be mentioned on the voucher communication you receive. For example, if your voucher says you can only redeem in Men's Clothing, you will be able to buy a shirt in the Men's Clothing category, but not a belt in the Men's Accessories category.

Redeeming vouchers

What do I do with the redemption code on my voucher?

You enter the redemption code when you are paying for an eBay item using PayPal during the eBay checkout process. This allows PayPal to validate the voucher and display your discount. To make sure you enter the redemption code correctly, you may want to copy and paste it from the voucher into the redemption code entry box when you're at the eBay checkout screen and click on Apply.

Can I use my voucher on any item?

You can use a voucher that you receive from eBay on any eBay item that accepts payment with PayPal and that meets the voucher's eligibility criteria.

If my voucher doesn't cover the whole transaction amount, how do I pay the difference?

The remaining balance will be taken from your PayPal account.

Do vouchers expire?

Yes, majority of the vouchers have expiry date, please refer to the voucher or to 'My eBay' for further details.

What happens if I pay for an item with a voucher, and then the payment is declined or reversed?

You will receive a refund for the entire purchase amount you paid for minus the voucher amount.

What happens if I return an item which I paid for with a voucher?

You will receive a refund for the entire purchase amount you paid for minus the voucher amount. The voucher cannot be re-used.

Can I use someone else's voucher?

Most vouchers can be used only with the eBay account, the voucher has been sent to. However if the voucher was not directly addressed to someone, then it can be redeemed by anyone.

Can I split my voucher for purchases?

No, each voucher is for one purchase only

Is an extension of my voucher possible?

No, the voucher will end on the expiry date.

Seller Information

How do vouchers benefit sellers?

Vouchers will help to increase the number of buyers on eBay, and may encourage recipients to buy more and/or higher value items.

As a seller, what do I have to do to accept vouchers?

Sellers simply need to accept PayPal as a payment method. Vouchers are automatically converted to regular currency at the time of redemption, so sellers will not be aware that a voucher has been used to fund the payment.

As a seller, will I know if a buyer's used a voucher on a payment?

Vouchers are automatically converted to regular currency at the time of redemption, so you will not even be aware that a voucher was used to fund the payment.

What happens if the buyer returns the item and, I as a seller, refund the PayPal payment?

If the refund or chargeback is processed through PayPal, then the amount of the voucher will be refunded back to the voucher issuer and the remainder of the payment will be refunded to the buyer.