You can shop for most things on eBay even if you haven't registered for an account, but you'll miss out on the benefits of being a member.
Buying
- Top buying articles for you
- Buying as a guest2 min article
- Get help if you bought as a guest3 min article
If your item hasn't arrived, has turned up damaged or faulty, or if you just want to return it, let the seller know so they can help you out. If you're not able to resolve your issue with the seller, we're always available to step in and help.
- Get help with an item that hasn't arrived4 min article
If you didn't get your item, you're covered under eBay Money Back Guarantee. We'll make sure you either receive the item you ordered, or get your money back.
Buying Items
- Buying as a guest2 min article
You can shop for most things on eBay even if you haven't registered for an account, but you'll miss out on the benefits of being a member.
- Cancel an order2 min article
You can request to cancel an order within an hour of your purchase as long as the seller hasn't dispatched it yet. If it's been longer than an hour, you can still contact the seller and ask them if they can cancel your order for you.
- Your shopping cart3 min article
The eBay shopping cart lets you save fixed-price items you want to buy while you continue shopping. When you're ready, you can check out and pay for multiple items in one go.
- Making a Best Offer3 min article
Best Offer lets you offer the seller a price you’re willing to pay on Buy It Now items. The seller decides whether to accept, reject, or counter your offer.
- Counteroffers1 min article
If you made a Best Offer on a Buy It Now listing, the seller may come back to you with a counteroffer to suggest another price.
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How Bidding Works
- Retracting a bid2 min article
If you've made a mistake when bidding on an item, you can retract your bid in certain circumstances.
- Automatic bidding2 min article
Automatic bidding is the easiest way to bid on an eBay auction. Simply enter the highest price you’re willing to pay for an item, and we do the rest.
- Tips for winning auctions3 min article
eBay auctions often have multiple competing bidders. You can maximize your chances of winning by having a good bidding strategy.
- Bid snipingWaiting until the last few seconds of an auction to make a winning bid is known as bid sniping. This tactic is used to try to prevent other bidders from having a chance to place a higher bid before the auction ends.2 min article
- Responding to Second Chance Offers2 min article
If you lost out in an auction, the seller might send you a Second Chance Offer, giving you another opportunity to get the item you wanted.
- How reserve prices work1 min article
Sellers can choose to add a reserve price when listing an item in an eBay auction. A reserve price is the minimum amount the seller is willing to sell for, so if the reserve price isn’t met, the item won’t be sold.
Resolving Buying Problems
- Get help with an item that hasn't arrived4 min article
If you didn't get your item, you're covered under eBay Money Back Guarantee. We'll make sure you either receive the item you ordered, or get your money back.
- Return an item for a refund4 min article
If your item arrives damaged, doesn't match the listing description, or is the wrong item, you can return it for a refund. If you've changed your mind and want to return it, you can ask the seller if they'll accept a return.
- Ask eBay to step in and help for buyersIf you've asked your seller to help with a problem and they're not able to resolve it for you within 3 business days, you can ask us to help you out.1 min article
- Check the status of your return or missing item request2 min article
If you sent a request to let the seller know that you either didn't receive your order or the item doesn't match their description, you can check on its progress while it's being resolved.
- Appeal eBay's decision about a return or missing item for buyers2 min article
If you don’t agree with our decision after we’ve been asked to step in and help resolve an issue between you and a seller, you can appeal by providing new information within 30 days of the case being closed.
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Payments
- Contacting PayPal1 min article
If you're having problems paying with PayPal or need help with your PayPal account, it's best to contact PayPal Customer Support directly.
- Paying with PayPal2 min article
Paying for items with PayPal on eBay is simple and secure.
- Paying for items with a credit or debit card3 min article
If you prefer not to use PayPal, credit and debit card payments are often accepted by sellers.
- Checkout2 min article
When you're ready to pay, simply head to checkout. You'll be able to check the details of your order and confirm how and where you want it delivered.
- Coupons and discounts2 min article
Sign up to receive discount offers and coupons so you can make great savings on your next eBay purchase.
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Shipping & Tracking Items
- Tracking your item1 min article
You can follow your package online all the way to your shipping address when the seller uploads tracking information.
- Delivery date options for buyers2 min article
Estimated delivery dates let you know when you can expect an eBay item to arrive.
- Shipping rates for buyers1 min article
You can find a seller’s shipping rates in the shipping section of every eBay listing. We always show the shipping cost separately from the item cost to make clear exactly how much you’re paying for delivery.
- Saving through combined shipping2 min article
Most sellers on eBay are happy to ship everything to you in the same package if you’re buying multiple items from them. You might also get a discount on shipping costs because the seller saves money by combining items.
- Changing your shipping details after a purchase3 min article
You may be able to change the shipping address or the shipping service you selected for an eBay purchase, but you’ll need to contact the seller before they ship the item to you.
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Finding Items & Managing Purchases
- Your purchase history1 min article
Your purchase history lets you track and manage all the items you bought on eBay. Go to My eBay: Purchase history to find details on the items you bought from as long as three years ago.
- Advanced search1 min article
Our standard search is usually your best starting point for finding what you need; it has a range of filters to narrow results. However, if you have specific conditions for what you’re looking for, our advanced search function might be even better. It will also help you find eBay Stores.
- Your eBay order number3 min article
You’ll receive an order number every time you make a purchase on eBay.
- Finding a listing3 min article
Occasionally you might not be able to find a listing on our site anymore. This could just be because someone else already bought the item, but sometimes there may have been an issue with the listing and we needed to remove it.
- Saved searches1 min article
Save valuable shopping time by creating saved searches for the items you regularly search eBay for.
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All About Feedback
- Viewing and changing feedback left for sellers3 min article
Your Feedback profile shows all of the feedback you've received and left for others. From there, you can also follow up, make changes, or add comments to feedback you've left.
- Handling feedback disputes with sellers2 min article
When you leave feedback, you're letting others know about your buying experience with a seller. Usually this means leaving positive feedback to recognize a successful purchase. However, if something didn't go as smoothly as expected, you might choose to leave a negative rating or comment. If that happens, and the seller doesn't believe the feedback was fair, they have the option of disputing it.
- Seller ratings2 min article
You can find the best and most reputable sellers on eBay by looking at their seller rating, feedback score, and the number of items they've sold.
Working With Sellers
- Contacting a seller1 min article
How you contact a seller on eBay depends on whether you've already bought an item from them or not.
- Report an issue with a seller2 min article
To make sure eBay is a safe place to buy and sell, we have policies that members have to follow. If you're having a problem with a seller because they're not following our policies, let us know and we'll look into it.
- Avoiding seller fraud2 min article
Keeping our members safe is a top priority for us, so we have zero tolerance for fraud on eBay. If you spot something suspicious, let us know.
- Seller ratings2 min article
You can find the best and most reputable sellers on eBay by looking at their seller rating, feedback score, and the number of items they've sold.