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 the eBay Money Back Guarantee. We'll make sure you either receive the item you ordered, or get your money back.
Buying Items
- How buying works2 min overview
- 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.
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How Bidding Works
- How bidding works4 min overview
- 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 will often have multiple competing bidders, but you can maximize your chances of winning by having a well thought out 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 and prevent other bidders from having a chance to react and place a higher bid before the auction ends.2 min article
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Resolving Buying Problems
- Returns, missing items, and refunds for buyers5 min overview
- Get help with an item that hasn't arrived4 min article
If you didn't get your item, you're covered under the 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 or faulty, you can return it for a refund. If you've changed your mind and want to send it back, 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 requestIf you've sent a request to let the seller know that you either didn't receive your item, or that you want to return it to them, you can check on its progress for updates.2 min article
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Payments
- Paying for items4 min overview
- 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. It's also the payment method most commonly accepted by our sellers.
- 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.
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Shipping & Tracking Items
- Shipping and delivery for buyers2 min overview
- 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 to 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 together.
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Finding Items & Managing Purchases
- How to use search2 min overview
- Your purchase history1 min article
Your purchase history lets you track and manage all the items you've bought on eBay. Go to Purchase history to find details on the items you've 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, and has a range of filters to narrow down your results. However, if you've got some specific conditions for what you're looking for, our advanced search function might be able to help. It'll also help you find eBay Stores quickly.
- Your eBay item ID and order details3 min article
Every item you buy on eBay has its own unique item number, which is sometimes called an item ID.
- 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.
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All About Feedback
- Leaving feedback for sellers3 min overview
- 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.
Buying Limits
Working With Sellers
- Resolving issues with sellers1 min overview
- 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.