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 arrived3 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
If it's been less than an hour since your purchase, and the seller hasn't sent the item yet, you can cancel your order yourself. Otherwise, you'll need to contact the seller and ask them to cancel it 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've made a Best Offer on a Buy It Now listing, the seller may come back to you with a counteroffer if they want to suggest another price.
- Using the eBay App1 min article
With the eBay mobile app it's easy to buy, sell, and browse while on the move. Available for both Android and iOS, it can also let you know when listings are ending or if you've been outbid.
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 will often have multiple competing bidders, but you can maximise your chances of winning by having a well thought out bidding strategy.
- 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 were looking for.
- How reserve prices work1 min article
Sellers often set a reserve price when selling in an eBay auction in the Motors category. A reserve price is the minimum amount the seller is willing to sell for, so if the reserve price isn't met, the vehicle won't be sold.
- 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
Resolving Issues
- Get help with an item that hasn't arrived3 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
Most sellers accept returns if you've changed your mind about an item – check the listing for full details of their return policy. If there's something wrong with your item, you're entitled to return it, regardless of the seller's return policy.
- 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.
- Asking eBay to step in and help for buyersIf you've asked your seller to help with a problem and they don't respond within 3 business days, or they're not able to sort it out for you, you can ask us to help.1 min article
- 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 stepped in to 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. It's also the payment method most commonly accepted by our sellers.
- Paying for items with a credit or debit card3 min article
You can pay for most items on eBay with a credit or debit card.
- 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.
- Vouchers, coupons and discount offers3 min article
If you've received a voucher, coupon or discount offer, you can use it to help pay for your eBay purchases.
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Postage & Tracking Items
- Tracking your item1 min article
You can follow your package online all the way to your delivery 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. Some items even offer a guaranteed delivery date.
- International purchases and postage for buyers3 min article
When shopping on eBay, you'll find items from all over the world. If you buy from an overseas seller, they can deliver to you through regular international postage services, or if they're in the US or UK, they may choose to use eBay's Global Shipping Program (GSP).
- Postage rates for buyers1 min article
You can find a seller's postage rates in the Postage section of every eBay listing. We always show the postage cost separately to the item cost to make clear exactly how much you're paying for delivery.
- Saving through combined postage2 min article
Most sellers on eBay are happy to post everything to you in the same package if you're buying multiple items from them. You might also get a discount on postage costs because the seller saves money by combining items together.
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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've bought on eBay. Go to Purchase history to find details on the items you've bought from as long as three years ago.
- Your eBay order number3 min article
Every time you make a purchase on eBay, you'll receive an order number.
- 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
If you frequently search for the same types of items on eBay, you can save time by creating saved searches. These are also known as followed searches.
- Your recently viewed items1 min article
You can look back on your recent eBay activity and remind yourself of items you're interested in through recently viewed items.
- Your Watchlist2 min article
If you've got your eye on something but you're not quite ready to commit, you can add it to your Watchlist while you make up your mind. You can add up to 300 items to your watch list so you don't have to worry about losing track of an item you're considering buying.
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 recognise 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.