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      2 min overview

      How buying works

      There are two ways to buy on eBay. With Buy It Now, you pay a fixed price and buy the item immediately, or you can bid on an item and try to win it for a lower price in an auction. On some listings you can also make an offer of the price you'd like to pay.

      Whether you've bought an item straight away or you're bidding on a listing, you can keep track of all your buying activity in your Purchase history - opens in new window or tab.

      On this page you'll find links to all of our most important buying articles.

      How to buy

      How bidding works

      Find out how automatic bidding works, what reserve prices mean, how to win auctions, and more.

      Buying as a guest

      If you've bought an item as a guest, find out how you can track your item, return it if there's a problem, and how to register for an eBay account.

      Making a Best Offer

      On some listings, sellers accept offers. This article will guide you through how to make an offer and how to respond if the seller sends you a counteroffer.

      Checkout

      Once you've found the item you'd like to buy, simply go to checkout to complete your purchase.

      Livestream shopping with eBay Live

      eBay Live is available for items in the Collectables category. Find out how to join and buy items in eBay Live interactive shopping events.

      Shopping tools

      Your shopping cart

      Learn how to add items to your cart so you can continue shopping and complete your purchase later.

      Your purchase history

      Keep track of all the items you've bought on eBay, leave feedback and more from your Purchases in My eBay.

      Your Watchlist

      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.

      Saved searches

      If you frequently search for the same types of items on eBay, you can save time by creating saved searches.

      After you've bought an item

      Paying for items

      You can pay for items in different ways on eBay. This article will help you find the one that works for you and the seller.

      Cancel an order

      If you've bought an item and you've made a mistake, we can walk you through the process of cancelling your order.

      Returns, items not received and refunds for buyers

      Find out how to get a replacement or your money back if your item hasn't arrived, is damaged, doesn't match the description, or you simply changed your mind.

      Contact the seller

      Get in touch with your seller if you've had an issue with an order or you have a question about an item you'd like to buy.

      Product safety tips - opens in new window or tab

      Read our Product safety page for tips when purchasing button/coin batteries, e-bikes and scooters, baby products and smoke detectors.

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