2 min article

Paying for items

You'll see available payment methods in the listing and at checkout. If you have any problems paying for your items, we can help troubleshoot the issue.

Are you having issues paying for your items? Choose your payment method below for troubleshooting tips:

When you're ready to pay, simply go to checkout. You'll be able to select your payment method and review your order details, including your delivery address, before you pay.

Ways to pay

You can pay for most items on eBay using a credit or debit card, an eBay gift card or voucher, Afterpay, Zip or PayPal. Google Pay or Apple Pay may also be available, depending on which device you're using. You'll see the available payment methods in the listing and at checkout.

In certain categories, sellers may also offer cash on pickup. For more details, see our Payment methods policy.

You may see a choice of payment currency options at checkout. For example, if you live in Australia, and want to pay for an item located in the US, you may see the option to pay in either AUD or USD.

If you choose to pay in your local currency and it's different from the currency the item is listed in, you'll see the exchange rate along with the order total in your local currency at checkout. You'll also see the currency you used in your winning bid confirmation email.

Paying with American Express credit cards

Starting 17 August, you will not be able to use American Express on eBay. However, we do offer a wide variety of alternative payment methods such as credit and debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Afterpay and Zip.

American Express FAQs

Can I still use American Express?

Starting 17 August, you will not be able to use your American Express card on eBay. To continue using your American Express card from 17 August onwards, you can add it to your PayPal account. We also offer a wide variety of alternate payment methods such as credit and debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Afterpay and Zip. We strongly encourage you to save an alternate payment method to ensure you can continue to make purchases and sell on eBay smoothly after 17 August.

 
Why are you no longer accepting American Express on eBay?

We will no longer accept American Express as a form of payment on eBay effective 17 August 2024 since we have been unable to agree on terms that are acceptable to eBay.

 
What will happen to the American Express card you have on file for me? Will you remove it or do I need to?

If you have an American Express card saved, we'll remove it from your wallet on 17 August. There is no action required on your part.

 
What happens if I also use American Express for my selling costs and fees and do not add another payment method?

If we can't obtain payment for fees from your preferred payment method or linked bank account, we will prompt you to add a payment method for selling costs. If you do not add an alternative payment method, your payouts will be blocked and further restrictions may be applied to your account.

You can choose from a wide variety of other payment options, including bank accounts, debit cards and other credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard.

 
How can I update my American Express card to be my preferred payment or autopay method on PayPal for use on my eBay account?

To add or edit cards on your PayPal wallet, visit the Credit and Debit card section of PayPal's My Wallet page - opens in new window or tab. To update your preferred or automatic payment method on PayPal, visit PayPal's dedicated page - opens in new window or tab. For other troubleshooting, visit the Paying with PayPal Help Hub page.

 
What happens if I return an item I bought with American Express? How do I get refunded?

If you're eligible for a refund, we will continue to process refunds to your original form of payment, even if you used American Express to make the purchase. Learn more about returns, items not received and refunds.

 

Troubleshooting payment errors

If you have problems paying for your items or if you receive an error message at checkout, try the following troubleshooting tips to resolve the issue:

  • Check you've entered your payment details correctly
  • Make sure your billing address matches the address on your payment method
  • Try checking out on another device. If you're using the eBay desktop site, try checking out on the mobile site or app, or vice versa
  • Try checking out on another browser. You can also try signing out, clearing your cache and cookies, and signing in again before trying to check out again
  • Make sure your payment method hasn't expired. For example, if you're paying with a credit or debit card, check the expiry date on the card
  • If you're using a new credit or debit card, you may need to activate the card before you can use it. We recommend contacting your bank or card issuer for instructions
  • When you place an order for items from different sellers on eBay, you may see duplicate pending charges appear in your credit card or bank account. Don't worry, this doesn't mean you'll be overcharged. These payment authorisations are not charges, and will typically be removed from your account within a week. In some cases, your bank may take up to 30 days to remove these authorisations

Timelines for paying

When you buy an item on eBay, whether you won an auction or used Buy It Now, you'll need to pay the seller within 4 days. The sooner the seller receives your payment, the sooner they'll send your item.

You'll find everything you've bought recently – including items you still need to pay for – in your Purchase history - opens in new window or tab.

Check for unpaid items - opens in new window or tab

When you buy an item, it's important to pay as quickly as possible. If you haven't paid within 4 calendar days, a seller can cancel your order. If this happens, you won't receive your item and the unpaid item will be recorded on your account. Buyers who have excessive unpaid items or cancelled orders may have limits imposed or lose their buying privileges.

Was this article helpful?

Related Help topics

See other articles in: