This policy was updated on 21 December 2023. Our policy guidelines have not changed, but the information about activity that doesn't follow this policy has been updated for clarity.
Third-party fulfilment is when someone else – such as a warehousing partner or supplier – stores your inventory for you, and packs and sends your eBay orders on your behalf.
Drop shipping means you buy stock from a supplier and work with them to send items directly to buyers.
We don't allow third-party fulfilment if it could be confusing or misleading for the buyer (for example, because the packaging used makes it appear that their item was purchased from another retailer or marketplace instead of on eBay), or if the buyer's personal data is not sufficiently protected.
What is the policy?
Sellers who are using a third party to fulfil orders are responsible for ensuring that items will be delivered safely within the terms of their eBay listing, and that their agreement with any service provider or supplier prevents the misuse of buyer data associated with eBay orders.
When using any third party to fulfil eBay orders on your behalf, all of the following conditions must be met:
- You pre-purchased or own the stock
- You are clearly identified as the seller on all packing slips and invoices
- Using the third-party fulfilment service doesn't mislead or confuse the buyer as to the origin of their purchase (for example, due to branded packaging)
- You ensure the safe fulfilment of the item within the terms stated in your listing
- You ensure that your third-party provider is subject to a contractual condition which prevents them from using or sharing any eBay order information (including the names and contact details of buyers) for any purpose other than the fulfilment of the specific eBay order which they are engaged by you to fulfil
For example, the eBay Fulfilment by Orange Connex - opens in new window or tab service satisfies the conditions under this policy.
Sellers must not:
- Fulfil orders via a third-party service when the above conditions are not met. For example, the Fulfilment by Amazon service does not satisfy the third-party fulfilment conditions under this policy
- List an item on eBay and then purchase the item from another retailer or marketplace that sends it directly to the customer – this includes presale listings
- Misrepresent the location of their stock, as this violates our Item location policy
Activity on eBay is required to follow this policy, the eBay User Agreement and all applicable laws, as well as respect the rights of third parties. If it doesn't, eBay may take action consistent with applicable laws and the eBay User Agreement, and may even be legally required to do so. Such actions may include, as an example only: Removing the listing or other content, issuing a warning, restricting activity or account suspension.
Tip
Visit Seller Help to find details of any policy issues with your account or listings, and get the information you need to quickly resolve them.
Why does eBay have this policy?
When eBay orders are sent by another retailer or marketplace, it can cause confusion for customers and affect trust in the eBay marketplace. We have this policy to maintain the customer experience for both buyers and sellers, as well as to protect our customers' data from being used for purposes other than fulfilment.