eBay wants to ensure that the marketplace offers buyers an array of safe, appropriate and convenient payment choices for the marketplace. For international transactions, many sellers offer PayPal’s secure and easy payment solution, as it is the preferred payment method by buyers on eBay. Other methods that can be used to pay directly with a credit card are through the seller’s credit card processing account, their third-party processor - including third party checkout, or by telephone.

From time to time, as new payment services arise, eBay will evaluate them to determine whether they may present trust and safety concerns and are appropriate for the marketplace. Payment services that are not permitted on eBay may in fact be outstanding services for consumers in other contexts. eBay’s evaluation relates only to whether a particular service is appropriate for the eBay marketplace. eBay will consider the following factors, among others, in making its determination:

• Whether the payment model offers substantial financial, privacy and anti-fraud protection for buyers and sellers

• Whether the payment model raises the potential for confusion among eBay users, or involves incentives that may present fraud concerns

• Whether the payment model involves precious metals, or other non-cash (points, miles, minutes, coupons, discounts) as consideration

• Whether the payment service has a substantial historical track record of providing safe and reliable financial and/or banking related services (new services without such a track record generally cannot be promoted on eBay)

• The identity, background and other business interests of the payment service sponsor

• The licence/regulatory status of the payment provider in the countries where it provides payment services

Offline payment methods generally do not offer the same level of protection or convenience as online payments. Nonetheless, they may be appropriate for certain types of transactions, and sellers may use listings to offer acceptance of most valid financial instruments, including personal cheques, cashier’s cheques, and money orders (see exceptions below) or COD (Cash On Delivery).

Policy

Permitted on eBay:

Sellers may offer to accept:

• PayPal, credit cards including MasterCard and Visa, debit cards and bank electronic payments online for eBay purchases.

• Bank-to-bank transfers, often known as bank wire transfers or bank cash transfers.

• COD or cash for in person transactions.

• Personal cheques, money orders (see exceptions below), cashier’s cheques, certified cheques and other negotiable instruments.

Not permitted on eBay:

Sellers may not solicit:

• Buyers to mail cash.

• Buyers to send cash or money orders through instant cash transfer services (non-bank, point-to-point cash transfers) such as Western Union or Moneygram.

• Payment through “topping off” of a seller’s pre-paid credit or debit card.

• Payment through online payment methods not specifically permitted in this policy.

Please see the "Some Examples” section of this policy for those evaluated payment services not permitted in the eBay marketplace.

Violations of this policy may result in a range of actions including:

• Listing cancellation

• Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings

• Listing cancellation

• Limits on account privileges

• Loss of PowerSeller status

• Account suspension

Misleading & Discouraging Payments

Sellers who state in their listing that they accept certain payment methods must not selectively offer those payment methods to buyers or discourage buyers from using those payment methods.

This means that sellers must always accept payment from buyers through the payment methods they have selected in their Payment Details section of their listing, including PayPal, and must not act in any way to discourage buyers from paying by these methods.

This policy is not only limited to communications made in listings, but also includes all correspondence between a seller and buyer that relates to an eBay transaction.