Circumventing Fees

Users may not use systems or techniques to circumvent, or avoid, eBay fees. Sellers should review the �Some Examples� section below to ensure they are not engaging in practices that circumvent eBay fees.

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

Listing cancellation
Limits on account privileges
Account suspension
Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings
Loss of PowerSeller status

Spend a few minutes taking eBay's tutorial on Fee Circumvention.

Outside-of-eBay Offer - Offering the opportunity through eBay to purchase the item or other merchandise outside-of-eBay. The eBay item page may not refer to or promote the seller's individual Web site (including home page URLs which directly or indirectly promote an outside-of-eBay website), sales outside of eBay, or other businesses. However, sellers may include links to their eBay Store and eBay Store items, provided that those links are not URL redirects. Please see the complete Offers to Buy or Sell Outside of eBay policy.
Unreasonable shipping or handling costs - The seller may add a reasonable shipping and handling fee to the final price of the item, but may not charge excessive shipping and handling fees, excessive required insurance fees, or excessive (or not applicable) taxes in an effort to make the item appear artificially inexpensive, to avoid eBay fees, or for any other purposes. A shipping and handling fee may cover the seller's reasonable costs for mailing, packaging, and handling the item. Shipping and handling fees may not be listed as a percentage of the final sale price. Please see the complete Excessive Shipping and Handling policy for more details.
Listings with additional purchases - Listing an item that requires or offers an additional purchase. Outside of reasonable charges for shipping, handling, insurance, and taxes, the buyer must not be required to pay an additional amount or sign up for a service or any other required action not relevant to the transaction for something as a condition for receiving the item or receiving the benefit of the item. For example, travel certificates that require the holder to buy or pay for something (such as a hotel room for seven nights) as a condition of receiving the benefit of the coupon (such as free or discounted airfare).
Multiple Item Listing (Dutch) Avoidance - Listing a single item and offering additional identical items for sale in the item description. In these situations, the seller typically instructs buyers to indicate the number of items they want, and states that they can get the same price as the item in the listing. An example of a violation would be a carpet seller listing one square foot for $6 and allowing the buyer to purchase as many as they like at the same price. This would be listing a single item and offering additional identical items for sale in the item description. In single item listings, you may not instruct buyers to indicate the number of items they want even if you state that they can get the same price as the item in the listing. Instead, you should list a Multiple Item Auction, also known as a Dutch Auction, or a fixed price listing with multiple quantities.
Choice Listings - A listing where a seller allows buyers to choose from a selection of items. Choice listings can be problematic because of the potential for fee circumvention, transactions outside of eBay, and other issues. Choice listings are generally not allowed and will be ended. For example, a seller offering an auction-style listing and letting the winning buyer choose from a selection of kitchen sinks would not be permitted. Each one of the available kitchen sinks should be listed as a separate item on eBay. Examples of listings that would be permitted: choice of color only in a multiple-quantity listing (e.g. dutch auction, multiple-item fixed price or store). Second, choice of size in custom-made items or services that are made according to the buyer�s specifications (including re-sizing of rings). Please see the complete Choice Listings policy for more details
Email address, phone number or domain name in the title, subtitle or item location - Listings with an email address or domain name (including home page URLs which directly or indirectly promote an outside-of-eBay website) in the title. Exception: This will be permissible only in listings that are offering a domain name for sale.
Catalog Sales - Listings of catalogs from which buyers may directly order items are prohibited. In these situations, the seller will typically offer the catalog for low bid prices and complete sales outside of eBay for items found in the catalog. Old or collectible catalogs (from which you can no longer place an order) are permissible. For example, a Sears catalog from 1931 would be considered an old and collectible catalog because you can no longer order items from it. However, a current catalog from Eddie Bauer (or one where items may currently be ordered) is not permitted. Please see the complete Catalog Sales policy for more details.
Reserve Fee Avoidance - Canceling bids and ending a listing early because the seller's desired price has not been met. Sellers who do not want to sell an item below a certain price should use the reserve price option or set their starting price at the minimum price they are willing to accept. Please see the complete Reserve Price Violations policy.
Want ads and trades - Listings that advertise a desire to buy or trade items are not allowed. The purpose of the listing page is to describe the item for sale and not to trade for or look for other items. Listings that are advertisements for buying or trading items provide a poor buying experience and make it harder for all members to sell items. To address members� desire to post want ads, eBay created the �Want it Now� area, where these types of postings are permitted and encouraged. Please see the complete Want It Now policy for more details.
Payment Surcharges - Although sellers may offer a discount to the buyer for preferred forms of payment, sellers may not charge eBay buyers an additional fee for their use of ordinary forms of payment, including acceptance of checks, money orders, electronic transfers or credit cards. Furthermore, some forms of payment surcharges, such as credit card surcharges, are forbidden under the laws of many states, including California. Please see the complete Payment Surcharges policy.
Miscategorization of items Listing items that are outside of the appropriate category and belong in a flat fee category, such as homes and vehicles, is a form of Fee Circumvention and is not permitted.
Warranties - A warranty is an additional purchase for the buyer. You may offer an optional warranty or service (e.g. installation) to complement the item in order to provide better service for the buyer. However, the optional warranty or service must be directly related to the item and may not: substantially alter the value of the item, be an additional item, be excessive in price, or cause the listing to have an artificially low price. Additionally, eBay members who offer items on eBay valued at more than $15 and who offer either a written warranty or service contract with the items, must in their item descriptions provide one of the following:
- The full text of the written warranty
- A statement explaining how a free copy of the written warranty can be obtained upon written request
- A link within the listing that takes members to the warranty details
eBay urges its sellers and buyers to comply with all governmental laws and regulations. Since the sale of warranties is highly regulated, or may cause harm to eBay or its members, sellers are restricted in their listing of them on eBay. Please see the complete Warranties policy.