Buying safely on eBay
Most eBay purchases go smoothly. When they don't, the buyers who get their money back are usually the ones who paid through eBay, read the listing properly and acted quickly. Here's what to do, in order.
Checked against the sources below on .
The ten-point checklist
- Pay through eBay checkout, every time. Bank transfers, cash and other payments made outside eBay aren't covered by eBay's Money Back Guarantee. Paying safely
- Say no to off-eBay deals. eBay doesn't allow offers to buy or sell outside eBay. If a seller suggests one, report it.
- Check who you're buying from. Look at the seller's feedback, how long they've been on eBay, and whether they're a business or a private seller. Checking sellers
- Read the whole listing. The description, condition, photos, postage cost, returns policy and item location all matter. Ask the seller before you buy, not after.
- Be wary of branded goods at very low prices. Fakes are common in some categories. Spotting fakes
- Know your rights. Buying from a business gives you more legal protection than buying from a private seller. Your rights
- Decide your maximum before you bid. A bid is a commitment to pay if you win. Bidding
- Keep your eBay password to yourself. Don't type it into another site, and log in to eBay directly rather than through links in emails.
- Collect safely. Meet somewhere public, look the item over, and only then share eBay's collection code. Collecting in person
- Check where the item is. Items sent from outside the UK can come with VAT, duty and delivery company fees. Buying from abroad
If something goes wrong
Contact the seller first through eBay messages, so there's a record. If that doesn't sort it out, use eBay's Money Back Guarantee: report the problem within 30 days, and if the seller hasn't resolved it after 3 business days you can ask eBay to step in. The paying safely guide explains the time limits and what to do if eBay can't help.
If you think you've been scammed, you can report it to Report Fraud, the UK's national fraud reporting service, at reportfraud.police.uk. In an emergency, call 999.
How BargainTime fits in
BargainTime searches eBay for listings that are easy to miss, such as misspelled titles, auctions ending now with no bids and collection-only items near you. When you click through, you buy on eBay itself, so eBay's checkout and Money Back Guarantee apply in the usual way.
Common questions
Am I protected if I pay outside eBay?
No. eBay's Money Back Guarantee doesn't cover any purchase where some or all of the payment was made outside eBay, such as by bank transfer or cash. Always pay through eBay checkout.
How long do I have to report a problem with an eBay order?
Under eBay's Money Back Guarantee you have 30 days. For an item that hasn't arrived, the 30 days run from the estimated delivery date. For an item that's faulty, damaged or not as described, they run from the delivery date, or longer if the seller's own returns window is longer.
Do I have the same rights when I buy from a private seller?
No. A private seller only has to sell you an item that matches its description, and there is no 14-day cooling-off period. eBay's Money Back Guarantee still applies if you pay through eBay checkout.
Is it safe to use a sniping site?
eBay allows sniping, but it warns you to check that any third-party service is trustworthy before giving it personal details such as your eBay password. We'd never give your eBay password to another site.
Sources
Rules and fees change. If anything here differs from these pages, the pages are right.
BargainTime is an independent search site and not part of eBay. This is general guidance, not legal advice. For help with a particular problem, contact Citizens Advice.