How do I avoid getting ripped off on eBay?
- Never accept checks as payment. ...
- Always complete transactions through eBay's official channels. ...
- Document everything. ...
- Along with photographing everything, try to record any identifying details about the item. ...
- Always arrange for a tracking number for any deliveries you send.
- Illicit items. Let's just get the obvious one out of the way. ...
- Food. ...
- Furniture or heavy items. ...
- Liquids. ...
- Items that require authentication. ...
- Anything alive. ...
- Items subject to recalls or legal safety standards. ...
- Handmade items.
This depends on your shipping volume. USPS Ground Shipping is an excellent choice for oversized items that weigh more than 10lbs. It offers low rates on larger items, making it more cost-effective. On the other hand, you can use USPS Priority Mail to ship smaller items less than 10lbs.
If your item isn't sent with tracking, you'll be able to see the expected delivery date for your package. You can also check your order's delivery status in your Purchase history - opens in new window or tab. If the seller is using a tracked service, you'll see the item's tracking number as a link next to the item.
eBay Money Back Guarantee covers most transactions on eBay. It means buyers can get their money back if an item didn't arrive, is faulty or damaged, or doesn't match the listing.
- Buyers claiming the item never arrived.
- Item faulty or not as described when it was sent in perfect condition.
- Being asked to send to a different address from the one listed on eBay/PayPal.
When possible, choose PayPal – you are likely to be protected by eBay Money Back Guarantee if your transaction is eligible. Always complete your transaction on the eBay site – otherwise, sellers can operate outside of eBay rules and policies and you won't be eligible under eBay Money Back Guarantee.
Reports about transactions outside of eBay or PayPal may not be investigated by law enforcement, although your report will help the police to build intelligence and monitor fraud activity. eBay will always assist in a criminal investigation received from Law Enforcement.
- Fraudulent buyers claiming refunds from PayPal by claiming non-delivery, goods not as described or received damaged.
- Not being paid for items that have been despatched.
- Being paid with a fraudulent or stolen payment card.
We support UPS domestic services including Ground Shipping, Overnight Delivery and 2nd Day Air. International services are not available at this time.
Does eBay ship with UPS or FedEx?
You can use USPS, FedEx, or UPS for eBay pack and ship. USPS is integrated with eBay, so it may be the easiest option, but UPS and FedEx work as well.
Carrier name | Services |
---|---|
eBay delivery services (eBay) | Trackable Services |
United States Postal Service (USPS) | USPS Priority Mail Express, USPS Priority Mail, USPS First Class Package Service, USPS Parcel Select Ground/Retail Ground, USPS Media Mail, USPS Parcel Select Services |
- Check in With the Seller.
- Double-Check the Shipping Address.
- Contact the Shipper and Reach out to Neighbors.
- Stay Patient and Follow Up.
Refuse to claim responsibility
Under eBay's Money Back Guarantee rules, sellers must take responsibility for missing items unless tracking information proves that the item was delivered correctly. If a seller does not refund a buyer when required, eBay will forcibly take the funds to resolve the situation.
Confirming you received an item is done through the tracking number usually. If a seller is asking you to do such: their problem not yours. Leave feedback for the items you received.
If you've been defrauded by a seller on eBay or have reason to believe you have discovered stolen goods, we strongly encourage you to contact your local police to report the incident and ensure that you obtain a crime reference number.
If the item has been returned to the seller and they haven't given you a refund after 2 business days, you can ask eBay to step in and help. Refunds go back to your original payment method and are typically available within 3-5 business days.
Sellers can also issue a refund through a cancellation or return request, or a report that an item hasn't arrived. Additionally, eBay can issue a refund to your buyer as the result of an eBay Money Back Guarantee case or payment dispute.
“They are willing to pay the full price for the property and will frequently show interest in buying a second property at the same time. There is also a trend where fake buyers become extremely specific in terms of their requirements and where they always express a great level of urgency to conclude the transaction.
- Short duration listings: Fraudulent sellers often want to close a deal quickly. ...
- Heavily discounted or sold-out items: Be wary if a seller has lots of high-value items at suspiciously low prices, or a stock of hard-to-find goods that are sold out everywhere else.
Which is safer Amazon or eBay?
Which is Safer, Amazon or eBay? E-commerce can be a risky business, but overall, Amazon may have more safeguards in place because you don't have to interact with your customers. Amazon handles the payments to the seller. However, both Amazon and eBay have many safeguards in place to protect their sellers and customers.
Why eBay abandoned PayPal. eBay says it's moving from PayPal to Adyen in order to “improve its customer experience” by intermediating payments on its marketplace. “In doing so, eBay will manage the payments flow, simplifying the end-to-end experience for buyers and sellers,” the company said in a statement.
One of the tech industry's most storied partnerships is coming to an end. EBay announced today that it will stop working with PayPal as its back-end payments service in 2020 and will start to move a small percentage of its payments volume to a new partner later this year.
You can't ask buyers to use a payment method that isn't allowed on eBay or to use a payment method that isn't included in your listing. For more information, see our Payment methods policy. We don't recommend accepting cash, except when a buyer is paying on collection.
Failure to pay for items is a violation of our abusive buyer policy. When a seller cancels an order because the buyer hasn't paid, the unpaid cancellation is recorded on the buyer's account. Buyers who have excessive unpaid cancellations may have limits imposed by a seller or by eBay, or lose their buying privileges.
Not allowed
Returning an item other than the original item received. Using or damaging an item and then returning it. Returning an item with the reason that it was not as described when it was described accurately.
Returning an Item That Has Been Stolen
However, if you stole the item yourself or knew that the item was stolen and tried to return it for cash or store credit, your act is considered a crime. The theft will be categorized with the item at hand as either petty theft or grand theft and punished accordingly.
UPS Prohibited Items
Bank bills, notes or currency. Common fireworks. Hazardous waste or hazardous waste service. Human remains, fetal remains, human body parts, human embryos or components thereof.
If you ship to an address that is different than what's attached to their payment, you lose eBay Seller Protection. From policy: "To be protected as a seller under eBay Money Back Guarantee, you should only ship orders to the address specified by the buyer at checkout.
While both companies offer similar services, some key differences can make one or the other more ideal for certain shipping needs. Regarding cost, USPS typically offers lower prices - especially for lighter packages. However, UPS can be a better option for heavier shipments, offering discounted rates for larger items.
Does eBay go through USPS?
easy as selling. Print shipping labels online using eBay's online postage. Mail your package from your Post Office™, or have your USPS® Carrier pick it up. * Ship to your buyer's PO box or street address. Then, you and your buyer can confirm its delivery status on My eBay or using the USPS Track and Confirm tool.
eBay partners with three major carriers—the United States Postal Service, UPS, and FedEx—to offer shipping services integrated with the eBay site. Choose to ship via one of these carriers, and you easily add shipping costs and info to your eBay listings, as well as print prepaid shipping labels from your own computer.
The U.S. Postal Service® is a preferred shipper for eBay members, handling more than 75% of all items shipped within the US market.
This can range from the same working day, to up to 30 business days from when you placed the order. If you order late in the day or over the weekend, handling will usually take a little longer.
If your parcel is lost or missing:
Download and and fill out the Loss claim form. Email the completed Loss Claim Form to claiminformation@ups.com with the subject line "Customized eBay Claims Support".
Since USPS recalls old package tracking numbers every 6 months, sometimes USPS will incorrectly mark a package as "delivered". In this case, submitting a missing package search request can "activate" the package tracking number in the USPS database.
Most often, your package may receive an incorrect label or receive an update too early. When this happens, you should wait for 24 hours. If the package doesn't arrive the next business day, then call the postal office. They'll help you figure out what went wrong.
UPS provides all packages automatically with $100 worth of liability for loss or damage. A shipper can choose to declare a higher value for the shipment with an additional charge.
Often, it's up to the seller or retailer to ensure that you receive your package. Thus, anything that happens in transit is the responsibility of the seller; they are responsible if the package is lost or damaged during transit, and usually must replace it or give a reimbursem*nt.
If it appears that your package has been stolen, contact the seller or retailer that sold you the item. Retailers have different policies and processes for handling stolen items, but you're usually entitled to a refund or a replacement.
What time do eBay deliveries arrive?
For example, some services may display delivery by 12.00pm. However, as a general rule, most delivery services purchased on eBay Delivery take place from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Local time in the destination country).
Unfortunately, some eBay scams are still alive and well. It's also possible to have a terrible experience on eBay just because the buyer or seller you're dealing with is inept. We work hard to avoid scams as buyers and make sure that those who buy from us have the best experience possible.
Contrary to popular belief, sellers on eBay are just as prone to being ripped off as buyers are, so when you're selling your used gear on eBay, it's important to have all of your bases covered so that a buyer doesn't try to come back and rip you off using some sort of clever loophole.
Our abusive buyer policy lays out unacceptable buying behavior. Buyers may not misuse feedback, returns, buyer protection programs, or payment dispute processes. Our full policy below outlines eBay's expectations for buyer behavior.
The sale of stolen property violates state, federal and international law, and we will work with law enforcement in any attempts to sell stolen property on eBay.
In most cases, if your order doesn't arrive, or is faulty or damaged, you'll get your money back or a replacement.
You have up to 30 calendar days after the estimated delivery date has passed to report that an item hasn't arrived. The seller should respond within 3 business days to provide a delivery update, offer a replacement, or give you a refund. If you're getting a refund, it will go back to your original payment method.
The most reliable way to send and receive payments on eBay is through PayPal.
Red flag no 1: Buyer offers more money than listed price
The probable answer: scammers who are trying to get a seller's guard down. The offer for more money than the listed price is usually followed by another request (see no. 3 and no. 6) that can potentially result in the seller being scammed.
Most transactions on eBay are covered by seller protections. However, the following situations are not covered: Items that violate eBay's prohibited and restricted items policies. Items in categories excluded from eBay Money Back Guarantee.
What does a fake email from eBay look like?
A phishing email pretending to be from eBay typically contains a link that takes you to a fake website. There, you'll be asked to sign in and submit personal and account information. These emails often include the eBay logo and a fake eBay address in the “From” line.