Payment options for most listings Payment options for Real Estate Business & Industrial, capital equipment, Adult Only (on eBay.com), and some Motors categories Escrow services for high-priced items Payment tips The fine print

Offering your buyers safe and convenient payment choices can help your sale go smoothly, earn you positive Feedback, and bring them back for more.

Payment options for most listings

For most categories, you need to offer at least one electronic payment or Internet merchant credit card option. This provides a fast and secure transaction for you and the buyer. When a buyer clicks the Pay Now button in My eBay, the listing, or email notification, they pay you immediately and the payment is processed through the option you've chosen. You receive an email telling you you've been paid and you can ship the item.

You can also offer payment upon pickup.

Learn more about selecting your payment preferences.

You'll be offered payment options when you list your item. Payment options for most listings include:

• PayPal

• ProPay

• Merchant credit card

• Payment upon pickup

Notes:

• Payment by personal cheque, cashier's cheque, bank-to-bank transfers, or money order isn't allowed for most eBay purchases.

• This doesn't apply to: some Motors categories, the Real Estate and Adult Only categories, and capital equipment. For a list of excluded categories, see the accepted payments policy.

Here's a comparison of payment options for most listing types. For details on each electronic option, click its name.

PayPal

	How does it work? When buyers check out, they're asked to log into PayPal and can pay with their PayPal account balance or by credit card or chequing account through PayPal. Learn more about using PayPal on eBay.
	Do I need to register? Yes, you need to register with PayPal before offering it as a payment option.
	Do I pay a fee? Yes.
	Does the buyer have to register? No, but they can. If the buyer is registered, they can pay from their PayPal account.
	Does the buyer pay a fee? No.
	How soon am I paid? Immediately, to your PayPal account.
	Is there seller protection? Yes. PayPal Protection protects sellers when tracking information shows an item has been delivered, or sellers show an item was properly described.
	Is there buyer protection? Yes. Purchase Protection covers the purchase price plus original shipping if the buyer doesn't receive the item or the item doesn't match the seller's description.
	Does this method require eBay checkout? Yes.
	Is there help if I have a transaction problem? Yes, through the eBay Resolution Centre. Learn more about what to do when a buyer doesn't pay.

ProPay

	How does it work? When the buyers check out, they enter their credit card information. Payment is processed immediately and sent to your ProPay account. Here's more about using ProPay on eBay.
	Do I need to register? Yes, you need to sign up with ProPay before offering it as a payment option.
	Do I pay a fee? Yes.
	Does the buyer have to register? No.
	Does the buyer pay a fee? No.
	How soon am I paid? Immediately, to your ProPay account.
	Is there seller protection? Yes. PayPal Protection protects sellers when tracking information shows an item has been delivered, or sellers show an item was properly described.
	Is there buyer protection? Yes. Purchase Protection covers the purchase price plus original shipping if the buyer doesn't receive the item or the item doesn't match the seller's description. Also, buyers may have protection through their credit card company.
	Does this method require eBay checkout? Yes.
	Is there help if I have a transaction problem? Yes, through the eBay Resolution Centre. Learn more about what to do when a buyer doesn't pay.

Merchant credit card

	How does it work? Sellers can accept credit card payments to their Internet merchant account directly through eBay checkout by providing their payment gateway account information. This is a free service for eBay sellers. Buyers pay immediately using the Pay Now button. Payments are securely and instantly processed online from eBay checkout through your payment gateway. Sellers receive an email telling them they've been paid and they know they can ship the item.
	Do I need to register? Yes, you need an Internet merchant account with your bank or credit card processing company, and you need a payment gateway account.
	Do I pay a fee? eBay checkout does not charge any fees. However, your bank or merchant credit card processor and payment gateway provider may charge you per-transaction fee or other fees, and a percentage of the total amount charged by the buyer. Depending on your credit card processing agreement and your monthly transaction volume, Internet merchant account fees may be higher than fees for PayPal, ProPay, Moneybookers, and Paymate. If you don't have an Internet merchant credit card account already, take a look at your options before signing up for this service. If you haven't needed a merchant account up to now, you'll probably pay less per transaction by using one of the other payment options.
	Does the buyer have to register? No, buyers can use their credit card as they would at any online or offline store.
	Does the buyer pay a fee? No.
	How soon am I paid? Your merchant account is credited immediately after the buyer's card information is received and processed.
	Is there seller protection? Yes. PayPal Protection protects sellers when tracking information shows an item has been delivered, or sellers show an item was properly described.
	Is there buyer protection? Yes. Purchase Protection covers the purchase price plus original shipping if the buyer doesn't receive the item or the item doesn't match the seller's description. Also, buyers may have protection through their credit card company.
	Does this method require eBay checkout? Yes.
	Is there help if I have a transaction problem? Yes, through the eBay Resolution Centre. Learn more about what to do when a buyer doesn't pay.

Payment upon pickup

	How does it work? Your buyer pays you when they pick up the item.
	Do I need to register? No.
	Do I pay a fee? No.
	Does the buyer have to register? No.
	Does the buyer pay a fee? No.
	How soon am I paid? Immediately. In-person payment methods can include cheques, money orders, cash, PayPal, or credit card. In your listing, be clear about which of these payment methods you'll accept. Most sellers don't accept cheques or money orders, because if they don't clear after the buyer has picked up the item, the seller has fewer options for resolving the problem. See our accepted payments policy.
	Is there seller protection? No.
	Is there buyer protection? Only if the buyer pays with PayPal. See PayPal Resolution Centre.
	Does this method require eBay checkout? No.
	Is there help if I have a transaction problem? Yes, through the eBay Resolution Centre. Learn more about what to do when a buyer doesn't pay.

Payment options for Real Estate Business & Industrial, capital equipment, Adults Only (on ebay.com), and some Motors categories

• Payment by personal cheque, cashier's cheque, bank-to-bank transfers, or money order may be offered for capital equipment, Real Estate, Adult Only (on ebay.com), and some Motors categories.

• See the accepted payments policy for the complete list of categories for these payment types.

Escrow services for high-priced items

For high-priced items, many sellers use Escrow.com (eBay's approved escrow service). Learn more about using escrow services.

Payment tips

• Never accept overpayments from buyers for items, especially if the buyer asks to be reimbursed for overpayment. Requests like this are often part of a counterfeit cashier's check scheme. Learn more about avoiding payment problems.

The fine print

• The payment methods described in this article are for Canadian listings only. For payment options in other countries, see the eBay help pages for that country.

• Sellers can't require buyers to pay using methods that aren't allowed on eBay or that they didn't include in their listing. For details, see the accepted payments policy.