Top Rated Seller Tips

To be successful selling online you should accept all payment methods. There is a misunderstanding among many about what payment methods you can accept on eBay. You can accept any payment method you choose as long as the buyer requests to pay by that method. The misunderstanding comes in because eBay does not allow you to say this in your listing or ask the buyer to pay by another method than approved methods.

eBay's Accepted Payment Policy reads:

"Our Accepted Payments policy helps ensure that buyers and sellers on eBay are offered safe, convenient payment options.

For most categories, sellers need to offer one or more of the following electronic payment choices:

• PayPal

• ProPay

• Moneybookers

• Paymate

• Credit card or debit card processed through the seller's Internet merchant account

Additionally, payment upon pickup and Bill Me Later are valid payment methods as well.

Payment methods not allowed on eBay:

For most categories, sellers can't ask buyers to:

• Send cash through the mail

• Send cash or money orders through instant, point-to-point cash transfer services (that are not banks) such as Western Union or MoneyGram

• Mail checks or money orders (except for items in categories specifically permitted below)

• Pay through bank-to-bank transfers (except for items in categories specifically permitted below)

• Pay by "topping off" a seller's prepaid credit or debit card

• Pay using online or other payment methods not specifically permitted in this policy

Payment method exceptions

These payment methods may be used only in the listing categories described below:

• Bank-to-bank transfers (also known as bank wire transfers and bank cash transfers)

• Checks

• Money orders

• Online payment services: Allpay.net, cash2india, CertaPay, Checkfree.com, hyperwallet.com, Nochex.com, Ozpay.biz, XOOM

Listing categories:

• Motors > Boats

• Motors > Cars & Trucks

• Motors > Collector Cars

• Motors > Motorcycles

• Motors > Powersports

• Motors > Other Vehicles & Trailers

• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Automotive Tools > Shop Equipment > Air Compressors

• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Automotive Tools > Shop Equipment > Brake Lathes

• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Automotive Tools > Shop Equipment > Frame Machines

• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Automotive Tools > Shop Equipment > Lifts / Hoists / Jacks

• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Automotive Tools > Shop Equipment > Paint Booths

• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Automotive Tools > Shop Equipment > Tire Changers / Wheel Balancers

• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Aviation Parts > Engines

• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Boat Parts > Motors/Engines & Components > Outboard Motors > Over 200 hp

• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Car & Truck Parts > Engines & Components

• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Motorcycle Parts > American > Engines & Components

• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Motorcycle Parts > Asian > Engines & Components

• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Motorcycle Parts > British & European > Engine & Components

• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Racing Parts > Auto Racing Parts > Engine & Components

• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Salvage Parts Cars

• Motors > Parts & Accessories > Vintage Car & Truck Parts > Engines & Components

• Business & Industrial > Agriculture & Forestry > Farm Implements & Attachments

• Business & Industrial > Agriculture & Forestry > Tractors & Farm Machinery

• Business & Industrial > Construction > Buildings, Modular & Pre-Fab

• Business & Industrial > Construction > Heavy Equip. Parts & Manuals

• Business & Industrial > Construction > Heavy Equipment, Trailers

• Business & Industrial > Healthcare, Lab & Life Science > Imaging & Aesthetics Equipment

• Business & Industrial > Industrial Supply & MRO > Cleaning Equipment & Supplies > Sweepers & Scrubbers

• Business & Industrial > Industrial Supply& MRO > Fork Lifts & Other Lifts

• Business & Industrial > Industrial Supply & MRO > HVAC > HVAC Units

• Business & Industrial > Manufacturing & Metalworking > Manufacturing Equipment

• Business & Industrial > Manufacturing & Metalworking > Metalworking Equipment

• Business & Industrial > Manufacturing & Metalworking > Woodworking > Equipment & Machinery

• Business & Industrial > Printing & Graphic Arts > Bindery & Finishing Equipment

• Business & Industrial > Printing & Graphic Arts > Commercial Printing Presses

• Business & Industrial > Printing & Graphic Arts > Plotters, Wide Format Printing

• Business & Industrial > Restaurant & Catering > Commercial Kitchen Equipment > Cooking & Warming Equipment > Ovens & Ranges

• Business & Industrial > Restaurant & Catering > Concession Trailers & Carts > Concession Trailers

• Business & Industrial > Restaurant & Catering > Refrigeration & Ice Machines

• Real Estate

• Everything Else > Adults Only

Communicating about payment methods

Sellers need to say in their listing specifically which payment methods they accept and only offer payment methods approved by eBay. Sellers aren't allowed to:

• Ask buyers to contact them for additional payment methods

• Offer a payment method to some buyers and not to others

• Discourage buyers from using any payment method the seller specified in the listing

• Ask buyers to pay using a method not mentioned in the listing.

This applies to all transaction-related correspondence between a seller and buyer as well as the listings.

Violation consequences

Make sure your listing follows our guidelines. If it doesn't, it may be removed, and your buying and selling privileges could be restricted. "