On eBay, sellers list items for auction or fixed price, buyers bid or buy now, and the seller ships after payment. eBay charges seller fees.
For buyers
- Search and choose Buy It Now or place a bid.
- In auctions, the highest bidder wins when time ends.
- Pay through eBay’s checkout.
For sellers
- Create a listing with photos and a price.
- Ship within the handling time after payment.
- eBay charges a final value fee, usually around 13% for most categories, plus a fixed fee per order.
Protection
The eBay Money Back Guarantee covers items not received or not as described.
Buying formats
- Auction: bidders compete over a set duration, such as 7 days, and the highest bid wins.
- Buy It Now: a fixed price.
- Best Offer: buyers and sellers negotiate.
Bidding
Place a maximum bid and eBay bids for you in small increments up to that maximum. Many bidders place bids in the last seconds, called sniping.
Seller fees
eBay charges a final value fee on the total sale amount, including shipping, usually about 13% for most categories plus a per order fee of 0.30 to 0.40 dollars. Fees vary by category and store subscription, so check the current fee page.
Listing tips
- Use clear photos from several angles.
- Write a precise title with brand, model and size.
- Be honest about condition.
- Research sold listings for pricing.
- Offer tracked shipping.
Payments
eBay manages payments, and funds are paid out to the seller’s bank account, often after delivery or a set period for new sellers.
Buyer protection
The eBay Money Back Guarantee covers items that do not arrive or are not as described. Buyers have to open a case within 30 days of the estimated delivery date.
Authenticity
eBay offers Authenticity Guarantee on some categories such as sneakers, watches and trading cards.
Scams
Beware of buyers asking to pay outside eBay, fake tracking numbers and emails asking you to log in through a link. Always use the official app or website.
Scale
eBay has over 130 million active buyers worldwide, according to company reports, and lists more than 1.9 billion items.
Taxes
Sales may be reported on Form 1099-K where thresholds apply.
Fees and formats
eBay, founded by Pierre Omidyar in 1995, has about 132 million active buyers worldwide. Sellers list items as auctions, usually 1, 3, 5, 7 or 10 days, or as Buy It Now fixed price. In recent years, the final value fee for most categories has been about 13.25 percent of the total sale amount up to 7,500 USD, plus a per order fee of 0.30 to 0.40 USD, and some categories like sneakers or books differ. Bidding rises in increments, and many buyers place a maximum bid and let eBay’s proxy system bid for them.
Protections and scams
The eBay Money Back Guarantee covers buyers if an item does not arrive or is not as described. The Authenticity Guarantee verifies certain high value categories such as sneakers, watches, handbags and trading cards before delivery. Buyers should check seller feedback, read the item description and avoid paying outside eBay, since off platform payments are not protected. Common scams include fake tracking, requests to pay by gift card and overpayment schemes. Income from sales may be taxable, and eBay sends reports to the IRS for sellers who meet reporting thresholds.
Based on data from eBay Help and the IRS
