This policy was updated on 10 June 2024 to add examples of contact information which may not be shared or requested prior to completing a sale, and is effective as of that date.
Contacting another eBay member to discuss moving a purchase off eBay exposes both the buyer and seller to the risk of fraud. It also means both buyer and seller are not covered by our protection programs.
What is the policy?
Buyers and sellers can't:
- Engage in any action with a user on the site designed to complete or facilitate a transaction outside of eBay
- Share or request direct contact information prior to completing a sale. This includes:
- Name
- Addresses
- Phone number
- Email address
- Social media ID
- Instant messenger ID
- External website addresses (URLs)
- Payment information
- Bank details
- In any communications with another eBay member, refer to or promote external websites that facilitate sales outside of eBay or other businesses
- Use contact information obtained through an eBay transaction to offer to buy or sell an item outside of eBay
- List an item and then mention or link to identical or related items for sale outside of eBay
- Offer catalogues or other items that are used to order items directly outside of eBay
Buyers and sellers should:
- Complete purchases on eBay in order to be covered by eBay protections and eBay Money Back Guarantee. Confirmation of a completed transaction on eBay can be obtained by:
- Using the eBay checkout to complete the purchase
- Viewing the purchase in purchase or sales history
- Use Best Offer or Seller Initiated Offer transactions to accept offers for items and negotiate a price
- Use the Private Offer feature to send a customised offer within Messages to sell to a specific buyer
Activity on eBay is required to follow this policy, the eBay User Agreement and all applicable laws, as well as respect the rights of third parties. If it doesn't, eBay may take action consistent with applicable laws and the eBay User Agreement, and may even be legally required to do so. Such actions may include, as an example only: Removing the listing or other content, issuing a warning, restricting activity or account suspension.
If you receive an offer from a seller to transact outside of eBay, please report it - report an offer from a seller to transact outside of eBay.
If you receive an offer from a buyer to transact outside of eBay, please report it - report an offer from a buyer to transact outside of eBay.
Why does eBay have this policy?
Offers to buy or sell outside of eBay are a potential fraud risk for both buyers and sellers. Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not eligible for eBay protection programs and the eBay Money Back Guarantee. Additionally, eBay has invested a great deal to connect interested buyers with great sellers and we want to participate in ongoing transactions with them.