When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn If you’re looking for a bargain, one of the best places to visit is eBay. While initially launched as an auction site, eBay later added the facility to buy items at a set price. You can even make offers that are lower than the asking price and haggle to find a value that suits both buyer and seller.
But is eBay safe to shop? How do you know if the person you’re buying from (or selling to) is trustworthy and fair? eBay has been used and abused by scammers throughout its history, affecting its reputation.
Over the past few years, the company has taken steps to improve the experience for buyers and sellers. But how safe is it to shop on eBay now?
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What is eBay?
eBay is one of the biggest online shopping sites on the web. It was launched in 1995 as AuctionWeb, before rebranding as eBay in 1997. It now has 132 million active users, and anyone can buy and sell on the platform.
Auctions are conducted using a sealed bid method, and bidders cannot see their rivals’ identities. They can start at zero or from a higher value, typically suggested by the site. A reserve figure can also be set, ensuring an item doesn’t sell below its true value.
Standard listings with static prices can also be found alongside the original concept of auctioning. As long as the item for sale is legal and inoffensive, it can be traded on eBay. Various payment methods are available, and the site occasionally showcases special offers for buyers and listing discounts for sellers.
The platfor allows selling a wide range of items, making eBay resemble a mix of a thrift store and a high-end retailer.
Along with listing fees, eBay charges a “Final Value Fee” on all sales.
Is eBay Safe to Use?
eBay is one of the safest marketplaces on the web. With almost 30 years of experience, it has pioneered safe online payments, implemented buyer and seller rating systems, and worked hard to combat scams and cybercrime.
As a well-known online marketplace, eBay itself is safe and trustworthy. However, you should be aware that it collects user data. When you create an account, eBay retains information like your name, shipping address, and payment method. It also stores bids and purchases; if you sell on eBay, data related to that activity is also stored.
In addition, eBay tracks your behavior on the platform: what you shop for, what links you click, and all your past purchases. Your device’s operating system and IP address are also recorded, which is something all websites do.
Finally, eBay also retains relevant information from third parties. For example, it consults credit reference agencies to help verify your identity and prevent fraud.
What Safety Measures Does eBay Implement for Buyers?
eBay buyers are protected by a combination of encryption technology, privacy, and fraud prevention measures.
- All eBay pages are encrypted and authenticated with SSL (Secure Socket Layer). To further increase your online security, we suggest using a reliable antivirus, like TotalAV, and fast NordVPN software.
- When you make a purchase, your payment details are kept secure and are not shared with the seller.
- A money-back guarantee is in place in the event of a problem with the item, although this has some exclusions. Before buying, it’s always wise to check an item for returns and money-back policies.
- eBay has also taken steps to prevent fraud in its marketplace. Activity is monitored for potentially criminal behavior, and reporting tools are provided on every listing page. Registered users can report what might be scams or even stolen or illegal items listed on eBay.
What Safety Measures Does eBay Implement for Sellers?
As well as protecting buyers from unscrupulous sellers, eBay protects sellers from scammers posing as buyers.
- eBay’s money-back guarantee works for both buyers and sellers. When buyers falsely claim an item differs from the listing, eBay may side with the seller if the description is accurate. Additionally, when refunds are claimed on returned goods, if they’re in an inferior condition, eBay supports deducting up to 50% of the refund.
- Fraudulent payment disputes can be reported to eBay, which typically rules in the seller’s favor. In addition, swift action over refunds and buyer issues can result in eBay refunding the Final Value Fee (which is paid following a successful sale).
- Sellers are also protected from abusive behavior and unreasonable demands from buyers. eBay has been known to intervene when things get out of hand, ruling in the seller’s favor.
Common eBay Scams and How To Spot Them
While eBay is relatively safe for buyers and sellers, like any other platform, eBay can’t completely avoid occasional scammers. Here are a few popular eBay scams to look out for:
Fake Listing Scam
Some scammers list expensive items at low prices, but these items don’t really exist. After you’ve paid, the item never arrives, and the scammer has departed eBay, along with the money.
Counterfeit Scam
Counterfeit items are common on eBay. While listed as genuine – perhaps with photos of the real deal – the item you receive is fake, worth a fraction of what you have paid.
Shipping Scam
Items with free shipping are attractive but can be the basis of a scam. Dodgy sellers claim a shipping fee is actually required and demand payment through unsafe means. In the end, you often end up without the goods you paid for.
Fake Payment
This attempts to convince sellers that a fake payment confirmation is genuine or to accept payment outside of eBay (perhaps in a fake escrow), where no protections are in place.
Item Not Received
If a buyer claims they never received the item, despite it being delivered, they can demand a refund. It is difficult to defend against this scam unless you ensure everything you ship has a tracking number.
Overpayment Scam
An old scam adapted for eBay involves a buyer sending more money than required and asking you to refund the difference. However, the payment is fake. This can be avoided by ensuring you only accept payments through eBay.
How to Stay Safe When Shopping on eBay?
If you’re shopping on eBay, the best thing you can do to stay safe is avoid sellers with poor reputations. The buyer and seller review tools are invaluable for finding who is trustworthy on the platform.
When viewing an item, look for the seller’s name, which will be accompanied by the number of reviews the seller has. Below this, you’ll find a percentage value, which represents the proportion of eBayers who left positive feedback.
For example, I have 580 reviews, of which 100% are positive.
In addition to checking seller scores, make sure to also:
- Set up a safe payment method – Use PayPal or credit cards to ensure legal protection.
- Use a strong password to ensure your account is secure – Use a tool like 1Password to manage your passwords.
- Enable 2-step verification to further secure your accounts.
- Use a VPN to improve your online privacy. NordVPN encrypts your data, making it virtually unreadable to unrelated third parties. Plus, by connecting to a VPN server, you effectively hide your real IP address and
- Watch out for emails from eBay – If you’ve received a suspicious email from eBay. Do not interact with it. Do not click any links or give out your personal information, as this is likely just a phishing scam or a malicious attachment. Simply report it via [email protected] email. To lower potential malware risks, consider using a secure antivirus like TotalAV.
How to Stay Safe When Selling on eBay?
Sellers need to be aware of the risks associated with listing items for sale on eBay. While it may seem a good way to make extra money, scammers can quickly sour the experience.
While you can’t prevent specific users (for example, those with poor eBay scores) from bidding or buying from you, you can protect your efforts in other ways. When listing, you can set specifics for the item and a clear description. Ensuring these accurately match what you are selling will help avoid miscommunication.
Spending time determining which countries or territories you don’t sell to can also avoid many problems. While eBay is international by default, you can limit bids to your own country, state, or continent. You can also block specific countries.
Also, reject all attempts to send payment outside of eBay, and don’t use third-party escrow.
