Buying used on eBay: guarantee, auctions and trustworthy sellers

eBay is one of the handiest places to buy second-hand: private sellers and shops, auctions and fixed prices, rare finds and spare parts you won't see anywhere else. Because there are so many ways to buy, it pays to know how each one works before you hit "Buy". Here's what to check so you can buy with confidence.

The eBay Money Back Guarantee in practice

The eBay Money Back Guarantee is your safety net. It covers most purchases when:

the item doesn't arrive;
the item you receive doesn't match the listing: it's the wrong item, broken, damaged or faulty;
the seller doesn't stick to their own returns policy.

You have up to 30 calendar days from the actual or estimated delivery date to report a problem. If you want to return an item because it isn't as described, you get whichever is longer: those 30 days or the returns window stated by the seller.

There are some important exclusions. Items paid for outside eBay, even partly (bank transfer, cash, money orders), aren't covered, and neither are some categories such as vehicles, property, services and digital content.

How to open a request

Go to Purchases in My eBay, find the item and choose the right option: report that it hasn't arrived, or request a return.
The seller has 3 business days to respond and sort out the problem, for example with a delivery update or a refund.
If the problem still isn't resolved after 3 business days, you can ask eBay to step in.

Meanwhile, keep everything in writing in eBay messages and, if the item arrived damaged, take clear photos of the item and the packaging.

Auction, Buy it now or Best Offer?

The same kind of item can be sold on eBay in different ways, and each has its advantages.

Auction: you enter the most you're willing to pay and eBay's automatic bidding raises your bid for you, one step at a time, only when needed. Other bidders can't see your maximum. Remember, though, that a bid is a commitment: if you win, you have to pay. Set your limit in advance and don't get carried away in the final minutes.
Buy it now: you pay the fixed price shown and the item is yours. It's the right choice when the price is already in line with the market and you don't want to risk being outbid.
Best Offer: on listings that allow it, you can suggest a lower price. According to eBay's help page, the seller has 24 hours to accept, decline or suggest another price. Be aware that even after the seller accepts your offer, the item stays available to other buyers until you've paid for it.

Whatever the format, it's a good habit to compare the price with similar listings before you decide.

Who's selling: feedback, private and business sellers

Next to the seller's name you'll see their feedback score and the percentage of positive feedback. A high percentage is a good sign, but also check how many ratings there are and read the most recent comments, especially the negative and neutral ones: they tell you a lot about descriptions, packaging and delivery times. eBay's seller ratings page explains the detailed ratings too.

eBay also lists a few warning signs: very short listings, heavy discounts on high-value items, and accounts that have only ever bought and suddenly list lots of expensive items.

Then check whether you're buying from a private individual or a business. It makes a difference: in the EU, when you buy online from a business you normally have 14 days to cancel without giving a reason, but this right of withdrawal doesn't apply to purchases from private individuals. The eBay Money Back Guarantee, on the other hand, applies in both cases if the item doesn't arrive or isn't as described.

Read the item condition carefully

Every listing states a condition, and eBay's definitions are precise. The most common ones for second-hand items:

Used: the item has been used before and may show some cosmetic wear, but it's fully operational.
Certified - Refurbished: pristine, like-new condition, refurbished by the manufacturer.
Excellent, Very Good or Good - Refurbished: fully functional and professionally restored, with anything from no wear to moderate wear depending on the grade.
Seller Refurbished: restored to working order by the eBay seller or a third party.
For Parts or Not Working: it doesn't work as intended. Only buy it if you can repair it or need the parts.

Beyond the label, read the description and look at every photo. If anything is unclear, ask the seller through eBay messages before you buy.

Delivery and returns

Before buying, check the delivery cost and time, where the item is posted from and whether it's tracked. Look at the seller's returns policy too: some accept returns within a set period, others don't.

Even when a seller says they don't accept returns, eBay points out that in most cases you can still return the item if it doesn't match the description or arrives faulty. Who pays for return postage depends on the reason for the return.

Never pay outside eBay

This is the most important rule. eBay doesn't allow offers to buy or sell outside the platform, and buyers and sellers can't swap email addresses or phone numbers before completing a transaction. If a seller asks you to pay by bank transfer "to save on fees", to carry on the chat on WhatsApp, or to pay with prepaid cards or cryptocurrency, stop there: a payment made outside eBay isn't covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee.

Always pay through eBay's checkout, with one of the accepted payment methods, and report suspicious requests to eBay.

Search eBay and other marketplaces together

The same item might be up for auction on eBay, at a fixed price on another site, and maybe just down the road from you. With Rovista you search eBay and other second-hand marketplaces in one go and see only used listings, then complete the purchase on the original site, with its protection. Try, for example, searching for a Nintendo Switch, or start from the eBay alerts page.

If you're waiting for a specific bargain, the Base plan lets you turn on alerts for your saved searches and get an email, a notification or a Telegram message when a new listing appears. You'll find the details on the pricing page.

Information checked in September 2026: platform terms may change.