Rules for buyers: Overview

As a buyer, you are responsible for reviewing and understanding eBay's policies, as well as all applicable laws and regulations outlined in the User Agreement.

Make sure you follow these guidelines. If you don't you may be subject to a range of actions, including Feedback removal, limits on account privileges and suspension of your account.

Rules for buyers

Unpaid item policy

Buyers must pay for items they commit to buy (either by winning the item or using Buy it now).

Abusive buyer policy

This policy outlines unfair and unsafe behaviour that we don't allow from buyers - such as making unreasonable demands of sellers, or taking advantage of our protection systems.

Invalid bid retractions

You can only retract a bid in certain exceptional circumstances. Even in a category with non-binding bids (for example, some property auctions), insincere bidding is not permitted.

Site interference policy

Buyers may not bid on or buy an item when they don't meet the seller's terms as outlined in the item listing, or bid or buy with the intention of disrupting a listing.

Shill bidding policy

Bidders on an item must be wholly independent from the seller of that item. Bidding by the seller (or someone connected to the seller) to drive the price up isn't allowed.

Neither buyers nor sellers may interfere with a transaction or offer to buy or sell listed items outside of the eBay site (see Member behaviour policies).

Buyers and sellers must also comply with our policies about feedback.

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.

Reporting a policy breach

To report a policy breach

1. Find and read the relevant policy page (see the Rules & Policies overview).
2. Click the Report link or Contact Us button on the policy page.
3. Enter the user ID(s) or item number(s) you wish to report.
4. Click Send button to send us your report.

You can also report a policy breach by clicking Help & Contact at the top of most eBay pages and selecting the appropriate topic.

Note: Only report a case once. Multiple emails about the same case slows the investigation.

After your report is received:

• eBay will consider the circumstances of an alleged offence and the member's trading record before taking action
• If a complaint can't be proven with certainty, eBay may take no action
• Due to privacy issues, it is not possible for eBay to discuss the results of an investigation