eBay Global Buying Hub

eBay Guide to International Buying

Get Started on eBay | How to Bid & Buy | Pay for Your Item | Receive Your Item

Pay for Your Item

Whether you buy an item at a fixed price or place a winning bid, you need to pay for your item before a seller can ship it to you.

Send Payments Internationally

Always complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs. When paying for an international item:

PayPal's Global Presence

PayPal's secure global network of more than 103 countries makes sending money internationally quick and easy. To send a payment, log in to your PayPal account and click the Send Money tab. Fill out the payment details and select your desired currency from the Currency drop-down menu. Your payment will automatically be converted to the currency you choose, and your seller will receive an email from PayPal stating the amount and currency of the payment. If your payment must be converted to another currency, the currency conversion calculation will be displayed to you at the time of payment.

Pay the seller the amount agreed to with the currency and method specified by the seller.
If you think there is a better payment alternative available-such as paying in your own currency via PayPal-contact the seller to discuss it. Click here to see if PayPal is available in your country.
If no mutual electronic payment method exists, an international money order (available at most banks) is a good option to pay sellers safely.
Remember to include shipping costs and any additional fees and taxes in your payment.

Never pay for an item using instant cash wire transfer services such as Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Shipping Insurance

Some sellers include insurance charges in their total shipping costs while others give you the option to purchase separate shipping insurance. Many carriers automatically protect your package from loss or damage up to a certain amount of your item's value. If the item costs more than the amount covered, or the carrier does not insure shipments, ask the seller to purchase additional insurance on your behalf.

Paying Large Amounts

An escrow service is a neutral, trusted third party that acts as an intermediary in a trade in exchange for a fee. Consider using Escrow.com if you have concerns about a seller's feedback rating or are buying a highly valuable item. This licensed and U.S.-regulated company collects, holds, and sends your money according to instructions agreed upon by both you and the seller. Typically, once you receive and approve your item within an agreed time frame, the escrow service then sends your payment to the seller.