eBay

timbuyscards24 · ‎12-18-2023

Why do I have to have a payment method established to bid on an auction? It defaults to the selected payment is is automatically taken out.

I want to have the choice because I use multiple accounts to pay for things.

eburtonlab · ‎12-18-2023

eBay is allowing sellers to require a payment method in advance for bids or offers.

eBay determines which buyers are required to follow the seller's requirements; at the moment it appears that not all users are required to provide a payment method for bids, but many seem to be required to do so for offers.

You should be able to see, and if necessary delete or change, which payment method is chosen "for auctions and offers" by examining your Payment page here:

https://ppcapp.ebay.com/myppc/wallet/list

woodland_gnome · ‎12-18-2023

You select the account you want to pay for the item when you are placing the bid (on the "Review your bid" screen, also you make sure the shipping address is where you want THAT item to go and change it if needed; if there is no mention of this or no "Review your bid" screen that means you do not have to pre-authorize payment for that auction).

eBay had been "experimenting" with requiring pre-authorization of payment for Best Offers for over a year and a half (started prior to Halloween 2021), adding more and more users into the test group required to do so (sellers can opt their listings out of it; buyers cannot opt out once they are assigned). Too many users were making offers and then not paying when it was accepted, and too many of those were scammers who would try to get the seller to text or email them to get their number/email address to send fake payment messages to.

They have now officially made it permanent and all buyers are now required to pre-authorize payment for Best Offers they make on listings for sellers who have not opted out of the program. They started trying it out on auction bids (with a smaller group of buyers that is growing) in Spring or early Summer 2023 and that is still experimental. They will also start experimenting with requiring pre-authorization or payment for accepting offers from sellers soon.

mr_lincoln · ‎12-18-2023

Hi @timbuyscards24

That is eBay's Auto-pay that they have been rolling out on Selling accounts BUT not telling Sellers when it has been added ... and the default is ON. Your Seller may not even be aware of it.

Mine are turned OFF because I sell a lot auction style but do not use the Best Offer process.

You can message Sellers and ask if they will turn it off.

Now, it is a great feature for Newer Sellers AND to eliminate certain scams that criminal con artist Buyers pursue. But to me it is best applied to high value - high scam risk items, not the majority of what is for sale on eBay. Here is what the settings look like in a Seller's account on this page: Buyer Management | eBay