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Payments including PayPal
On eBay, the transaction currency is always the currency for the site you list on. For example, for listings on eBay.com the buyer pays in US Dollars, on eBay.co.uk, it’s Pounds Sterling and for eBay.de, it’s Euros. Whichever site you want to list on, ensure that you’re able to accept payments in the local currency. The easiest way to do this is by using PayPal.
From summer 2012 a new payment process will be introduced on eBay.de and eBay.at which will change the way sellers are paid for sales.
From the start of the new payment process, buyers will pay eBay, and eBay will pay sellers. The new payment process completely replaces the way payments are currently being made on eBay.de and eBay.at.
Does this affect eBay sellers who list on eBay.de or eBay.at from outside Germany or Austria?
If you actively list on eBay.de or eBay.at, then your listings will be affected by the new payment process.
If you passively list on eBay.de or eBay.at, then your listings will not be affected by the new payment process.
Where can I find out more about the new payment process?
All the information you will need to prepare for the new payment process will be provided closer to the launch. This information will be provided in advance, leaving sellers enough time for to prepare.
Will this affect eBay sellers who do not list on eBay.de or eBay.at?
No, the new payment process only affects those sellers who actively list on eBay.de or eBay.at. Sellers listing on all other eBay sites are not affected.
Will eBay be introducing this new payment process on other eBay sites?
There are no current plans to introduce the new payment process to eBay sites other than eBay.de and eBay.at.
PayPal is a convenient way for buyers to pay for items bought on eBay. PayPal is accepted in 103 countries across the world and in some countries sellers are required to offer it as a payment option.
When you receive payment in a foreign currency into your PayPal account, PayPal can convert that to your local currency for you.
For international transactions you won’t need a separate PayPal account. However, PayPal may charge different fees for international payments or currency conversion. We advise that you check your settings in PayPal to ensure your account is configured to accept payments in multiple currencies.
In the UK and the US, PayPal is the most common method for payment, and in general is the method that eBay recommends on all sites.
In Germany, electronic funds transfer (EFT) is also a common payment method. Ideally you should have a German bank account to accept EFT because most buyers won’t send bank transfers to foreign bank accounts as it can cost them extra fees. If you look into setting up a German bank account, make sure you comply with the relevant regulations.
In France, credit cards are the most popular method of payment, but cheques are also common. Each eBay site has a policy on which payment methods can be used and which payment methods are prohibited, and you should familiarise yourself with these policies.
If you plan to offer a payment method other than PayPal, check that you can receive payments in the local currency, and ask your bank or payment service provider about fees for processing international payments. You might find that the fees are cost prohibitive, in which case you may want to limit your international customers to paying you through PayPal only.
If you actively list on an international site, you must state the cost of the item in the local currency, e.g. Euros in Germany, or US dollars in the US. The buyer will pay you in this currency, which means you will receive funds in this currency. As mentioned above, PayPal can convert this to your local currency for you. Banks or other providers may also be able to accept foreign currencies and convert them to your local currency for a fee, but you should check with those providers directly.
If you list on eBay.co.uk and choose to sell passively, your buyer will pay you in Pounds Sterling regardless of which eBay site they buy from. The transaction currency is always the local currency for the site you list on.
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