Rules for buyers: Overview

	Rules for buyers Reporting a policy breach Additional information

eBay's policies help to create a safe, fair and enjoyable trading environment for all eBay members. 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).

Buying practices 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.

Unwelcome and malicious buying 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 Rules for everyone: Overview).

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

To learn more about eBay's rules, you can take the Marketplace policy tutorial and other Trust and safety tutorials.

Reporting a policy breach

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