Comparison of Payment Methods Allowed on eBay


(This is NOT an official document issued by any of the services mentioned. Usual disclaimers apply, some errors may exist.)

As of late October, 2008, eBay required all sellers to offer either PayPal, Propay or a merchant account. In February, 2009, eBay approved Moneybookers and Paymate. Cash, money orders, etc. can be requested only for picked-up items, and the seller still must offer one of the approved methods of payment.
(Sellers are forbidden to request or solicit money orders, checks and similar payments, but buyers could still ask to send payments by those methods. eBay states this will not be a violation if such payments are made in a reasonably small percentage of sales. eBay also states sellers can refuse such payments if buyers do not want to use one of the approved means, and sellers can subsequently file an Unpaid Item Dispute.)

  PayPal® ProPay® Merchant Acct Moneybookers® Paymate®
Funding source Account, Bank, Credit or Debit Card Many popular credit cards. Use of some cards requires enhanced accounts. Many recognized credit cards Credit cards Credit cards
Transfer method Online Send: Online or phone
Receive: Online or bank deposit
Online Merchant Gateway Online Online
Registration and Setup Fees None Annual fee: $35 - $300 Application fee: $95 - $250
AMEX setup fee: $25 - $50
Gateway Fee: $20 - $35 / mo
Statement Fee: $12 - $20 / mo
None None
Per Transaction Fees to Transfer Funds Premier/Business: 1.9% + $0.30 USD to 2.9% + $0.30 USD
Effective Jun 2, 2009, Personal accounts will incur similar fee for payments for goods & services.
Fee Schedule
Rates vary, depending on source. Basic rate is 3.50% + $0.35

Fee Schedule
$0.35 - $0.50
Plus 2.3% - 2.7% of amount of transaction
Rates vary, depending on sales. Basic rate is 2.9% + $0.29

Fee Schedule
3.0% + $0.50

Fee Schedule
Fund transfer fee paid by Seller
Fee to add funds to account $0.00 - n/a n/a n/a
Subject to banking regulations? No
Account earns interest? Optionally (for money held by PayPal) Money sent to member's bank account
Transfer can be reversed Yes, under certain conditions. See seller protection Yes, under certain conditions. See Payment Services Agreement, at Propay site Yes, under certain conditions Yes, under certain conditions Yes, under certain conditions
Buyer can be refunded (entirely or partially) Yes, no fee Yes, fee: $0.35 Usually yes Yes Yes - handled entirely by Paymate
Withdrawing Funds Check or to Bank Receive funds via charge card or direct deposit to bank Usually to bank Deposited to member's USA bank Deposited to member's bank
Automatic eBay Auction Logos Yes Yes ? Yes Yes
Customer Service Website, email, 1-800 Website Varies by provider Email, snailmail, phone, FAX
info here
Website, email, phone
info here
User Agreement (UA) here here (click on prompt near bottom of page) Varies by provider Merchant agreement
here
Seller & Buyer agreement
here
Comments "Buyer Friendly". Offers several methods in which a defrauded or dissatisfied buyer might recoup some or all of the transferred funds.

Sellers who typically sell items under $12.00 may realize a reduction in PayPal fees by signing up for a Micropayment Account.
More information HERE.
Chargebacks allowed. Plus $15.00 penalty to seller. Chargebacks may be contested. Some providers do not freeze funds until dispute finalized. Chargebacks allowed. Sellers are expected to keep good records of all transactions. Moneybookers may initiate credit checks on members. Service not to be used to sell certain goods or services. more info Based in Australia. Info shown here is for USA accounts.

Chargebacks allowed. If bank rules against seller, seller's bank account will be debited for full chargeback plus additional fees.
PayPal® ProPay® Merchant Acct Moneybookers® Paymate®




Return to Welcome Page