How to Buy on eBay Without PayPal

Looking at something on eBay and wondering if you need to sign up for another online account before you can check out? We’ve got great news for you! So long as you have a credit or debit card, you buy anything on eBay with a credit or debit card so long as the seller accepts them (and almost all of them do). You may not even need an eBay account if the purchase is under $5,000. In any case, we’ll walk you through how you can buy items on eBay without a PayPal account.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Paying with a Credit or Debit Card

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Select your product as you normally would. Then, click the icon that says "Buy It Now." This will redirect you to a screen that will let you enter payment information.^{[1]XResearch source}
If you're not registered for eBay, you can quickly create an account by clicking "register now." You enter basic information, such as your name, address, and telephone number. If you'd rather not register, you can also click "continue as guest."^{[2]XResearch source}
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After you select your item, you should be presented with different payment options. Instead of clicking the PayPal option, click the option to pay with a debit or credit card.^{[3]XResearch source}
4
Enter your information. You will then be redirected to a screen where you can enter your credit or debit card number. You will also have to enter the billing address, your name, the expiration date, and the card's security code.^{[4]XResearch source}
- If your billing and shipping address are different, make sure to specify this so your item is not shipped to the wrong place.
After entering your information, you will be asked to review your order. Make sure all the information you entered is correct and then verify you want to go through with the purchase. Your order should be billed to your credit/debit card.^{[5]XResearch source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Paying with a Gift Card or Coupon

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Select the item you want as you normally would. Then, click the "Pay Now" or "Buy Now" icon. If you've won an item in an auction, you would also press "Pay Now" or "Buy Now" after securing the item.^{[6]XResearch source}
Instead of selecting the button that lets you choose between a debit/credit card and PayPal, click the button that allows you to redeem a gift card, certificate, or coupon. You should be momentarily redirected to a page where you can enter your code.^{[7]XResearch source}
Gift cards, certificates, and coupons all come with codes you must enter on the eBay site. Codes will either be emailed to you or printed physically on the back of your card. Enter your code carefully in the box provided and then hit "redeem."^{[8]XResearch source}
4
Continue and log into your account. Click the "apply" button followed by the "continue" button. If you have not already done so, you will be asked to log into your account.^{[9]XResearch source}
- You can also opt to order as a guest if you don't have an account. You can enter your shipping address when ordering as a guest.
Review your information to make sure your shipping address, name, phone number, and other information is correct. Then, click the "Confirm payment" button to complete the order.^{[10]XResearch source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Troubleshooting Common Problems

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eBay sometimes defaults to PayPal as your payment if you've used it before on eBay. It's sometimes easier to simply pay as a guest and then enter your card information.^{[11]XResearch source}
Sometimes, the eBay site will keep redirecting you to the screen where you pay via PayPal even if you request otherwise. If you're having this issue, try clearing your browser history as well as your cookies. This may clear up the issue.^{[12]XResearch source}
3
Do not link a PayPal and eBay account. If you prefer not to use your PayPal account for eBay, do not link your eBay and PayPal account to begin with. If your PayPal is linked to your eBay account, this can sometimes result in PayPal being your default payment option.^{[13]XResearch source}
- If you've already linked your PayPal and eBay account, try creating a different eBay account with a new email.

Community Q&A

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Question
When I try to enter an eBay gift card code, it says "Code cant be used with your payment method." What does this mean?
Community Answer
You can't use eBay gift cards when you're paying with a credit or debit card. That is something the companies have put in place.
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Question
How can I bid on eBay if I don't have PayPal and want to use a prepaid card?
Community Answer
You have to first inquire if the seller uses alternate payment processors or has a merchant account. If not, then they only process sales through PayPal, meaning you need to have a PayPal account with the same prepaid card linked to it.
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