eBay Money Back Guarantee, Explained
eBay's Money Back Guarantee covers items that never arrive or do not match the listing, if you paid through eBay checkout and report it within 30 days.
By Olivia HarperContributing writer. Policy checked .
On this page
Store policies change. This is a summary in our own words of eBay's Money Back Guarantee policy page, read on October 27, 2026. The official page is the one that applies; check it before you open a request.
What it covers
eBay is a marketplace, so each seller sets its own return policy. The Money Back Guarantee sits on top of that and covers three cases:
- The item never arrives, or is not available for collection.
- The item does not match the listing, including the wrong item or one that arrives broken, damaged or faulty. You can return these even if the seller does not accept returns.
- The seller does not honor its own stated return policy for change of mind returns.
To qualify, you must have paid on eBay.com through eBay checkout with an eligible payment method. Anything paid outside eBay, such as a bank transfer, cash, money order or escrow, is not covered. You also cannot chase the same problem through another route, like a card chargeback, at the same time.
Deadlines
| Step | Time limit |
|---|---|
| Report an item not received | After the estimated delivery date passes, and no later than 30 calendar days after it |
| Ask to return an item not as described | Within 30 calendar days of delivery, or the seller's window if longer |
| Trading cards, bullion, coins, paper money, items sold for parts, from sellers with no returns | Within 3 calendar days of delivery |
| Seller responds to your report or return request | 3 business days |
| Seller refunds after getting the return | 2 business days, unless the return details show more time |
| Ask eBay to step in (item not received) | From 3 business days after the report, up to 21 business days |
| Appeal an eBay decision | Within 30 calendar days |
Event tickets have their own rule: the later of 30 calendar days after delivery or 7 calendar days after the event.
What is not covered
eBay excludes real estate, businesses and websites for sale, digital content and NFTs, classified ads, services, travel tickets and vouchers, sports card case and box breaks from pre-approved sellers, industrial equipment and motor vehicles. Vehicles and business equipment have separate eBay protection programs. Coverage can also fail for items collected by someone else, shipping you arranged yourself, a wrong address, unpaid import charges in most cases, or refusing delivery.
You can lose coverage by closing the case yourself, filing a duplicate claim with your payment provider, abusing the program, or breaking eBay policy. eBay also says the guarantee is not a product warranty.
How refunds and return shipping work
Refunds normally go to your original payment method. For an item that never arrived, you get the full item price plus the original shipping. For a change of mind return, the seller may keep the original shipping cost, and a seller can deduct for an item that comes back used or damaged.
| Return reason | Who pays return shipping |
|---|---|
| Not as described | The seller |
| Change of mind, listing says free returns | The seller |
| Change of mind, listing says buyer pays | You |
| You buy your own label | You |
Use tracked shipping for returns; start one from eBay's help pages or the Resolution Center. eBay requires signature confirmation when the items total $750 or more.
Sources
eBay Money Back Guarantee policy, eBay. Policy checked October 27, 2026.