# How to buy on Ebay **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 1, 2001, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-buy-on-ebay/84839 "2001-10-01T21:29:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-buy-on-ebay/84839/1 "2001-10-01T21:29:39Z")
I don’t have a clue about this. I tried to buy once, but abandoned the effort when a prompt asked me to enter a credit card number. Is it absolutely necessary to do that? Hey, I’d be glad to send them a check or money order for the item and wait for it to come… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-buy-on-ebay/84839/2 "2001-10-01T21:35:02Z")
No a credit card is not necessary but I have used mine many times without any trouble. I usually pay with PayPal. I have it set up to come out of my checking or savings account whichever I want. ---
**Author:** ![caircair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@caircair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caircair)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-buy-on-ebay/84839/3 "2001-10-01T21:36:25Z")
Generally, the seller will post how they want payment – not all accept personal checks. After you win the item, the seller will contact you and the two of you will then work it out. As for the enter a credit card #, I’m guessing you were trying to sign up for BillPay or some such thing. As far as I know, you don’t need a credit card to buy on Ebay. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-buy-on-ebay/84839/4 "2001-10-01T21:36:30Z")
Oh. Thanx. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-buy-on-ebay/84839/5 "2001-10-01T21:38:14Z")
huh? A prompt asked you for your credit card number? At what point in the process? Can you describe _exactly_ what you were doing when you got the prompt? How you buy on ebay a. register and get a user name b. find an item you wish to buy c. bid on said item (perhaps you need a separate thread for bidding strategies) d. Repeat b and c until you win an auction e. Contact seller and arrange payment (take note of payment options offered by seller before bidding). f. Send payment g. recieve item. h. Post feedback for seller ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-buy-on-ebay/84839/6 "2001-10-01T21:41:23Z")
If the buyer uses Billpoint (Ebay’s e-paymetn system) then if you use the “buy-it-now” option, it will allow you to enter your CC info at that point. This may be what happened. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-buy-on-ebay/84839/7 "2001-10-01T22:00:39Z")
I think if you try to sign up with a Hotmail, Yahoo, or other such addresses (not considered “real” email accounts) they require a credit card # for verification. When you are bidding on an item, it is important to read payment and shipping terms very, very, carefully. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-buy-on-ebay/84839/8 "2001-10-02T00:09:18Z")
To register, you need a credit card to prove you are a real person. It’s their way of rooting out fraud. It’s safe. In the older days it wasn’t required but now it is so they can cut back on fraud. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-buy-on-ebay/84839/9 "2001-10-02T00:15:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\*To register, you need a credit card to prove you are a real person. It’s their way of rooting out fraud. It’s safe. > > In the older days it wasn’t required but now it is so they can cut back on fraud. \*\* Yeah, they had to change it within the last year or so, because of all the idiots selling kidneys and such. Now a credit card is required to setup an ebay account, but its safe. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-buy-on-ebay/84839/10 "2001-10-02T12:53:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\*To register, you need a credit card to prove you are a real person. It’s their way of rooting out fraud. It’s safe. > \*\* Just to clarify, eBay does not give your credit card number to the seller. It’s only for their record-keeping purposes. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-buy-on-ebay/84839/11 "2001-10-02T15:43:14Z")
You also have to put in a credit card number if you’re trying to buy/view anything in the adult section of eBay.