Key Facts
What may eBay's automated systems do?
eBay's automated systems may scan and analyze the contents of every message sent through its messaging platforms, including messages between users.
When do users enter into a legally binding contract to purchase an item on eBay?
eBay requires users to enter into a legally binding contract to purchase an item at the moment they buy the item, commit to buy it, have their offer accepted, or hold the winning bid.
What damages does eBay exclude liability for?
eBay excludes its liability to users or any third party for consequential damages or losses, including loss of money, goodwill or reputation, and profits, under any claim at law or in equity.
Must disputes or claims between a user and eBay be resolved through final and binding arbitration?
eBay requires that any and all disputes or claims between a user and eBay (or any related third parties) be resolved exclusively through final and binding arbitration, rather than in court.
Can disputes or claims between a user and eBay be resolved in court?
eBay requires that any and all disputes or claims between a user and eBay (or any related third parties) be resolved exclusively through final and binding arbitration, rather than in court.
What must users comply with when accessing or using eBay's Services?
eBay requires users to comply with all terms of the User Agreement when accessing or using its Services.
What does eBay prohibit regarding its Services?
eBay prohibits the use of robots, spiders, scrapers, data mining tools, data gathering and extraction tools, or other automated means—including buy-for-me agents, LLM-driven bots, or any end-to-end flow—to access its Services.
What automated means does eBay prohibit?
eBay prohibits the use of robots, spiders, scrapers, data mining tools, data gathering and extraction tools, or other automated means—including buy-for-me agents, LLM-driven bots, or any end-to-end flow—to access its Services.
For what are sellers liable?
eBay holds sellers liable for fees arising out of all sales made using some or all of eBay's Services, even if sales terms are finalized or payment is made outside of eBay.
Are sellers liable for fees even if sales terms are finalized outside of eBay?
eBay holds sellers liable for fees arising out of all sales made using some or all of eBay's Services, even if sales terms are finalized or payment is made outside of eBay.
Summary
This agreement sets the rules for using eBay, and by using the platform you agree to all of them. You become legally bound to buy an item the moment you win a bid, have an offer accepted, or commit to purchase—before you actually pay. Any dispute you have with eBay must go through individual arbitration, not a court, and you cannot join a class action against eBay.
Analysis
The eBay User Agreement establishes the terms under which users access and use eBay's Services, imposing a total compliance obligation on each instance of access. It creates binding purchase contracts at multiple pre-payment trigger points, subjects all user-submitted content to a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free license sublicensable through multiple tiers, and requires users to indemnify eBay and its affiliates against third-party claims including reasonable legal fees. eBay excludes liability for consequential damages and provides its Services on an 'as is' and 'as available' basis at the user's own risk, while reserving sole discretion to limit, suspend, or terminate user accounts without forfeiting other remedies. All disputes with eBay or related third parties must be resolved through final and binding individual arbitration, with class and representative proceedings expressly barred.
What this means for you
Every message you send through eBay's messaging channels is subject to automated scanning and analysis by eBay. You are contractually bound to complete a purchase at the moment you win a bid, commit to buy, or have an offer accepted—not only when you pay. Content you submit to eBay is licensed to eBay on terms that are perpetual and irrevocable, surviving account closure. eBay may limit, suspend, or terminate your account at its sole discretion. You are also required to indemnify eBay and its affiliates, including covering their reasonable legal fees, if a third party brings a claim related to your use of the platform. If you have a dispute with eBay, you must bring it as an individual in binding arbitration.
2 important changes detected
8 versions captured · Last updated: June 2026
What changed
eBay updated the customer service help section of its User Agreement on June 18, 2026. The company removed instructional text that previously guided users on search troubleshooting (such as 'Try different search terms', 'Use more general search terms', and 'Make sure all words are spelled correctly') and replaced it with a shorter message encouraging users to provide more details for assistance. This reduces the scope of self-service guidance available in the help interface.
Why this matters
The updated help section no longer displays specific troubleshooting steps when a search returns no results. Instead, users see a prompt requesting more details to improve assistance. This is a minor operational change in how the help interface presents guidance; it does not modify eBay's core terms, user rights, or service obligations.
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What changed
eBay updated its User Agreement effective June 28, 2026, adding approximately 293 new sentences and removing 273 existing sentences, representing a substantial rewrite of the terms. The updated agreement explicitly clarifies the scope of incorporated policies, identifies the specific eBay entity contracting with users by jurisdiction, and emphasizes key provisions governing dispute resolution and mandatory arbitration. The change also adds a requirement that users accept all incorporated policies and terms, and includes a specific notice drawing attention to arbitration and class action waiver provisions.
Why this matters
The updated User Agreement incorporates additional policies and terms that were previously referenced separately, making them contractually binding conditions of service use. The agreement now explicitly states that continued use constitutes acceptance of all incorporated policies and additional terms posted on eBay's sites and applications. The updated language emphasizes that disputes are resolved through binding arbitration unless the user opts out according to section 19.B.9, and contains a waiver of class action rights. You can review which eBay entity contracts with you based on your jurisdiction (eBay Inc. for US, eBay UK Limited for UK, eBay GmbH for EU, and others listed) and locate the opt-out mechanism for arbitration in section 19.B.9 of the full agreement.
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