Online retailer eBay is a popular site for finding nearly everything imaginable online. Each eBay seller is different, but most prefer to handle transactions with PayPal. However, there are several payment alternatives that eBay buyers can explore aswell. While sellers can't change their payment method for a listing item once the listing has ended, it is very important be knowledgeable about each of the alternative payment methods for eBay. Online payment makes transactions easier for sellers and buyers, as funds are cleared nearly immediately and items could be shipped quickly thereafter. PayPal could very well be the most more popular payment method on eBay, but there are competing companies that offer similar service.

ProPay, Paymate and Moneybookers are accepted alternatives on eBay, and the firms offer a very similar structure to that of PayPal. The companies make each transaction traceable, and payments are secure. Moneybookers and Paymate allow buyers to send payments with credit cards or bank-account, and ProPay lets sellers accept payments from bank cards with no an Internet merchant account Unlike PayPal, however, ProPay, Paymate and Moneybookers may hold buyers liable for certain transactions, but your credit card company may have some type of purchase protection up to a certain level. Also note that ProPay, Paymate and Moneybookers are smaller up and coming companies and some sellers may not accept anything other than PayPal to secure payment for his or her items. Another alternative payment method is payment upon pickup. You will need to coordinate pickup with owner, providing that both parties are inside a reasonable distance from one another.

Good results to payment upon pickup is that buyers can physically inspect the items before purchase and you can find no shipping fees, but sellers are permitted to include surcharges for in-person pickup. eBay allows check, money orders, cash, PayPal or credit card as accepted forms of payment for in-person pickups, but again, these procedures are available at the seller's discretion. eBay Payments DATEV can be another option to PayPal. Escrow services become a middleman between buyers and sellers, handling all transactions and any communication between the parties. eBay Payments DATEV and sellers must be aware that there are some fraudulent companies posing as escrow service providers, so be sure to perform due diligence before registering with an escrow company and work only with the best-rated firms.