September 12, 2023, 11:22 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Recently, eBay made pickup the default option for sales. This is supposedly to encourage local commerce. However, with the latest change, the company contradicts itself.
Sellers who want to save on eBay’s payment fees often opt for “cash on pickup.” The company is now ending this option: From now on, payment processing through eBay itself is required for pickups.
eBay Eliminates Cash as a Payment Method
Sellers are currently receiving a message from eBay with the subject “‘Cash on pickup’ no longer available as of September 11, 2023.” In the message, the company explains the change is to “make payment for eBay orders even safer” by ensuring the entire transaction takes place exclusively through its own site.
From now on, the option is no longer available if sellers want to offer pickup at their location alongside—or instead of—shipping. Even for already created listings, eBay automatically deletes the “cash on pickup” option. These listings, which sellers often explicitly title with “cash on pickup only,” can now only be paid for using standard payment methods. These include: PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, instant transfer, and Google Pay.
This means sellers must manually adjust their listings. If a buyer picks up the item in person and pays cash, the seller can no longer mark the sale as complete. The buyer risks a non-payment note—even though they paid cash at pickup as required by the listing.
TECHBOOK has asked eBay for a statement on this matter but has not yet received a response. The company has not updated its help pages to reflect the change. “Cash on pickup” is still listed as an option everywhere.
How Does Pickup Work on eBay Without Cash Payment?
Since only transactions through eBay-supported payment methods are now possible, the company takes a cut even for pickups. After all, processing through eBay means it’s safer for both the buyer and the seller.
Buyers must now prove they have paid for the item at pickup. As proof of pickup, a QR code or a six-digit code is available, which the buyer receives via email. The seller scans the QR code with a smartphone. If that doesn’t work, they can manually enter the six-digit code. The item is then automatically marked as “delivered.”
But the buyer is also better protected by the proof of pickup. Sellers must accept returns even for pickups, if specified in the listing. If the item is defective or significantly deviates from the description, buyers can return it with proof of pickup, even if the seller does not accept returns.