A user ID is the unique name you use to identify yourself on eBay and can be seen by all eBay users. Your user ID is displayed when you buy or sell on eBay or communicate with other eBay members. However, other members won't be able to see your real name and other personal information.

You use your user ID and password to sign into eBay. When you register, choose a user ID that you like and that you'll remember. For example:

• You might use words identifying your favorite collecting area, your business, or your occupation.

• You could refer to your hometown and call yourself georgia_peach.

• You can refer to your own sense of style and choose happyhal.

Remember that user IDs can contain letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), and/or some symbols, and must be at least six characters long.

What You Can't Include in a User ID

The following list includes characters and elements that you cannot include in a user ID:

• The @, &, ‘, (, ), <, or > character.

• Spaces or tabs
  Tip: You can use a hyphen to represent a space.

• Elements that imply an email address or Web address (for example, xyz.com), including but not limited to .com, .net, .org, .edu, or any variation of such (for example, _com or -com). Your user ID can, however, contain an element of an email address or Web address (URL) that, when viewed outside the context of the email address or Web address, identifies you or your brand (for example, xyz).

• Consecutive underscores __

• An underscore _, hyphen -, or period . at the beginning of a user ID (for example, -cardcollector )

• The word eBay (only eBay employees can use the word eBay in their user IDs).

• The letter e followed by numbers

• Obscene or profane words that violate eBay's guidelines. See eBay’s rules on profanity

• The same User IDuser ID as another seller or similar to an eBay Store name.

• A user ID that is similar to the name of an eBay Store

• A term that could be confused with a third-party's trademark or brand (for example, CocaColaSeller)

Note: If you received the message You have entered a user ID that is not allowed, you might have included one or more characters or spaces that are not allowed in a user ID.

You can only change your user ID once in a 30-day period. This is to prevent confusion for other eBay members.

Information for members whose current user ID is, or represents, an email address or Web address (URL)

eBay is constantly working to provide a safer and easier trading experience for our members. As a result, we have decided to no longer allow user IDs that are an email address, a Web address (URL), or a look alike for either. If you have a current eBay user ID registered after November 2001 (when eBay's user ID policy was instituted) that is also an email address, a Web address, or is a look alike for either, you must change your user ID to comply with this policy. eBay may take a range of actions with regard to user IDs not in compliance, including suspension of the associated account.

If you have not used eBay in over a year, and your user ID was also your email address, you might have received an email informing you that a new temporary user ID was created for you. Use that new user ID whenever you sign in to eBay. If you would like, you can change your user ID to another one that you prefer.

About Creating eBay Store Names

Store names are another form of identification on eBay. More flexibility is possible in creating Store names. For example, spaces are allowed in Store names, as are symbols such as &; however, eBay Store names must otherwise follow the same guidelines and restrictions as eBay user IDs.