Payments with Escrow

What is an escrow?

An escrow is a financial arrangement where a third party holds and regulates payment of the funds required for two parties involved in a given transaction. It helps make transactions more secure by keeping the payment in a secure escrow account which is only released when all of the terms of an agreement are met as overseen by the escrow company.

What is Escrow.com?

Escrow.com is a third party payment provider and was the first company to make escrow services available online, leading the way in safe, reliable and trustworthy escrow services for Buyers and Sellers. Buyer funds are held ‘In Escrow’ during the transaction until your item is delivered. This period of money held ‘In Escrow’ is crucial to ensure buyer and seller security. Payment will only be moved out of escrow when both parties are satisfied that the transaction has been carried out correctly.

How does Escrow.com work?

If escrow is selected as a payment option, Buyers and Sellers are prompted to create an account on Escrow.com in order to send and receive payments for items sold in certain categories, subject to certain programs, and/or offered or sold at certain price points. If you already have an Escrow.com account, it will link to your eBay account so long as your email address is the same on both accounts. The buyer funds an account managed by Escrow.com via wire transfer or ACH. Escrow.com holds the funds as an intermediary and the funds are released to the Seller when the item is received by the buyer in the condition described in the listing. Click here to learn more about how Escrow.com works.

Why is eBay partnering with Escrow.com?

eBay decided to partner with Escrow.com to provide Buyers and Sellers with a secure way to transact high valued items. Click here to learn more about Escrow.com and click here to learn more about the benefits of paying with escrow.

What items are eligible for payment via Escrow.com?

All items listed in the primary category of wristwatches (31387) by U.S. sellers that sell domestically for $10k or above (after seller discounts but before shipping and taxes) will have the option to pay via Escrow.com, including items that qualify for local pickup. Check the payment type on the item listing or in checkout to see if payment via Escrow.com is offered.

Can an item qualify for both Payment with Escrow.com and the Authenticity Guarantee program?

Yes, items may qualify for both Payment with Escrow.com and the Authenticity Guarantee program if they fulfill the criteria of both. At the moment, only non-modified watches that sell for $10k or greater shipped within the United States are eligible for both. Click here for more details on item eligibility for the Authenticity Guarantee program.

For items that are eligible for payment via Escrow.com, does the eBay Money Back Guarantee still apply?

Items that require payment via Escrow.com do not qualify for the eBay Money Back Guarantee because Escrow.com is an offline payment method. However, these items are covered by the Escow.com protection program.

How do I create an Escrow.com account?

Follow the links eBay provides to Escrow.com and follow the step-by-step instructions to create an account. You will need to provide your name, address, phone number, the last 4 digits of your Social Security number, a government-issued ID, and banking information (ABA routing number and account number). Click here for more details on Escrow.com accounts.

When should I create an Escrow.com account?

eBay will prompt you when you need to create an Escrow.com account. For buyers, this should be shortly after you have committed to buy an item where payment via Escrow.com is required. For sellers, we recommend that sellers proactively sign up with Escrow.com to facilitate quick payment processing in case the buyer chooses this option.

Can I check the status of my transactions on Escrow.com as well as on eBay (My eBay Order Details)?

Yes, you can check the status of your transactions where payment is made via Escrow.com on eBay in My eBay under Order Details or via your Escrow.com account. Click here for more details on how to check the status of your transaction in Escrow.com.

How do returns work for items where payment via Escrow.com is made?

Buyers have 7 days from the delivery of the item to initiate a return. If the buyer is satisfied with the item, he or she can go to Escrow.com and “Accept” the item to close out the transaction. Buyers can initiate a return through eBay or Escrow.com and customer service representatives will guide you through the returns process. Please note that a return cannot be initiated after a buyer has “Accepted” the item or after 7 days from the date of delivery have passed.

What happens after the 7-day inspection window has ended?

7 days after the item has been delivered, funds are automatically disbursed to the seller and the transaction is closed. No returns can be initiated after this window has closed.

How does eBay handle disputes between the buyer and seller when payment is made via Escrow.com?

Buyers and sellers can reach out to either eBay or Escrow.com customer service to help resolve disputes. Depending on the circumstances of the transaction, either eBay or Escrow.com will arbitrate and provide resolution support. Click here for more details on Escrow.com’s dispute resolution policy.

Are there any features that are incompatible with Payment with Escrow.com?

Currently, eBay does not support the following features for Escrow-eligible items:

• eBay Coupons, eBay Bucks, gift cards, gift certificates, charity donations and vouchers
• Combined shipping

How do I pay for my order using an Escrow.com account?

After you have committed to purchase an item where payment by Escrow.com is chosen, eBay will redirect you to Escrow.com’s website. Escrow.com will provide step-by-step instructions for creating an escrow account. You will need to provide your name, address, phone number, the last 4 digits of your Social Security number, a government-issued ID, and banking information. If you are buying on behalf of a business, you will also need to provide business details. After you have created an Escrow.com account, you will be provided with instructions on how to fund the transaction. Click here for more details on Escrow.com accounts.

Can I use other methods to fund the escrow account?

Both ACH (bank debit) and wire transfer are supported for items paid through Escrow.com. The buyer is responsible for any wire transfer fees that may be required from the financial institution.

For items that require payment via Escrow.com, does eBay’s Money Back Guarantee apply?

eBay’s Money Back Guarantee does not apply to items purchased using off-platform payment methods such as Escrow.com. Consequently, items purchased using Escrow.com do not qualify for the eBay Money Back Guarantee. Click here to learn more about buyer protection when payment is made through Escrow.com.

Will I have to pay fees for using Escrow.com services?

Currently, eBay covers any fees charged by Escrow.com for use of their service. However, you are responsible for any wire transfer fees charged by your financial institution.

How do I cancel a transaction?

You can request to cancel the transaction on eBay if the seller has not yet shipped the item. Contact eBay to help guide you through the cancellation process or go to your View Order Details to cancel. If you intend to cancel a transaction, please do not fund your Escrow.com account. For cancellations, once both parties agree to cancel the order, Escrow.com will refund the buyer.

How do returns work and when will I get refunded?

The buyer must make a return request within the 7 day inspection period (measured from delivery). Insurance and tracking are mandatory for return shipping and must be uploaded in the buyer’s Escrow.com account. The seller will have up to 5 days upon receipt to accept or reject the return; if the seller accepts the return, Escrow.com will refund the buyer.

For items subject to eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee, returns must be verified by the third-party authenticator before Escrow.com will disburse funds back to the buyer. If a refund is successfully processed, Escrow.com will disburse funds back to the buyer's original payment method. Please allow 3 to 5 days for the refund to process.

What happens if I don’t receive an item?

If the item is subject to eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee, please reach out to eBay customer service or file an “item not received” claim through your “My eBay” page. For items not subject to eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee, please click here to contact Escrow.com to file a claim.

How does payment with Escrow.com work for auctions and best offers?

Auctions and Best Offers works the same as fixed price items or ‘Buy It Now’. If you won an auction or received an offer acceptance for $10,000 or above, escrow will be a payment option.

Why do I see multiple payment types and return policies on eligible listings?

For certain types of listings (e.g., Auction, Best Offer, etc.) the final selling price cannot be determined at the time of listing, so payment via Escrow.com may or may not be offered depending on whether the $10,000 threshold is met. For these items, if $10,000, the 7-day return policy applies during which the buyer can accept or reject the item. Conversely, if the final selling price is less than $10,000, the seller’s return policy applies and payment using Escrow.com is unavailable.

How does escrow work?

Review our step by step instructions to understand each step from account creation to funding the transaction.

What kind of shipping is required for items paid through Escrow.com?

All items requiring payment with Escrow.com must have insured shipping and tracking. Please click here for a full list of Escrow.com approved carriers.

When do I need to ship the item?

eBay will notify the seller to ship the items once the escrow account has been funded by the buyer.

After the item is delivered, when can I expect to receive payment?

After item delivery, the buyer has a 7-day inspection period to ensure that it arrived in the condition described in the listing. Once the buyer “Accepts” the item on Escrow.com or the 7-day inspection period has expired, Escrow.com disburses funds directly to the seller. Please allow for 3 to 5 days for the payment to process.

If a buyer has not yet funded an Escrow.com account, how long do I need to wait before I can file an unpaid item claim?

If the buyer has not funded the escrow account before the expected delivery date, you can file an unpaid item claim for the item through eBay.

Click here for more details on eBay’s unpaid item claim.

If the buyer decides to return the item, who is responsible for shipping?

In the case of a return, the buyer is responsible for return shipping fees, unless otherwise indicated in the item listing. Insurance and tracking are mandatory for return shipping and must be uploaded into the buyer’s Escrow.com account. For items subject to eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee, eBay will provide a prepaid shipping label for return shipping. 

Click here for more information about Escrow.com approved shipping carriers.

How long does a seller have to process a return?

In the event of a return, sellers will have 5 days to accept or reject the item; after 5 days have passed, funds are returned to the buyer. 

What return policies are applicable for items paid with Escrow.com?

If the buyer chooses escrow, your return policy is automatically adjusted to provide the buyer with a 7-day inspection period.  If the buyer “Accepts” the item on Escrow.com during this period or the 7-day inspection period has expired, funds are released to you and the buyer can no longer return the item.

Are sellers required to offer returns if payment by Escrow.com is used?

A “no returns” policy is honored for escrow transactions. Although a buyer can request a return within the 7-day inspection period, the seller has the discretion to decide to accept or reject the buyer’s return request.  Please note, the buyer can file a claim within the 7-day inspection period if the item does not arrive in the described condition. These claims are handled on a case-by-case basis.

Can I opt-out of accepting payment with Escrow.com?

If a buyer chooses to pay with escrow, the seller will need to accept funds through escrow on qualifying items sold at $10,000 and above.

Click here to learn more about Escrow.com and click here to learn more about the benefits of paying with escrow.

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) apply to the use of Escrow.com as the payment method for items sold and purchased on eBay.com.

1. Applicability of eBay User Agreement. The eBay.com User Agreement, eBay’s User Privacy Notice and all policies posted on our sites (collectively, and as the same may be amended from time to time, “eBay’s Policies”) apply in addition to these Terms. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between these Terms and eBay’s Policies, these Terms will control as to all matters that they explicitly address. For all matters not explicitly addressed by these Terms, eBay’s Policies will control.

2. Escrow.com as a Payment Method. Payment via Escrow.com is available for all items listed in the wristwatch category (31387) that sell within the U.S. for $10,000 or above (after seller discounts but before shipping and taxes).

3. Authorization to Amend Return and Payment Policies. For transactions where payment is made via Escrow.com, seller authorizes eBay to amend the listing return policy and acceptable forms of payment as needed. More information about the returns policy for items paid via Escrow.com may be found here.

4. Fees. eBay covers any services fees charged by Escrow.com for use of its services. eBay reserves the right at any time, in its sole discretion, with or without notice to you, to institute, alter or amend fees or costs associated with the Services.

5. Program Updates and Discontinuation. eBay has the right, but not the obligation, to alter, amend, replace, suspend temporarily, and/or discontinue permanently, the use of Escrow.com as a payment method for items sold and purchased on eBay.com., at any time, in its sole discretion, with or without notice to you.

6. Amendment. eBay may amend these Terms, including applicable fees, at any time by posting the amended terms on the eBay site. Except as stated elsewhere, all amended terms shall take effect immediately and automatically when posted on the eBay site.