How Does eBay Conduct Transactions?

PayPal
PayPal is the safest and most secure way to conduct transactions on eBay. Because eBay owns PayPal, the service is fully integrated into their site. A PayPal account connects to a user's bank account to send funds to eBay sellers for purchased items. Sellers on eBay will receive the money in his PayPal account and can then transfer the money to his own bank account, where it will be available in about 3 to 5 business days. Also, PayPal offers a debit card that allows users to immediately access their funds.
Other Payment Methods
Users who do not have a PayPal account can also conduct transactions with a seller that accepts PayPal payments by using a credit or debit card. This is convenient for users who want to purchase items, but do not want to go through the extra step of registering a PayPal account. However, it is worth noting that the transaction will show up as a payment to PayPal on a bank statement. Some sellers will also accept check or money order as payment for an eBay auction. However, this choice is up to the seller and many prefer to accept payments through PayPal only.
Information Collection
Before you are able to bid on items from eBay sellers, you must provide personal information and create an eBay profile. None of this information will be shared with third parties for marketing purposes. Information that may be collected includes your e-mail address, physical address, phone number, financial information, computer sign-on data and supplemental information from third parties. However, the supplemental information is only required if you should ever incur a debt to eBay for seller fees, where a credit check may be necessary.
Sharing of Information
Though eBay will not share your information for marketing purposes, personal information may be disclosed for legal purposes, policy enforcement or as a response to any claims or disputes. This means that your information may be shared internally to resolve problems or prevent fraudulent purchases and might be provided to government officials or third parties that are investigating fraud. Also, users agree to allow eBay to provide this information to any future companies that may merge with the company.
Security
The information users provide to eBay is stored on a secure server located in the United States. Data is protected from unauthorized access and disclosure by utilizing a variety of different security precautions, including digital encryption, passwords and physical security. However, because some third parties may find a way to unlawfully gain access to personal information, eBay does not guarantee that your information will always stay secure.