eBay Holding Funds for 30+ Days Unless You Use Their Delivery Service
Summary: blackfoxtech expressed frustration over eBay holding payments for up to 31 days if sellers do not use eBay's "Simple Delivery" service, even when tracking confirms delivery. jonatjonatjonat suggested that the issue might be related to blackfoxtech being a new seller. sml192 and anthonhic-0 discussed similar issues, noting that eBay's policies seem to pressure sellers into using their shipping services. fargvs pointed out that new or infrequent sellers are subject to payment holds per eBay's policy. Many participants shared the sentiment that these holds are unreasonable and negatively impact sellers.
I'm genuinely struggling to understand how this is fair.
I've just received a final response from eBay after raising a formal complaint about my funds being held. eBay's position is that because I didn't use their "Simple Delivery" / eBay label service, my payment can be held for up to 31 days after the order was placed, even if I provide tracking and the item is successfully delivered.
What concerns me is the principle behind it.
If a seller:
Ships the item promptly,
Uploads valid tracking,
Has proof of delivery,
And the buyer receives the item,
why should that seller potentially wait over a month to access money that rightfully belongs to them?
The policy appears to create a two-tier system:
Use eBay's delivery service and get your funds much sooner.
Use your own courier and wait significantly longer for exactly the same transaction.
As a seller, I should be free to choose the courier that offers the best service, price or insurance for my item without effectively being financially penalised for doing so.
eBay says the hold is for buyer protection and to cover possible returns or refunds. But once tracking confirms delivery, surely there should be a more balanced approach. No other business could reasonably expect someone to provide their goods, fulfil their obligations and then potentially wait 31 days to be paid simply because they used a different postage provider.
What's particularly frustrating is that this isn't a new seller account, a disputed transaction or a case involving missing tracking. The issue is purely that the shipment wasn't purchased through eBay's own delivery system.
I'd be interested to hear from other sellers:
Have you had payments held for the full 31 days?
Did using a non-eBay courier trigger longer holds?
Do you think this policy is fair?
Does anyone else feel this effectively pressures sellers into using eBay's shipping services?
To me, this feels less like buyer protection and more like a way of steering sellers towards eBay's preferred delivery option.
I'm keen to hear other experiences because I can't be the only seller who thinks waiting up to a month for payment after successfully completing a sale is unreasonable.
anthonhic-0
·3 weeks agoThis is what is happening to me my last seven sales all put on hold and I'm a top rated seller eBay say there is no issues with my account but I will have to wait till two days after delivery at least
fargvs
·3 weeks agoNew, Occasional, Intermittent/Returning sellers should be aware that they are liable to have listing limits and payment holds for 14 and up to 31 days as per policy >
https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-youve-sold/payments-hold?id=4816&st=3&pos=1&query=Payments%20on%20hold&intent=apayment%20holds&lucenceai=lucenceai&docId=HELP1450
sml192
·3 weeks ago · EditedHaving to wait 30 days after date of delivery for payment does seem rather harsh and is unusual but I can also understand why eBay may use such measures to try and dissuade sellers from attempting to circumvent Simple Delivery.
Most of the items you are selling would seem to be well suited to Simple Delivery so why don't you wish to use it?
Note, a Private Seller account is only for selling unwanted personal possessions. If you are buying items to sell then you should register as a Business Seller. You would be able to use your own postage methods then without penalty.
jonatjonatjonat
·3 weeks agoThey are a business
sml192
·3 weeks agoAh yes, should have checked. In that case their post is very misleading and this is just the standard payment hold for new business sellers, which should be removed once they are properly established, and nothing whatsoever to do with delivery methods:
New or infrequent business sellers will experience transaction holds while learning best selling practices, becoming established, and building a strong selling history on eBay. New business sellers typically receive their funds within 31 days, although sometimes it may be longer
anthonhic-0
·3 weeks agoI am a business seller and top rated
My last nine sales are on hold
I use eBay's delivery method so dont no why they are doing this
tcel_uk
·3 weeks agoWe have been experiencing the same and are also business seller & top rated.
Take a look at our thread from the other week:
https://community.ebay.co.uk/forum/business-seller-board-12/topic/bizarre-extended-30-day-payment-holds-51511/
Its a very odd situation on eBay at the moment re their payments system. I am not sure sellers will have much patience for it for long.
anthonhic-0
·3 weeks agoso basically after reading some comments that regardless whether you are business or private seller we will not get paid for at least 2 days after delivery and using eBay's postage?
anthonhic-0
·3 weeks agoI really hope this is not the case
anthonhic-0
·3 weeks agoYou could not make this up
on checking my payments what are on hold after three days one of payments had been released
But guess what eBay had eaten it all up with fees etc
theelench
·3 weeks agoSo it's fine to releasee Holds to pay ebay. But not to pay the seller.
Ebay gets more crooked by the day.
jonatjonatjonat
·3 weeks agoI don't get it - you are a business - so Simple Delivery is irrelevant.
But your payment holds are more likely to be related to the fact you are a new business - not specifically the fact you aren't using ebay labels. You say you aren't a new account - but it was created just 2 months ago.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-youve-sold/payments-hold?id=4816
blackfoxtech
OP3 weeks agoMy name is from the Payments Complaints Escalation team, emailing with regards to case 2-107750151019.
The email you received from eBay, on 08/14/2026, stating your complaint has been resolved is in relation to your communications with eBay customer service.
You had spoken with an eBay representative regarding the hold on your funds. As the hold is valid as per our policies, eBay considers this complaint to be resolved.
When you registered for Managed Payments on 06/16/2026 you agreed to the eBay Terms of Use which encompasses our ability to withhold payouts in these scenarios. I have also linked our terms of use below:
https://pages.ebay.co.uk/payment/2.0/terms.html
All of this information regarding holds on funds is clear to read on the eBay help and contact center. For clarity I have linked this below: https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-youve-sold/payments-hold?id=4816&st=12&pos=1&query=Payments%20on%20hold&intent=payout%20hold&context=9010_BUYER&docId=HELP1450
You're experiencing this because, for certain orders, we want to ensure enough time for the buyer to receive and inspect the item before the funds become available to you. The additional time frame ensures protection not only for buyers but also for sellers, who may need to reimburse the buyer or accept a return – the funds can be used, rather than charging the seller's payment method.
If you use eBay labels, you’ll receive your funds 2 days after delivery confirmation or 14 days after the buyer pays while you build a record of successful deliveries.
Even if delivery shows confirmed, you must wait until at least 2 days after tracking has been uploaded for funds to be released.
If you send your item with a label you didn’t buy on eBay, you’ll receive your funds 7 days after delivery confirmation or 31 days after the order is placed.
I hope that the information is helpful. However, should you have any further questions regarding the above, our Customer Service team is available and can best assist you with real-time guidance.
blackfoxtech
OP3 weeks agomy very first 5 orders all paid and delivered using their labels i have received my funds. Every other sale i haven't . Nothing not a single penny.
jonatjonatjonat
·3 weeks agoSo what’s likely happening then is the use of the eBay labels is just speeding up the hold that is in place because you are a new seller.
I can tell you now that the business I work for sells on eBay has never used eBay labels ever and has the funds from sales available even before we ship. But obviously we’ve had to build up that trust from eBay over time that we ship the orders on time and they get delivered.