Shopping basics

Plain guides to the parts of online shopping around the products: accounts, signing in, paying, and knowing who you buy from. They have no shopping or affiliate links; each fact links to the store's own help page.

Need a quick answer? Start with the frequently asked questions.

• Creating an Amazon or eBay account

  What you need, the steps, getting past verification codes and picture puzzles, and accessible help from each store.

• Signing in to Amazon and eBay safely

  Passkeys, two-step verification and password managers that work well with a screen reader, and how to spot fake calls and messages.

• Paying on Amazon and eBay without a credit card

  Debit cards including Direct Express, checking accounts, gift cards bought with cash, PayPal, SNAP EBT and discounted Prime.

• Who are you buying from on Amazon?

  Sold by Amazon, shipped by Amazon, or another seller: what it means for help and returns, and how the A-to-z and eBay guarantees work.

• Returns and refunds on Amazon and eBay

  Starting a return, drop-offs with no box or printer, how long refunds take, and what to do when a return goes wrong.

• Delivery problems on Amazon and eBay

  Hearing when a package arrives, delivery instructions that help, packages marked delivered that you cannot find, and checking what arrived.

• Avoiding accidental purchases

  A voice code for Alexa, Buy Now versus Add to Cart, cancelling orders, and checking Subscribe & Save, Prime and eBay purchases.

Looking for products instead? See the product guides.