Are you here because you attempted to use your AMEX as a payment method on eBay and it wouldn’t let you? That’s because eBay recently announced that, as of August 17, 2024, it will no longer accept American Express (AMEX) as a payment option. This change marks a notable shift for both the online auction giant and the credit card company, leaving many users frustrated searching for alternatives.
Keep reading to learn why eBay made this decision and how you can continue using your American Express credit cards at eBay with a clever workaround.
eBay’s decision to drop American Express as a payment option stems from one key issue: high fees. According to the company, the transaction fees imposed by American Express had become "unacceptably high," making it difficult to justify continuing their partnership.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen a retailer push back against AMEX due to high fees. The card company is known for charging merchants higher processing fees compared to cards like Visa and Mastercard. Given eBay’s emphasis on maintaining competitive prices for sellers and buyers, these fees likely created too much friction in their operations.
Although AMEX is no longer accepted, eBay still offers a variety of payment options. You can use Visa, Mastercard, and Discover credit or debit cards, as well as PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay for checkout.
While you can still add your American Express to Apple Pay and Google Pay on your device, you will not be able to use it to pay for items on eBay through a mobile wallet. You can still use other non-American Express cards such as Visa, Mastercard and Discover in your Apple Pay or Google Pay wallet on eBay.
If you're a dedicated AMEX user and feel stuck with this change, don’t worry – there’s still a workaround.
Even though eBay doesn’t officially accept American Express anymore, you can still use your AMEX card when shopping at eBay by leveraging third-party payment services, here how:
Kasheesh is a payment service that offers a unique solution for consumers who want flexibility in how they pay for purchases. One of its standout features is the ability to generate a digital debit Mastercard that can be funded by any underlying credit or debit card in your wallet, including your American Express card.
This means you can effectively use your AMEX when shopping on eBay by first generating a Kasheesh digital card which is linked to your AMEX, and then using that digital card to make your purchase just as you would any other card.
Another standout feature of Kasheesh is its ability to split a purchase across multiple cards. This is particularly useful if you want to balance your credit card spendings and utilization rates, or maximize rewards across different cards.
With Kasheesh, you can split your eBay purchase between up to five different cards, including credit cards, debit cards, and prepaid cards.
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American Express issued a statement in response to eBay’s move, expressing disappointment but acknowledging that they respect the company's decision. They emphasized that AMEX remains widely accepted at millions of merchants worldwide, and they continue to focus on delivering value to cardholders.
In their official statement, AMEX affirmed their strong presence in the global market, stating, "While we regret that eBay will no longer accept American Express, we respect their decision. Our cardholders can still use American Express at a broad range of merchants around the world."
The reaction from the online community has been mixed.
Many American Express cardholders are disappointed by the change, voicing their frustrations on forums such as eBay's own forum and Reddit. One notable post on r/eBay highlighted the fact that some loyal AMEX users are now considering switching to other marketplaces that still accept the card, with one user commenting "I only have Amex business credit cards. This will drive me to purchase more from Amazon because I won't make a debit card purchase for anything.".
On the flip side, some sellers welcome the move, given that this move could mean fewer overhead costs when managing their online stores. Overall, while there’s a noticeable divide in opinion, eBay’s decision has sparked conversation around the broader implications of high credit card fees and merchant agreements.
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While eBay’s decision to stop accepting American Express due to high fees has left some users frustrated, the marketplace still offers various other payment methods. For AMEX loyalists, services like Kasheesh provide an innovative way to keep using their card on eBay, maintaining the benefits they enjoy from American Express with the added flexibility of being able to spread out purchases across multiple cards.
As the landscape of online payments continues to evolve, this situation highlights the ongoing negotiations between retailers and credit card companies – and how consumers often need to adapt accordingly.
By using Kasheesh, AMEX cardholders can continue enjoying their card’s benefits without losing access to popular online retailers like eBay.
Yes, eBay stopped accepting American Express as a form of payment method as of August 17, 2024. To continue using your AMEX cards at eBay you can utilize third-party payment services like Kasheesh or PayPal as a workaround.
According to eBay, American Express’s transaction fees had become "unacceptably high," making it difficult to justify the partnership.
No. While you can add your American Express to Apple Pay and Google Pay on your device, you will not be able to use it to pay for items on eBay starting August 17, even when paying with one of these mobile wallets.
The fees often make or break a deal for merchants. This is why many stores, especially small businesses, don't accept AMEX–they feel that American Express' interchange fee is too high. Visa and Mastercard charge between 1.15% and 2.5%, while Amex often charges between 1.43% and 3.3%.
Visa, Mastercard, and Discover credit or debit cards, as well as Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and payment upon pickup (including cash).
Sending cash through the mail, and point-to-point cash transfer services such as Western Union or MoneyGram, are examples of payment methods that eBay does not allow.
No, eBay does not accept CashApp as a payment option.
No, eBay does not accept Zelle as a payment method.
Major retailers that accept American Express: Amazon, IKEA, Sears, Target, Walmart, Lowe's, Apple, Best Buy, Staples, CVS.
Ebay and Costco are two major retailers that don’t accept American Express, as well as many small non-chain stores/restaurants. However, third-party payment services like Kasheesh offer a workaround that lets you use your AMEX at these stores as well.
Disclosure: Kasheesh is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Bangor Savings Bank, Member FDIC. Kasheesh's Mastercard® Pre-paid and debit cards are issued by Bangor Savings Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circle design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Spend anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
The content on this blog is for general information purposes only, and is not intended to be personal financial advice. It does not take your individual circumstances and financial situation into account, and any reliance you place on the information is at your own risk.
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