PayPal Australia adds buyer protection program

The PayPal Buyer Protection provides eBay buyers with free coverage for up to AU$1,500 on qualified eBay.com.au listings paid for with PayPal.

PayPal Buyer Protection is designed to "enhance trust between buyers and sellers". When PayPal is used to pay for a qualified listing on eBay Australia, the PayPal Buyer Protection program will provide free coverage for the buyer at no additional cost.

eBay emphasised that the program only covers non-delivery of "tangible items" and tangible items that are received significantly not as described.

To enrol for the program, Australian sellers on eBay must have a verified Premier or Business PayPal account in good standing and have eBay feedback of more than 50 with at least 98 percent positive feedback.

In order to be covered by the program, the listing must also be on www.ebay.com.au or another eligible site in qualifying categories. Sellers must select PayPal as a payment option when they list the item.

eBay said that for transactions not covered by the PayPal Buyer Protection, eBay will continue to offer standard purchase protection program--up to a maximum of AU$400, less AU$25 to cover processing costs-- on qualifying items.

To check whether a certain item is covered, eBay buyers can look for the PayPal Buyer Protection logo in Search & Listings or in the Seller Information box on an eBay View Item page.

PayPal previously told ZDNet Australia that new features on the Australian PayPal Web site will be provided "in due course" after assessing the demand of the different PayPal features.

PayPal Australia managing director Andrew Pipolo said that features on the PayPal Web sites are "tailored" to accommodate the needs of its local eBay members.