As always, since the inception of eBay, you can accept checks and money orders through the mail. But, that takes a lot of time and of course there's always that chance you take with a personal check and having it returned.

No, there's a much quicker, safer way to accept payment for items you sell on eBay. It's a Paypal account.

What is Paypal? Glad you asked...

Paypal is a service that offers you a sort of online bank account. You actually link it to your real bank account and it's really all you need to accept payment on eBay.

It's safe and secure. And it's totally integrated with eBay. What does that mean? Simply put, you can accept payment from your winning bidders with one click of your mouse and eBay takes care of the rest. They direct your buyer to Paypal after the auction for payment. And Paypal even has a link on their main page now stating "Sell on eBay."

Opening a Paypal account is free and deliciously easy.

Go to their main page at paypal.com and follow the links. They'll have you set up in no time. They'll ask for your name, address, etc. They'll also ask for your bank account information, so have your checkbook handy when you sign up. They'll confirm your account by making two very small deposits.

It takes a couple of days to confirm your account, but once that's done, you can add other bank accounts including savings accounts, credit cards, and debit cards and have them all linked together.

Once you're confirmed, to accept Paypal as a payment method, you just click on the checkbox on the eBay item listing form and you're all set.

Paypal charges a percentage of each transfer made into your account, but for this small price, they offer convenience of immediate payment and even eBay seller protection against fraud and disputes.

PayPal isn't a convenience for eBay sellers anymore. It's a necessity. Buyers want their items as soon as possible, and paying with Paypal helps them get it quicker.

And, if you apply for, and receive, a Paypal debit card, you will have access to the money immediately. I love my Paypal debit card. It is accepted everywhere major credit cards are accepted and works just like your bank account debit card. In fact, it's better. When I use my Paypal debit card as a credit card, Paypal gives me 1% of my purchase price back.

So, if you're worried about getting paid for your auctions on eBay, worry no more. Get over to Paypal and open your account.