On the second page of the eBay registration process, you're asked to supply information that will facilitate your use of the eBay website:
- Enter an eBay User ID. Your eBay User ID is the word, phrase, or name that other eBay users will know you by (instead of your real name). You can opt to use one of the User IDs that eBay has made for you, or you can enter your own in the box below them. Choose carefully, since there are drawbacks to changing your User ID at a later date. Note, too, that many common words and phrases (i.e. things like "nicegirl," "crochetlady," or "bearsfan") may already be taken by other users.
- Enter your desired password, twice. Your password is a word or phrase chosen by you to protect your account. eBay will ask for this password any time you try to perform one of a number of tasks on the website, including buying or selling. Passwords are used to ensure that a stranger can never buy or sell in your name, so be sure to choose a word or phrase that you can remember but that others are unlikely to guess or associate with you. You're asked to enter the password twice to ensure that you don't mistype it. Note that as you enter the password, an asterisk (*) will be displayed in place of each letter you type, in order to keep the password secret.
- Select a secret question and enter its answer. The secret question and answer are used if or when you happen to forget your eBay password. eBay remembers this information indefinitely. If you later forget your password but seek to access the site, eBay will ask the secret question you've chosen. If you're able to provide the matching answer, a new password will be supplied to you. Again, choose your secret question and answer carefully, so as to protect your account from strangers.
When you've filled out the second registration page to your satisfaction, click the "Continue >" button to continue with the registration process.
If you receive an error on the second page of registration, read any error message that eBay supplies carefully. If the User ID that you've selected has already been chosen, enter another one or choose one of the open User IDs that eBay suggests for you. If the passwords that you entered don't match, re-enter both passwords again, taking care to ensure that they're identical.
