Protecting auction integrity on eBay | Selling

stephenmorgan · 2026-04-13T18:50:43.947000Z

Starting May 13, 2026, buyers in the US who win auctions on eBay will no longer see an option to cancel orders.Why we’re making this changeAuctions on eBay work best when winning bidders follow through and pay. You have told us that canceled bids disrupt your sale, hurt the item’s value, and create overhead. To better protect you, we’ll be removing the option for buyers to cancel winning bids.What this means for youFewer cancellation requestsUS buyers will no longer be able to submit cancellation requests after winning auctions.Auction sales are finalWhile US buyers can still message you directly to request a cancellation, it’s up to you to grant or reject. Our policy states all auction sales are final and fully supports you in declining the request.Protection from negative feedbackIf the buyer leaves negative feedback due to a declined cancellation, you can request its removal through Seller Help within 90 days of the sale. FAQsWhat should I say if a buyer is confused about why they can’t cancel?You can let them know that this is an eBay policy. Once an auction ends and they’ve won, cancellations are disabled and the order is considered final. If they have concerns or questions about the policy itself, they should contact eBay directly. Learn more about eBay’s policies.What if the buyer sends me a message to request cancellation?Per eBay’s User Agreement, auctions are considered binding and buyers aren’t allowed to cancel an order themselves after winning an auction. If a buyer messages you to cancel an auction order on their behalf, you will not be required to do so, however you can choose to if you prefer.Which of my orders are covered by the new cancellation policy?All orders resulting from auctions where the transaction takes place on the US site are covered by the new policy.Does this cancellation policy change apply to eBay Live?No, currently this updated cancellation policy only applies to transactions resulting from auctions on our core US marketplace.

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Protecting auction integrity on eBay | Selling | eBay Community