This non-comital nonsense has to stop.
I can't recall a single time in my entire life of having the internet (over 20 years) of buying something and then a few hours later deciding I no longer want it, and I order a lot online.
My cancellation requests went from a few a year to now almost 50 a year. At current trends 2026 will be 2-3 per week.
There seems to be a rash of buyers who simply buy my item as a "placeholder" and then make sure they can't find it cheaper, and if they do, they no longer want it.
There has to be a better mechanism in place to deal with these kind of wishy-washy shoppers. You can block a certain level of non-paying bidders, how about the option of blocking buyers who file more than 3 cancellation requests in a given year?
33 comments
rugerskick
·8 months agoIts definitely a one-sided contract. Only enforced on one side. Unfortunately I don't see anything changing in the near future. Normal sellers definitely get hammered hard though if they have issues with the selling part of the contract. Unless I suppose you are a seller ebay protects and won't enforce anything on.
iamalwaysright
·8 months agoI’ll even go a step further and wish eBay would allow sellers to auto-block buyers who have a certain amount of not as described returns filed within a time period.
Like say hypothetically if a buyer files 15 not as described returns within the last 30 days, I should be allowed to auto-block them. Despite all the shady sellers on eBay, no competent buyer should ever have to file that many in that timeframe.
mozartbach1971
·8 months agoI have problems with buyers canceling bids on auctions.
douginsalem
·8 months agoAs a buyer, I just got burned on one. 3rd highest bidder went 131.02. I wait until the last second and bid 191.99. I get beat by someone with ZERO feedback, and a 194.49 or higher bid. The hole goes and cancels his purchase. I SHOULD have won it for 133.52, but NO; I ended up wasting my time because of that person. I don't even see a way to report that buyer. If this continues, I will take my 26 years here, and go waste my time somewhere else. Allowing this, is totally unacceptable.....
vtgbeersigns
·8 months ago2 today... "Bought by mistake" yeah ok. One sent me an offer , I accepted , he pays , 5 seconds later "Bought by mistake". I had a rash of these after Thanksgiving almost daily and they stopped once I messaged a few buyers for a reason. Now I've removed automatic feedback. Not sure what's going on but seems like it's used to "juice" sales.
iamalwaysright
·8 months agoGet ready for a very unpopular view folks. I for one agree with the OP in asking for an auto-block option to block out "chronic cancelling buyers" with a tolerance that allows the seller to adjust. I believe I mentioned this same thing in a thread a long time ago back when UPI's disappeared or rather consolidated with cancellations.
I think almost everyone here is misunderstanding what the OP is trying to say. Many, many, many of you have said that having a cancellation filed is much better than forcing that buyer to pay and having a not as described return. Yes, that's true. But the OP isn't comparing those two things. If I'm not mistaken, he's comparing having a cancellation filed from a "chronic cancelling buyer" vs never having allowed that buyer to purchase in the first place. Hence the auto-block. Many might disagree that it's worth it to allow that type of buyer to purchase from you, which is why the OP said he wanted it to be an option (not mandatory for all sellers). You don't like the option, don't use it and allow those sellers who are swamped with cancellations opt in.
This is all very similar to the current option to auto-block chronic non paying buyers. Using the same logic as many of you said, that having a cancellation filed is much better than forcing that buyer to pay and filing a not as described return. The same thing can be said about UPIs vs SNADs. But yet, ebay does have this auto-block feature for that. Wanting the option the OP mentions is just an extension of that current auto-block feature, especially since non paying bidder strikes are considered as "cancellations" by policy now. So you'll just be extending that existing feature to other types of cancellations.
roccotacodad54
·8 months ago"Get ready for a very unpopular view folks. I for one agree with the OP in asking for an auto-block option to block out "chronic cancelling buyers" with a tolerance that allows the seller to adjust."
I only buy but totally agree with that being an option for sellers. I consider myself to be an above average buyer when it comes to being fair to sellers and doing my due diligence in research before clicking "buy now".
What sellers in some categories are enduring is just wrong. Buyers buying items just "to see if the item will work" is dishonest and sellers should have some sort of tool to winnow these buyers out.
With eBay worrying more about losing buyers vs sellers I don't see that happening though...............
reallynicestamps
·8 months agohe's comparing having a cancellation filed from a "chronic cancelling buyer" vs never having allowed that buyer to purchase in the first place. Hence the auto-block.
I rarely have a cancellation, or an Unpaid, but I agree that that would be a useful auto-block for sellers in several categories.
onlinecentral
·8 months agoHere is a comment from another recent discussion. I just started doing this at day 59.
I leave positive (of course no other option) with a comment like "cancelled per your request."
inhawaii
·8 months agoI'll take a CANCEL any day vs. a RETURN.
lakefor94
·8 months agoI would MUCH more like a cancellation than ship something they might not really need as they think twice about it.
I just tell them:
"Cancellation is processing. Let me know if you have any questions. Stop back by anytime."
babyers88
·8 months ago1. ship faster (current ebay system settings allow a buyer to cancel with a click, IF the item has not yet been marked as shipped)
2. message the buyer (asap) and inquire: what is the reason for cancellation? (regardless of what they put in the request) a lot of times it's something easily remedied.
either of the above help to eliminate about 98% of cancellations.
If getting NAD/ or other returns is a issue, then do better.
reallynicestamps
·8 months agoSince this is more a problem of frustration than of financial loss, I have a few suggestions
for you.
tobaccocardyahoo
·8 months agoGiven the fact that auto parts rivals women's fashion apparel for the highest return rate in an industry, cancellations should be expected to also be high.
As others have stated, cancellations have less impact on your bottom line than returns.
Sellers who sell merchandise which is in the high returns categories need to work the numbers and also make sure they have adequate supplies of mood altering drugs. I am not strong enough to do business in those categories in the 21st century.
ed8108
·8 months agoAre there any legal, mood altering drugs currently available on eBay for sellers?
soh.maryl
·8 months agoJust about everything is available on eBay. Oh, wait, you specified "legal"?
tobaccocardyahoo
·8 months agoI would never ingest anything I bought on Ebay.
roccotacodad54
·8 months agoVisit your doctor or the liquor store....LOL....
johnrj1226
·8 months agoListen to Bob Marley's song "Don't Worry Be Happy a lot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3HQMbQAWRc
roccotacodad54
·8 months ago"Sellers who sell merchandise which is in the high returns categories need to work the numbers and also make sure they have adequate supplies of mood altering drugs. I am not strong enough to do business in those categories in the 21st century."
I can relate although I don't sell. Just dealing with the public at all nowdays makes a couple of fingers of scotch so welcome when I get back home from town......................
sin-n-dex
·8 months agoI took up drinking one night after a buyer drove me nuts (not really a buyer, but a scammer that keeps coming back to my store with new accounts). The alcohol was so nice. Now I try to keep some in the fridge, it's nice and calming when I get all worked up.
C.
theteamsetguy
·8 months ago@quadcitypickers ,
I don't think it is finding it cheaper as much as finding it locally since you sell parts. Many buyers don't want to wait because they need the part for a repair.
dolcetreasures
·8 months agoNumerous cancelations, the most troubling buyers are the ones in plain sight. I just got burned by another buyer who cancelled due to them not using the correct address, this was an authenticated transaction so it turned into a huge pain, the buyer then buys the item again then needs it by a certain time for a birthday. I tried talking the buyer into a cancellation, but they wanted the item. Of course, after it arrived they now want to return it.
kabilab
·8 months agoI neither purchase stock nor list my personal possessions for sale on e-Bay. I use the platform to liquidate items I failed to sell in my store. When a buyer cancels, he/she is added to my BBL, as I have zero tolerance for aggravation. That stated, I agree any cancellation is far better than a return.
joltparts
·8 months agoOur cancellation requests have increased substantially in the past year, we cancel 7 to 8 orders each day. Because of eBay's new return policy in parts and accessories however, I would much rather a cancellation, than have to deal and pay for the return that will no doubt happen on those orders.
sfau
·8 months agoWhat I don't understand is sometimes it is within minutes - BIN and an immediate payment goes through and then within 1 minute a request to cancel. Sadly, I make sure to hold off shipping a couple of hours to avoid a headache!
iamalwaysright
·8 months agoIt's those darn cats again!!
kensgiftshop
·8 months agoWithin that minute, Ebay has shown the buyer other listings where they could have bought it cheaper.
tarotfindsandmore
·8 months agoI'll take a cancelation over a return, or a potential defect, any day of the week. I'd much rather skip the whole rigamarole of pulling, re-inspecting, packing, and shipping if someone is on the fence about a purchase or has flat told me they don't want an item for any reason.
It's not like we have to go to any great length to just relist the item. It's entirely hassle-free. The only real drawback with cancelations is that they're a bummer.
meme6253
·8 months agoI agree, But soh.maryl makes a very valid point!
pickapaper
·8 months agoI'm guessing it is because you sell car parts. That has to be a really difficult category to sell in.
I can't really see eBay putting a block on people who cancel orders. I don't have an answer for you other than, and I'm sure you are already doing it, putting a block on those numbskulls who cancel orders from you. Won't help but will keep them away in the future.
soh.maryl
·8 months agoI no longer sell here, but shouldn't you be just a little bit happy that they requested a cancellation instead of going ahead, receiving the item and then opening an NAD case?
kibble-net
·8 months agoThis. I'm just glad I don't have to pay return postage. I get at least one cancellation every month. It's part of doing business.
Would you prefer they cancel AFTER they get the item?