With 132 million active users worldwide, eBay is one of the most popular online marketplaces for buyers and sellers alike. And 2024 looks set to be a big year for all things pre-loved, with a third (31%) of shoppers looking to shop more sustainably, and two in five people saying they'd be happy to receive a pre-loved luxury gift, according eBay research.
But whether you're drawn to eBay to bag a bargain or enjoy the thrill of finding a second-hand gem, it's all too easy to put in a bid for an item you later change your mind about.
With around 60% of eBay transactions made on the mobile, it's easy to make a mistake. While it is possible in certain situations to cancel or retract your bid on eBay, don’t assume you will be able to! Here's what to do:
Am I allowed to cancel a bid on eBay?
The rather complicated answer is: sometimes. eBay states that a buyer can retract a bid if any of the following apply:
- The seller has significantly changed the description of an item you've already bid for.
- You bid the wrong amount accidentally! For example, if you enter an extra zero, accidentally bidding £300 instead of the intended £30, you can take back your bid. You can then enter the correct amount you wished to bid in the first place – typing very carefully!
- The seller is a no-show. If you find you can’t email, call or contact the seller, you are allowed to retract your bid.
However, if you just change your mind, you can't retract your bid. This is what eBay calls an ‘invalid bid retraction’. If you make an invalid bid retraction, the seller has the right to report you to eBay, which can then take further action like suspending your account, if necessary. Only cancel a bid if you are confident you meet the criteria.
If you're unhappy about the service you've received from a seller – for example, if something you've bought doesn't arrive or if it's faulty, damaged or not as described – you can report them to eBay.
How do I cancel an eBay bid?
Cancelling an eBay bid can be done via the 'retracting a bid' page, using the 'retract a bid' button.
Simply click on this, then select the product you wish to retract your bid for and give your reason for doing so. You'll find lots of other helpful advice on this page, too.
Is there a timeframe for cancelling a bid?
If you do wish to cancel your bid – and believe you have a valid reason for doing so – timing is everything:
- If the listing ends in over 12 hours, all bids can be retracted.
- If the listing ends in under 12 hours, you can retract your most recent bid, but only if it's been less than an hour since you placed it. If you are outside that time frame, your best bet is to communicate directly with the seller and persuade them to cancel your bid at their end.
How can I avoid having to cancel a bid?
While it is often possible to retract the bid, Carrie-Ann Skinner, tech expert, urges caution: "Try not to make a habit of cancelling eBay bids, as your bid retraction history is part of your feedback. Sellers on eBay have the ability to set buyer requirements, which is prevents buyers with previously cancelled bids or poor feedback scores from bidding on their items. This could mean you lose out on a bargain because you're an unreliable buyer in their eyes."
Practicing good buying techniques can help stop you making a bid you later regret:
- Double-check you’ve bid the right amount, especially if you're making a last-minute bid.
- Check the description of the product carefully before placing a bid. If you're thinking of bidding on an electrical product, check it comes with a warranty. If not, it’s best to avoid placing a bid at all.
- Compare other products before you bid. Don’t be pressured into making a decision. There's a vast number of sellers on eBay, many of whom will be selling similar products. It's always best to check out all of your options first.
GH Tip: If you've placed a bid then decide you no longer want the item, eBay advises you to contact the seller and ask them to cancel your bid. They are not obliged to do this for you. Be polite and courteous and explain the situation. It might make them willing to reconsider.
FAQs
To cancel a bid, go to eBay's customer service page and search “retract a bid.” It should bring up an article entitled “Retracting a bid.” Here, you can click on the blue button that says “Retract a bid” (or you can just click here) and another page will open. Items with active bids should be listed on the page.
How do you cancel a bid on eBay? ›
Any other bids can't be retracted, but you can still contact the seller to see if they'll agree to cancel a bid for you. Remember, the seller isn't obligated to cancel the bid so they may not agree. When bidding, always double-check that you've entered the correct amount – especially when making a last minute bid.
How do I retract a bid on the eBay app? ›
How to retract a bid on the eBay app?
- Open the eBay app and login.
- Go to 'My eBay' from the menu at the bottom.
- Select 'Bids & Offers'
- Under 'Active', find the item and see if the option to retract your bid is available.
- If not, click on the listing and find the option to contact the seller.
EBay does allow you to end an auction early without penalty as long as there is/are more than 24 hours left before the auction ends.
What happens if you win a bid on eBay and don't want it? ›
U won the bid, u won't pay, eBay will submit an unpaid strike against you, simple as that, and that might hurt your buying on eBay, as sellers can filter out buyers that have unpaid strikes against them. Remember, sellers are not required to cancel on behalf of buyers. A bid is a commitment to buy if successful.
Can I withdraw my bid on eBay? ›
As honest mistakes sometimes occur, you can only retract a bid if you accidentally bid the wrong amount, or if the seller changes the item description significantly after you have placed your bid. Retracting a bid for any other reason is considered an invalid bid retraction.
Can I cancel an offer on eBay? ›
Buyers can not cancel offers and have to ask the seller to please not accept it. Comics-scifi_collectibles Is a Volunteer Community Mentor. We want your journey here to be as great as can be, so we have put together some links to help you get quickly familiarized with the eBay Community.
Why can't I retract my bid on eBay? ›
A seller can cancel any bid at any time before the auction ends. A bidder can retract their bid if the auction has more than 12 hour left. During the final 2 hour, a bid can be retracted only within an hour after being placed. In addition there is a short list of valid reasons for retraction.
How do I cancel a sale on eBay? ›
How to cancel an order in Seller Hub or in My eBay Sold
- In Seller Hub, go to Orders; or in My eBay, go to Sold.
- Find the order you want to cancel.
- From More actions select Cancel order.
- Choose a reason for the cancellation and then select Submit to finish.
If it's an auction listing and it has bids, then yes - you'll pay a selling fee as normal, based on the highest bid plus postage. You'll also pay any listing fees you may have incurred, whether the auction has bids or not.
eBay doesn't charge for ending auctions early, unless you cancelled a bid when you ended it, and the auction would have sold. In that case, they charge you the final value fees based on what it would have sold for.
How do I cancel a bid and end listing early? ›
Yes, you may end the listing by cancelling all bids. You may be charged a final value fee based on the amount of the highest bid, or you may sell the item to the highest bidder.
Is it OK to bid at last minute on eBay? ›
Trying to react to others' bids is not a good strategy in an online auction such as eBay's. If a bid comes in late enough, you will not have enough time to bid again. There is no guarantee you will have the last bid -- or that you will be able to submit a second bid at all.
Is it bad to cancel a bid on eBay? ›
Asking for a bid to be cancelled will NOT affect your account. I always appreciate when a customer asks for a bid cancellation instead of not paying if they win the auction.
What to do when someone wins a bid on eBay but doesn't pay? ›
It's important to cancel any unpaid items within 30 days from the day the buyer commits to buy so the item can be relisted. You don't have to contact the buyer if they haven't paid – we'll send them reminders to pay. If you don't receive payment, you can cancel the order after 4 calendar days.
Do you keep your money if you lose a bid on eBay? ›
No, you are bidding and dont part with any money until you win the bid.
How do I block a buyer on eBay? ›
How to put a buyer or bidder on a blocked bidder buyer list
- Go to top of Seller's hub and click "Help & Contact".
- Scroll down to "Selling".
- Scroll down to "Blocking a buyer on eBay"
- Scroll down to the link "Block bidders and buyers"
- Type in the user I.D. of the buyer and click submit.
A bid is not amendable (except one special case where eBay automatically lowers the hidden maximum of the leader's bid if the seller lowers the Reserve Price in certain situations). You can raise your overall maximum (as opposed to the hidden maximum for that bid) by rebidding.
Can you bid on eBay at the last second? ›
Lots of people experience that. Perfectly normal as ebay accepts bids up until the last second. The way to get around it is to bid the absolute most you would pay for the item and then add a few cents as a tie breaker.
