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Buyer wants to cancel the purchase after my auction has ended because they got a cheaper offer
My thoughts: In the last few seconds, the buyer got into a bidding war with another bidder. I could have also lived with the second-highest bidder just fine. Now I’m left without a buyer and have to list it again. I always thought a bid was binding. Can it really be withdrawn so easily at the push of a button?
honnileinmol
Posted Jul 12, 2026 at 6:33 PM · Edited Jul 12, 2026 at 6:33 PM·Last reply 3 weeks ago
6 comments
honnileinmol
OPJul 12, 2026 at 6:44 PMMany thanks to you all for the quick, if a bit sobering, answer. I’ve now had 60 auctions, and this has never happened before. I hope it stays a one-off.
By the way: eBay wrote in a post that after 3 days of no decision, consent is automatically assumed? Do you know more about that? So really not respond and after 4 days inform eBay, block the bidder, and relist?
perfect-sally
MentorJul 12, 2026 at 6:49 PMI don’t know exactly how it works, but I seem to remember that up to 1 hour after the auction ends, the bidder can cancel more or less "without penalty." If he asks to cancel and you’re supposed to respond as the seller, I wouldn’t do that.
If you refuse, it will still be canceled after 3-4 days and after 4 days you can’t cancel because according to eBay a cancellation already exists. If you ignore the request, you should try whether after at least 4 days you can initiate a cancellation on your part due to non-payment. Because only then does the non-payer get a note on their account.
perfect-sally
MentorJul 12, 2026 at 6:52 PMBlock bidders in any case, and as written, I would first wait and see what happens.
petersmodellbahnstuebchen
Mentor3 weeks agoHi @honnileinmol
perhaps after a cancellation you can send an offer to unsuccessful bidders.
Best regards from the Baltic Sea
Peter
perfect-sally
MentorJul 12, 2026 at 6:40 PMAs for ebay: shortly after the auction, unfortunately yes!
What you do about it outside of that, and whether you want to take action against the bidder, is up to you.
voli-maus
MentorJul 12, 2026 at 6:38 PMPut the user on the bidder blocklist.
Don’t reply to them.
Report an unpaid item after four days, @honnileinmol