How to block buyers and bidders on eBay
You can block a buyer by username, or set buyer requirements that block whole groups, such as buyers with a history of not paying. More bidders usually means a higher price, so eBay suggests blocking only when you have a reason, and most of the protection against non-paying buyers already applies without any settings.
Updated
How to block a buyer on eBay
- Go to eBay’s “Block bidders or buyers from your listings” page.
- Enter the buyer’s username in the box. The list holds up to 5,000 usernames.
- Select Submit.
A blocked buyer can’t bid on or buy your items until you take them off the list. To unblock someone, delete their username from the same box and submit again; a Restore list option brings back a previous version (eBay: blocking a buyer).
Buyer requirements: blocking groups of buyers
Buyer requirements block anyone who matches a rule, without naming them. eBay currently offers three:
- Their delivery address is in a location you’ve excluded from shipping.
- They have a history of orders cancelled because they didn’t pay.
- They’re already winning, or have bought, a number of your items in the last 10 days that you choose.
Set them in Buyer Management. Choose “Apply above settings to active and future listings” to cover listings already running; otherwise they apply only to new ones. Blocked buyers can still message you unless you turn that off in Site Preferences. A Buyer requirements activity log shows who was blocked, when and by which rule, and an exemption list lets particular buyers through (eBay: setting buyer requirements).
Should you block new or zero-feedback bidders?
There’s no setting for it, and usually no need. Zero or low feedback is common among genuine buyers, because buyers often don’t receive feedback. Blocking them by hand removes bidders and tends to lower your final price.
The protections that matter apply to every buyer anyway:
- In most cases eBay charges the winner’s payment method automatically.
- A buyer who doesn’t pay gets an unpaid cancellation on their account, and buyers with several face limits on buying and bidding that also apply to their linked accounts.
- To make sure an expensive item doesn’t sell too low, set a reserve price rather than trying to choose who may bid.
Save blocking for a specific buyer who has given you a reason: an unpaid order, threats, or the patterns below.
Bidding patterns worth a closer look on your own auctions
Bid shielding
One account places a very high bid that discourages everyone else, then retracts it near the end so a second account wins at a low price. Retractions show at the bottom of your bid history, and each bidder’s detail page counts their retractions over 30 days and 6 months. eBay’s 12-hour rule limits when a bid can be retracted, which narrows how this can be done.
Most retractions are typos. A bidder who retracts again and again across auctions is different: eBay lists “repeatedly bidding and then retracting bids” as a reason to report a buyer. While the auction is running, you can also cancel a bid you’re concerned may be fraudulent (eBay: canceling bids), though a cancelled bid can’t be reinstated.
Requests to finish the sale off eBay
A bidder, or the runner-up after an auction, asks you to sell to them directly, often for less. eBay doesn’t allow buying or selling outside eBay, or sharing contact details before a transaction is complete. Asking you to complete a sale off eBay is also on eBay’s list of reasons to report a buyer.
A winner who doesn’t pay
If eBay doesn’t charge the buyer automatically, they have 4 calendar days to pay. After that, and up to 30 days after the order, you can cancel it as unpaid. eBay records an unpaid cancellation on their account and removes any feedback they left you (eBay: unpaid item policy). Add them to your blocked list if you don’t want them bidding again.
Once the order is cancelled, you can make a Second Chance Offer to another bidder at their last bid, up to 60 days after the auction ends. It’s free to send; you pay the final value fee only if they accept. Only bidders who have chosen to receive these offers can get one (eBay: Second Chance Offers).
How to report a buyer
Report a buyer when you think they’re breaking eBay’s rules, for example by making false claims, misusing returns or the Money Back Guarantee, asking to complete a sale off eBay, repeatedly bidding and retracting, or sending excessive messages with no intention of buying. Use the Report a buyer button on eBay’s help page, or go to your Orders list, choose Leave feedback next to the item, then Report buyer. Problems with a specific order, such as non-payment or returns, go through eBay’s resolution process instead.
Common questions
How do I block a buyer on eBay?
Open eBay’s “Block bidders or buyers from your listings” page, enter the buyer’s username and select Submit. You can block up to 5,000 usernames, and remove any of them later the same way.
Can I block buyers with zero feedback on eBay?
Not with a setting. eBay’s buyer requirements block buyers in locations you don’t ship to, buyers with a history of orders cancelled for not paying, and buyers already winning or buying a set number of your items in the last 10 days. None is based on feedback score or account age.
What happens if an eBay buyer doesn’t pay?
In most cases eBay charges the buyer’s payment method automatically. If it doesn’t, the buyer has 4 calendar days to pay. After that, and up to 30 days after the order, you can cancel it; an unpaid cancellation is recorded on the buyer’s account, and you can make a Second Chance Offer to another bidder.
What is bid shielding on eBay?
One account places a very high bid to discourage other bidders, then retracts it near the end so a second account can win at a low price. eBay lists abusing the bid retraction process, repeatedly bidding and then retracting, as a reason to report a buyer.
Watching an auction?
Capture its bid history and see which signs are present, with the evidence for each.