How to Cancel a Bid on eBay

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: August 10, 2021 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to retract a bid on an eBay item, both as a buyer and as a seller. If there are fewer than 12 hours remaining in an auction, you will have to contact the seller and ask them to cancel the bid for you. You cannot cancel a bid from the eBay mobile app.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Canceling a Bid as a Buyer

1
Open eBay. Go to https://www.ebay.com/. If you're already signed into eBay, this will open your eBay home page.
- If you aren't signed in, click Sign in in the top-left side of the page, enter your email address (or username) and password, and click Sign in.
2
Click Help & Contact. It's a tab in the upper-left side of the page.

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3
Click Retracting a bid. This link is in the middle of the page.
4
Click Retract a bid. It's a blue button in the middle of the page. Clicking it opens a page with recently bid-on items.
5
Select an item on which you recently bid. Click the item's name to select it.
6
Select a reason for canceling the bid. Click the circle button to the left of one of the following reasons:^{[1]
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- I entered the wrong amount. - Select this option if you bid too high or too low.
- The description of the item changed significantly after I placed my bid. - Select this option if the item's reported condition, description, or selling terms change in a way that impacts the item's value.
- I'm unable to contact the seller by email or phone. - If you've tried to contact the seller and you have been unsuccessful, select this option.
7
Click Continue. This blue button is below the bid cancellation reason section.
8
Click Retract bid. It's a blue button near the bottom of the page. Doing so will retract your bid.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Canceling a Bid as a Seller

1
Open eBay. Go to https://www.ebay.com/. If you're already signed into eBay, this will open your eBay home page.
- If you aren't signed in, click Sign in in the top-left side of the page, enter your email address (or username) and password, and click Sign in.
2
Select My eBay. It's a tab in the upper-right side of the page. Doing so prompts a drop-down menu.
3
Click Selling. This option is near the bottom of the drop-down menu.
4
Select an item. Click the name of an item on which the bid was placed. You may have to scroll down to find your item.
5
Scroll down and find the item number. This number is to the right of the "eBay item number" heading that's in the top-right side of the "Description" tab. You'll need this information to direct eBay to the correct item.
6
Find the bidder's username. Click the [bid] link above the Place bid button, then find the name of the person who placed the bid that you want to cancel. You'll need this information to cancel the bid.
7
Click the eBay logo. It's in the top-left side of the page. This will take you back to the home page.
8
Scroll down and click Site map. It's at the bottom of the "Tools & apps" column of options that's at the bottom of the eBay home page.^{[2]
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9
Scroll down and click Cancel bids on your listing. This option is in the "Sell activities" group of options beneath the "SELL" heading.
10
Fill out the bid cancellation form. Complete the following fields:
- Item number - Type your item's number into the field above this heading.
- User ID of the bid you are cancelling - Type the bidder's username into the field above this heading.
- Reason for cancellation - Enter a brief (80 or fewer characters) reason for the cancellation in the field below this heading.
11
Click cancel bid. This will immediately cancel all bids placed on your selected item by the user in question.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Contacting a Seller

1
Open eBay. Go to https://www.ebay.com/. If you're already signed into eBay, this will open your eBay home page.
- If you aren't signed in, click Sign in in the top-left side of the page, enter your email address (or username) and password, and click Sign in.
2
Select My eBay. It's a tab in the top-right side of the page.
3
Click Bids/Offers. You'll find this option near the top of the drop-down menu.
4
Select an item. Click an item on which you recently bid. You may have to scroll down to find the item.
5
Click the seller's username. It's below the "Seller information" heading on the right side of the page. Clicking this takes you to the seller's profile page.
6
Click Contact. This option is in the upper-right side of the seller's page. Doing so will open a contact page.
7
Scroll down and click Contact the Seller. It's in the "Didn't find the answer?" section.^{[3]
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8
Click Continue. Doing so opens a message field.
9
Type in your question. Type something like "I would like to cancel my bid(s) on your item," followed by the item's name.
- If you have a link to the item, use that instead.
- You may have to fill out additional information depending on the seller.
10
Click Send message. This will send your message. While the seller is under no obligation to cancel your bid, they will usually honor your request.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I remove the bid option if I want to sell my item as soon as possible?

Community Answer

When you list your item, you can set it as a "Buy It Now" fixed price listing.
Question

If I won the auction and paid for my item, can the seller cancel my purchase?

Community Answer

Apparently, they can! I have had that happen. The seller didn't get the price he/she wanted, so he/she cancels the sale and relists it. It shouldn't happen, but it does.
Question

Are there any fines for cancelling a transaction?

Community Answer

As a buyer? No. As a seller? No, but it may affect your performance rating, depending on the reason for the cancellation.