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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.
Steps
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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.
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Click Help & Contact. It's a tab in the upper-left side of the page.Advertisement
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Click Retracting a bid. This link is in the middle of the page.
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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.
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Select an item on which you recently bid. Click the item's name to select it.
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Select a reason for canceling the bid. Click the circle button to the left of one of the following reasons:[1]
- 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.
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Click Continue. This blue button is below the bid cancellation reason section.
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Click Retract bid. It's a blue button near the bottom of the page. Doing so will retract your bid.
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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.
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Select My eBay. It's a tab in the upper-right side of the page. Doing so prompts a drop-down menu.
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Click Selling. This option is near the bottom of the drop-down menu.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Click the eBay logo. It's in the top-left side of the page. This will take you back to the home page.
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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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Scroll down and click Cancel bids on your listing. This option is in the "Sell activities" group of options beneath the "SELL" heading.
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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.
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Click cancel bid. This will immediately cancel all bids placed on your selected item by the user in question.
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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.
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Select My eBay. It's a tab in the top-right side of the page.
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Click Bids/Offers. You'll find this option near the top of the drop-down menu.
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Select an item. Click an item on which you recently bid. You may have to scroll down to find the item.
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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.
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Click Contact. This option is in the upper-right side of the seller's page. Doing so will open a contact page.
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Scroll down and click Contact the Seller. It's in the "Didn't find the answer?" section.[3]
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Click Continue. Doing so opens a message field.
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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.
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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
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QuestionHow do I remove the bid option if I want to sell my item as soon as possible?Community AnswerWhen you list your item, you can set it as a "Buy It Now" fixed price listing.
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QuestionIf I won the auction and paid for my item, can the seller cancel my purchase?Community AnswerApparently, 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.
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QuestionAre there any fines for cancelling a transaction?Community AnswerAs a buyer? No. As a seller? No, but it may affect your performance rating, depending on the reason for the cancellation.
Video
Tips
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If you cancel a bid due to bidding the wrong amount, you will have to go back to the item's page afterward to re-bid.Thanks
References
About This Article
1. Sign into eBay.
2. Click Help & Contact.
3. Click How to retract a bid.
4. Click Retract bid.
5. Select an item.
6. Select a reason.
7. Click Continue.
8. Click Retract Bid.
Reader Success Stories
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"Very helpful and clear. Better than trying to find info on eBay!"