4 min article

Unwelcome and malicious buying policy

To protect our sellers, we have certain policies to make sure buyers understand that placing a bid or buying an item is a contractual obligation. We also provide a range of tools to help sellers protect themselves from buyers who might disrupt their business in some way.

Policy overview

As a seller, you can block bidders and buyers at any time before a listing ends, and you can cancel unwelcome bids. After you cancel a bid, the bidder can't place a new bid without your permission. You can add the bidder's username to your blocked list to prevent them from bidding again.

Additionally, members are prohibited from bidding on or purchasing an item to disrupt or to leave non-positive feedback or detailed seller ratings for the seller, with no intention of completing the transaction.

Activity on eBay is required to follow this policy, the eBay User Agreement and all applicable laws, as well as respect the rights of third parties. If it doesn’t, eBay may take action consistent with applicable laws and the eBay User Agreement, and may even be legally required to do so. Such actions may include, as an example only: Removing the listing or other content, issuing a warning, restricting activity or account suspension.

Some Examples

Failure to meet a seller's terms

Examples:

  • A seller states that their item will only be posted domestically. The buyer is registered outside the postage area.
  • A seller states that buyers with negative feedback comments are not permitted to bid. The buyer has negative feedback.

 

Buying with the intent to disrupt a listing

Examples:

  • A buyer places a bid that exceeds the value of the item to prevent a sale.
  • A buyer bids on multiple items listed by a seller without intent to complete the sale.
  • A buyer attempts to purchase an item after having been placed on a seller's blocked bidder list.

Report a buyer who bid with intent to disrupt a listing.

Important: Buyers who fail to respond or who back out of a transaction are breaching the unpaid item policy.

Additional Information

Preventing Unwelcome Buying

In addition to reporting a member to eBay, there are several steps sellers can take to prevent unwelcome buying including:

Why does eBay have this policy?

This policy is intended to protect the integrity of the eBay marketplace by prohibiting conduct that would interfere with the completion or performance of eBay transactions.

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