05-06-2026 3:33 PM
Can someone please simply explain why it isn't possible to cancel a purchase that hasn't yet been dispatched, for whatever reason, without the sellers agreement? Thanks.
05-06-2026 3:43 PM
You can only ask seller to cancel.
1 day after estimated delivery date open item not received case, escalate on day 4.
Seller may have posted item, but not marked as sent.
05-06-2026 5:02 PM
05-06-2026 5:31 PM
Because that's how it works on ebay.
05-06-2026 5:53 PM
Crikey, that's not much of an explanation 😄
05-06-2026 6:02 PM
Only seller can cancel, not ebay.
If item has not been posted, easier for them to agree, but no one can force them to.
If item arrives after estimated delivery date, You can open item as described case,
This means they have to supply returns label.
05-06-2026 6:02 PM
Perhaps worthy of mention, it's now, I think, 7 working days after order placement, still not dispatched. They are clearly advertising a product that is coming from 'elsewhere'. Tbh, presented with the facts, the seller did finally offer to cancel on day 4, but I told them, for £4.72, I'd 'take the hit', rather choosing to pass on my experience to others in my feedback. This factual, non-abusive negative, was immediately removed by eBay, without explanation. It's like, you can't win.
But in my job I use say, Screwfix quite a bit. If I order something they don't hold in the branch, it's shipped in for next day. So like, properly 'dispatched', at time, effort and cost. Yet (not that I would), but I can still cancel and get my money back, np. Some seller that isn't adhering to the spirit of the agreement, can simply say 'no', forcing thru the sale, possibly thinking 'they won't be ***** to return it. I just don't get it.
05-06-2026 6:06 PM
Yep, I recognise this isn't worth the £4.72! Sorry. But the same principles apply.
05-06-2026 6:21 PM
Have you read Ebay's guidance on buyer cancellations?
05-06-2026 6:36 PM
Nope. What might they reveal please? Cos whether £4.72, £472, or £4,720 (and having been a member on eBay for 22 years, and faced the same thing on a purchase of >£1000) I'm just asking my original question. How come?
05-06-2026 6:40 PM
It tells you how cancellations work on ebay, which I thought was the whole point of your post.
Why ebay has these rules and operates in this way is known only to them.
05-06-2026 6:42 PM
Thank you.
05-06-2026 9:54 PM
As per said guidance:
"A buyer can request to cancel an order if:
So how does the 'a seller can reject' bit come in, forcing the sale through only to subject the buyer to returning it?
Obviously just utter nonsense, but thanks for the responses.
05-06-2026 9:56 PM
'10 replies badge' tho! Whoop whoop! 🤭