I still remember the "Red Sweater Incident" of 2021. I sold a vintage Ralph Lauren knit to a buyer who messaged me fourteen times before I even shipped it. She wanted to know the thread count, the exact time of drop-off, and if my home had "good vibes." I accommodated her anxiety, shipped the item, and thought I was done. Three days after delivery, she demanded a return because the sweater "looked angry." When I politely declined (citing my no-returns policy for "vibes"),the messages turned hostile.
I didn't know how to stop it. I thought ignoring her was the high road. It wasn't. She bought three more cheap items from my store just to leave negative feedback. That experience taught me that the "Block Bidder" button isn't just a tool; it's a shield. In the world of e-commerce, you are your own security guard. Knowing exactly how to block someone on ebay is the difference between a peaceful side hustle and a mental health crisis.
Why Blocking is Essential for Seller Health
When people search for how to block someone from bidding on ebay, they usually feel guilty. We are taught that the "customer is always right." On eBay, the customer is sometimes a scammer, a time-waster, or just plain mean. Blocking isn't rude; it's business hygiene. If a buyer has a history of retracting bids, not paying, or leaving abusive feedback, you do not want their money.
The Reality of "Bad Buyers":
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The Non-Payer: Bids on everything, pays for nothing.
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The Partial Refund Fisher: Claims a microscopic flaw to get $5 back.
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The Harasser: Sends 50 messages a day.
Opinion Statement: I firmly believe that if a buyer asks more than three questions about a $20 item, you should block them immediately. It sounds harsh, but my data shows that these buyers return items 60% of the time. They are never happy.
Here’s where it gets interesting... Blocking a user doesn't just stop them from bidding. If you check the right box, it stops them from messaging you too. However, this only works if they haven't bought from you recently. If you are in an active transaction, the block is "soft"—they can still message you about that order.
How to Block Someone on eBay: The Step-by-Step Guide
So, how to block someone on ebay specifically? It’s not as simple as clicking a button on their profile (like Instagram).eBay hides this feature deep in the settings menu.
Desktop Workflow:
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Go to the "Help & Contact" page.
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Type "Block a buyer" in the search bar.
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Click the link that says "Block bidders or buyers from your listings."
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You will land on a page with a text box.
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Enter the username of the person you want to block.
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Click Submit.
The "Blocked Bidder List" Management: You can add up to 5,000 names to this list. I keep a spreadsheet of who I block and why. "User123 - Non-payment," "VintageLover99 - Abusive messages." It helps me remember why I banned them if they ever message me from a different account claiming it was a "mistake."
How to Block Someone on eBay App
We live on our phones, so knowing how to block someone on ebay app is critical. But here is the kicker: You can't really do it easily. As of early 2026, the eBay app still does not have a direct "Block User" button on the profile page for sellers. It drives me insane.
The Mobile Workaround:
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Open the eBay app.
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Go to "Help".
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Search "Block Buyer".
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It will open a browser window inside the app.
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You have to log in again (usually).
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Then you paste the name.
Honest Failure: I once tried to block a harasser while waiting for a flight. The app kept crashing when it tried to open the browser window. I gave up and hoped they wouldn't bid. They bid. I had to cancel the bid manually, which took 20 minutes of airport wifi struggle.Lesson: Manage your blocked bidder list from a desktop whenever possible.
How to Block Someone from Buying on eBay (Active Listings)
If a user is currently bidding on your item and you want them gone, adding them to the list isn't enough. The list stops future bids. It does not remove current bids.
The Two-Step Ejection:
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Cancel their bid: Go to "Cancel Bids" in the Help section. Enter the item number and their username.
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Block them: Add them to the blocked bidder list.
If you skip step 1, they can still win the auction. If you skip step 2, they can just bid again in 5 minutes.
How to Block Someone from Messaging You on eBay
This is the most misunderstood part of how to block someone on ebay. Adding someone to the block list stops them from buying. It does not automatically stop them from messaging you unless you toggle a specific setting.
The "Don't Talk to Me" Setting:
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Go to Account Settings > Selling Preferences.
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Scroll to Buyer Requirements.
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Check the box that says: "Don't allow blocked buyers to contact me."
Crucial Nuance: If you do not check this box, a blocked buyer can still click "Contact Seller" and send you angry paragraphs about why you blocked them. I learned this the hard way. I blocked a lowballer. He proceeded to message me every hour for a day asking "Why? Why? Why?" I had to go into settings and find that tiny checkbox to finally silence him.
Sourcing Safer Inventory: How Closo Helps Me Predict Demand & Trends Across Categories 6 Weeks Ahead
Why do we get bad buyers? Often, it's because we are selling items that attract "problem" demographics. High-hype sneakers. Cheap electronics. These categories are magnets for scammers.
I shifted my strategy. I use Closo Demand Signals to find "safe" niches.How Closo helps me predict demand & trends across categories 6 weeks ahead allows me to source items that attract serious, mature collectors.
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The Signal: Closo showed a rise in "Antique Quilts" and "Heritage Cast Iron."
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The Insight: Buyers in these categories are usually older, polite, and pay full price.
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The Pivot: I stopped flipping sneakers (scam central) and started flipping quilts.
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The Result: My block list hasn't grown in months. The quality of the buyer matters as much as the quality of the item.
I use Closo to automate my niche research – saves me about 3 hours weekly of dealing with "Hypebeast" drama.
The "Buyer Requirements" Firewall
You don't have to block people manually. You can set up an automated firewall. eBay allows you to block ebayer activity based on their history.
Settings I Always Use:
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Block buyers with 2+ Unpaid Item Strikes in 12 months: This is non-negotiable. If they stiffed two other sellers,they will stiff you.
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Block buyers with a primary shipping address in a location I don't ship to: Prevents people from bidding if they live in a country you excluded.
Parenthetical Aside: (I used to be lenient and uncheck the "Unpaid Item" block. I thought, "Maybe they just forgot?" Nope. My non-payment rate skyrocketed. Turn that setting on and leave it on.)
Managing Cross-Platform Bans with Closo 100% Free Crosslister
If a buyer scams you on eBay, they might try to scam you on Poshmark too. These bad actors often monitor your store across platforms. If you block "BadBuyer99" on eBay, you need to check if "BadBuyer99" follows you on Poshmark.
The Cross-Listing Defense: I use the Closo 100% Free Crosslister to manage my inventory, but I also use it to audit my safety. When I list an item, Closo keeps it synced. If a blocked buyer tries to buy an item on eBay (and fails), and then suddenly that item sells on Mercari to a suspiciously similar username... I know it's them. I can cancel the Mercari order immediately.
I use Closo to automate my inventory tracking – saves me about 3 hours weekly of worrying about double-selling to a banned user.
Does Blocking a Buyer Retract Their Feedback?
This is a common question I see. "If I block a buyer, does their negative feedback disappear?" No. Blocking is preventive, not curative. If they already left you a red dot, blocking them prevents future damage, but the scar remains.
However: If they leave feedback after you block them (e.g., they bought an item, you shipped it, then you blocked them,then they left negative feedback referencing the block), you can sometimes get eBay to remove it. You can argue it is "retaliatory feedback." Call eBay support. Use the phrase "retaliatory feedback due to blocked status." They often scrub it.
The Psychology of the Blocked Buyer
Now the tricky part... Blocked buyers get angry. Some of them will create "burner accounts" to bypass the block. This is against eBay TOS (called "Malicious Buying"), but it happens.
How to Spot a Burner Account:
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Account Age: Created today? Red flag.
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Location: Same city as the guy you just blocked? Red flag.
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The Item: They buy the exact same item the blocked account was looking at.
What to do: Do not engage. Cancel the order using "Issue with Buyer's Address" (it's the safest generic reason). Report the user to eBay for "circumventing a block." If you engage and fight, they win. Silence is your best weapon.
Using the Closo Free Sharer for Visibility
Blocking bad buyers reduces your potential audience slightly. You need to make up for that by getting fresh eyes on your items. You don't want the same 10 people watching your store.
I use the Closo free sharer (primarily for Poshmark, but the principle applies). By automating my activity, I drive newtraffic. New traffic dilutes the "bad apples." If I have 1,000 views a day, one troll doesn't matter. If I have 10 views a day,one troll ruins my week. Volume cures many ills.
Alternatives to Blocking: The "Soft Block"
Sometimes you don't want to block bidder buyer entirely; you just want them to pay up. Before you block, try the "Immediate Payment Required" setting.
The Paywall Strategy: Edit your Buy It Now listings. Check the box for "Require immediate payment with Buy It Now." This stops the "sport bidders" who buy and ghost. They literally cannot buy the item unless they complete the checkout. This eliminated 90% of the people I used to have to block for non-payment.
Organizing Your "Blacklist"
If you sell for years, your blocked bidder list becomes a messy text dump. I recommend keeping an external list (Google Sheets).
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Column A: Username
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Column B: Date Blocked
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Column C: Reason (e.g., "Returned empty box," "Abusive messages")
Why? eBay usernames change. If you try to audit your list later, you won't remember who "User123" was. Also,sometimes you might want to unblock someone. (I unblocked a guy once after he apologized for being grumpy during a divorce. He became a loyal customer. Forgiveness can pay, but keep the data so you make an informed choice).
Common Questions I See
People always ask me... Can a blocked buyer see my items?
Yes. Blocking is not a "cloak of invisibility." They can see your store. They can see your listings. They just cannot bid,buy, or send offers. If they try, they get a message saying: "This seller is not accepting bids from you."
Common question I see... How do I know if someone blocked me?
eBay doesn't send you a notification saying "You have been blocked!" You find out when you try to bid or buy. You will get an error message blocking the transaction. If you can't message a seller or buy their item, but you can buy from others,you have been blocked.
People always ask me... Is there a limit to how many people I can block?
Yes, the limit is 5,000 usernames. It sounds like a lot, but for mega-sellers who have been on the platform for 20 years,they hit it. If you hit the limit, you have to go back and delete old names (who are likely inactive now) to make room for new trolls.
Conclusion
Knowing how to block someone on ebay is a fundamental skill for maintaining your sanity as a seller. It is the only tool that gives you control over who you do business with. Don't be afraid to use it. Your peace of mind is worth more than a $15 sale from a nightmare customer.
My honest assessment is that you should block liberally and without guilt. The platform is huge; there are plenty of other fish in the sea who aren't toxic.
If you want to fill the void left by those blocked buyers with high-quality customers, you need to sell high-quality trends.Use the Closo Seller Hub to find the inventory that attracts the right kind of attention.
For more on managing your store settings effectively, read our eBay Time Away Guide
And if you want to know which categories are currently "safe" from scammers, check out Trending Products Forecast 2026
