Ever found yourself regretting a purchase seconds after hitting “buy”? eBay is set to make it easier to reverse those hasty decisions. The online marketplace is updating its policy to give buyers a much-needed breather when it comes to canceling purchases.
Previously, eBay buyers had just one hour to request a cancellation, leaving little time for second thoughts. But starting soon, eBay is extending this grace period to three days. Under the new policy, buyers can cancel their orders as long as the item has not been marked as “shipped” or picked up. Sellers will then have three days to review and respond to the cancellation request.
If the seller agrees, eBay will process the refund automatically. However, if an item has already been paid for, the cancellation request will be automatically denied after three days.
The revamped policy also introduces automatic relisting for canceled items. If a buyer’s request is accepted or if a seller fails to respond in time, the item will be canceled and potentially relisted for sale. Sellers will receive a credit for referral fees on abandoned purchases and are encouraged to act promptly to maintain customer satisfaction.
eBay’s new approach aims to reduce the number of return requests and enhance buyer trust. Preliminary tests show that this extended cancellation window boosts customer satisfaction by 25%, suggesting that eBay is on track to make online shopping a more forgiving experience.