Blocking someone on eBay stops them from contacting you and bidding on your items
When you block a person on eBay, they cannot message you, bid on anything you list for sale, or buy from your store if you have one. The block is one-way — they can still see your listings and bid on them if they use a different account, but eBay will reject their bids automatically. You block people through your account settings, and the process takes less than a minute once you have their username.
Blocking is useful when someone has harassed you, bid on your items and then refused to pay, or repeatedly sent unwanted messages. It does not remove their past feedback about you, and it does not prevent them from leaving new feedback — it only stops active contact and bidding. If someone is threatening or abusive, blocking is a first step, but you may also want to report them to eBay's Trust and Safety team.
Key Takeaways
- You block a person through Account settings > Preferences > Blocked Buyers and Sellers, where you enter their username.
- A blocked person cannot bid on your items or message you, but they can still see your listings and leave feedback.
- Blocking takes effect when ready and you can unblock someone at any time from the same settings page.
- If someone is threatening or harassing you, report them to eBay Trust and Safety in addition to blocking them.
- Blocking one account does not stop someone from bidding under a different username, so watch for suspicious bidding patterns.
How to find and block someone from your account settings
Log into your eBay account and go to Account. In the left menu, click Preferences. Scroll down to find Blocked Buyers and Sellers — the exact wording may vary slightly depending on whether you are a buyer or seller, but the section is always in Preferences.
Click the Edit button next to Blocked Buyers and Sellers. A text box will appear where you can type or paste the username of the person you want to block. You can block multiple people at once by entering each username on a new line. Click Save when you are done. eBay will confirm the block when ready.
Blocking someone who has already bid on your item
If you are selling and someone has placed a bid you want to cancel, you can block them and remove their bid at the same time. Go to your active listing and click Manage Bids and Offers (or similar wording depending on your item type). Find the bid you want to remove, click the dropdown menu next to it, and select Remove Bid. You will see a reason dropdown — select "Bidder has violated eBay rules" or "Bidder's feedback is below my requirements" depending on why you are removing it.
After you remove the bid, go back to Account > Preferences > Blocked Buyers and Sellers and add their username. This prevents them from bidding again on this item or any future listings. If the same person bids under a different account when ready after, take a screenshot and report the pattern to eBay — they investigate coordinated bidding and account manipulation.
What happens after you block someone
Once you block a person, they will not see a notification that you blocked them. If they try to message you, their message will fail to send and they will see an error saying they cannot contact you. If they try to bid on your item, eBay will automatically reject the bid without telling them why.
The block is permanent until you remove it yourself. You can unblock someone by going back to Account > Preferences > Blocked Buyers and Sellers, finding their name in the list, and clicking Remove next to it. There is no time limit — you can unblock them when ready or years later.
When to report someone instead of just blocking
Blocking stops contact and bidding, but it does not address behavior that violates eBay's rules. If someone has threatened you, sent abusive messages, or engaged in fraud, you should report them to eBay in addition to blocking. Go to the Resolution Center, find the transaction or message, and click Report to eBay. Describe what happened clearly and include screenshots if you have them.
eBay's Trust and Safety team investigates reports of harassment, threats, and fraud. They may suspend or permanently ban the person's account, which is more effective than a one-way block. Reporting also creates a record in case the person escalates or targets other buyers and sellers.
Blocking does not prevent someone from using a different account
One limitation of blocking is that it only applies to a specific username. If someone creates a new eBay account, they can bid on your items again. Watch for suspicious patterns: bids from new accounts with no feedback, bids that come when ready after you blocked someone, or bids from accounts that bid on multiple items in quick succession and then never pay.
If you notice this pattern, document it with screenshots and report it to eBay as potential account manipulation. You can also set your listings to exclude bidders with no feedback or feedback below a certain score, which makes it harder for someone to bid under a new account. Go to your listing settings and look for Buyer Requirements or Bidder Preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a blocked person see that I blocked them?
No. They will not receive a notification. If they try to message you, they will see an error message, but eBay does not tell them the reason. If they try to bid, the bid straightforward fails without explanation.
Does blocking remove their feedback about me?
No. Blocking only stops future contact and bidding. Any feedback they left before you blocked them stays on your account. If their feedback is unfair or abusive, you can request feedback revision through the Resolution Center, but blocking itself does not remove it.
What if I block someone by mistake?
You can unblock them when ready by going to Account > Preferences > Blocked Buyers and Sellers, finding their username, and clicking Remove. There is no penalty for unblocking, and you can block and unblock the same person as many times as you need to.
Can I block someone if I am a buyer, not a seller?
Yes. Buyers can block sellers who have harassed them or sent unwanted messages. The process is the same: Account > Preferences > Blocked Buyers and Sellers. A blocked seller cannot contact you, but they can still see your bids and purchases if they look at their item history.
What should I do if someone keeps bidding under different accounts?
Report the pattern to eBay Trust and Safety with screenshots showing the usernames, bid times, and feedback scores. eBay investigates coordinated bidding and can suspend accounts that appear to be connected. You can also set your listings to exclude new bidders or bidders below a feedback threshold.