There are times when you need to block a buyer on eBay. Maybe you’ve had bad interactions with them.
Maybe they’re a competitor of yours, and you don’t want them to be able to purchase your listings. Or maybe they’ve even committed fraud of some sort.
In any case, eBay gives you the ability to block eBay buyers. Meanwhile, an eBay product research tool helps you focus on sourcing profitable items, so your energy stays on growing sales rather than dealing with problem buyers.
In this post, we’re going to lay out both the what and the how of blocking users on eBay. This step-by-step guide will show you how to block a buyer on eBay.
Click here if you want to find out how to block a bidder on eBay instead
What Happens When You Block an eBay Buyer?
First, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page regarding what happens when you block an eBay user.
When you block an individual eBay user, they can no longer bid on your listings, buy from you, or contact you regarding any of the listings you’ve posted.
You can also block all eBay buyers from a particular state or even an entire country if you wish. This can be particularly useful if you’re trying to manage selling costs and only want to sell in particular geographic regions.
Want more tips like this? Check out beginners guide to selling on eBay.
For example, you might not want to ship anything overseas.
You can ensure that only people in your home country can see your listings.
Or maybe you live in the lower United States and don’t want to ship to Alaska or Hawaii. You can block those particular states from buying from you.
How To Block an Individual User On eBay
First, let’s talk about how to block buyer on eBay. If you have a single person (or group of users) that you want to block, you can enter their usernames and eBay will block them from your listings.
Step #1: Login
The first step is to login to eBay. Go to the homepage and click on the “Sign In” text.
Step #2: Go To The Block Bidders Page
Next, go to the block bidders or buyers page. This is where you will enter the usernames of those whom you want to block.
Step #3: Enter the Usernames Of Those You Want To Block
Next, you’re going to enter the username(s) of the buyer you want to block. To find the username of a buyer, you can do at least two things.
If they’re an eBay seller as well, you can click on one of their listings and see their exact username.
Alternatively, you can go to the eBay search page and enter a username or email. If you can’t remember the exact username, you’ll be shown close matches so that you can find the exact match.
If you search by email address, you’ll be shown exact matches.
Once you’ve identified the username or email address of the buyer that you want to block, you simply enter that name into the “Block Bidder/Buyer List”. You can enter up to 5,000 individual usernames or email addresses in the block list. Each username should be separated from the others by a comma.
For example: “JohnDoe123, JohnSmith123, John123@gmail.com, etc.”
Once you’ve entered the usernames or email addresses of the eBay buyers you want to block, simply click the “Submit” button.
If you want to remove someone from the block list, simply delete their name. They’ll then have access to all your listings and be able to bid on them.
If you’ve entered a valid username or email address, you’ll see the following message once you click the “Submit” button:
If you’ve entered an invalid username or email address, you’ll see the following message:
How To Block eBay Buyers By State, Country, or Territory
To block users by state, country, or territory, simply follow these steps.
Step #1: Sign In
If you’re not signed in, go back to the eBay home page and sign back in.
Step #2: Click on “My eBay” In The Top Right Corner
On the home page, click the “My eBay” link in the top right corner of the page.
Step #3: Click On The “Account” Tab
Once you’re in the “My eBay” section, click on the “Account” tab.
Step #4: Click On The “Site Preferences” Link
This will bring you to your account preferences. From there you can change your buying and shipping settings.
Step #5: Scroll Down To “Shipping Preferences” and Click The Link
This will take you to the shipping preferences page, from where you can block entire regions.
Step #6: Scroll To “Exclude Shipping Locations” and Click “Edit”
Step #7: Click The Regions You Do Not Ship To
Note: In this section, you can select entire regions that you don’t ship to or individual states and countries. To exclude individual countries, simply click on “Show All Countries” under a particular region.
Step #8: Go Back To The “Account” Tab
Step #9: Click On “Site Preferences”
Step #10: Scroll Down To The “Buyer Requirements” and Click “Edit”
Step #11: Click “Buyers In Locations To Which I Don’t Ship”
Step #12: Click “Submit”
Block Away
If you follow the steps above, you should have no problem blocking individual eBay users or blocking out entire regions. If you run into trouble, you can always reference the eBay help library or contact a customer service representative at eBay.
Additionally, you can get further help through the eBay community. In the forum, you can pose questions and get answers.
Spotting Repeat Offenders or Risky Buyers?
Use the ZIK eBay competitor research tool to uncover buyer patterns and monitor seller interactions across eBay. While you can’t see every buyer’s behavior directly, analyzing competing listings and seller feedback lets you stay informed. If you’ve identified red flags, you’ll know exactly who to block and why. ZIK gives you the data advantage—so you can sell smarter, protect your store, and focus on real customers.
Frequently Asked Questions on How to Block a Buyer on eBay
Here are some frequenetly asked questions on blocking a buyer on eBay:
How do I block a specific buyer on eBay?
To block someone, go to eBay’s Blocked Bidder/Buyer List page, enter the buyer’s username, and save changes. That user will no longer be able to bid on or purchase your items. You can update or remove names anytime.
Do eBay buyers know if you block them?
No, eBay does not notify buyers when they are blocked. However, if a blocked buyer tries to purchase or bid on your item, they’ll see an error message preventing the transaction. Only then might they realize they’ve been blocked.
How do I block a buyer on the eBay mobile app?
The eBay app doesn’t have a direct block option. To block a buyer, open a browser on your phone, go to the Blocked Bidder/Buyer List page, log in, and enter the buyer’s username manually.
How to block sellers on eBay?
eBay doesn’t allow you to block sellers directly. Instead, you can avoid unwanted sellers by saving searches with filters, blocking their marketing emails, or choosing not to purchase from their listings. Blocking tools only apply to buyers, not sellers.
Can a blocked buyer still message me?
Yes, blocked buyers can still send messages unless you change your settings. In eBay Seller Hub, you can adjust communication preferences to prevent blocked users from contacting you. This ensures they cannot bid, purchase, or message you further.
Can you leave negative feedback for a buyer on eBay?
No, sellers cannot leave negative or neutral feedback for buyers. eBay only allows sellers to leave positive feedback. However, sellers can report unpaid items, open disputes, or block troublesome buyers to prevent future transactions if problems arise.
Will the blocked user know I blocked them?
eBay does not send notifications when you block someone. The buyer only realises if they attempt to bid on or purchase your item and receive an error message. Otherwise, there is no visible indication they’ve been blocked.
How do I cancel someone from buying something on eBay?
If a buyer has already purchased, go to Seller Hub → Orders, select the order, and choose Cancel Order. If it’s before purchase, you can block the buyer using eBay’s Blocked Bidder/Buyer List, preventing them from bidding or purchasing.
Is blocking a buyer bad for my eBay account?
No, blocking a buyer does not harm your eBay account. It’s a standard feature to protect sellers from problematic users. eBay doesn’t penalize you for using it, and buyers aren’t notified unless they try to purchase your item.