If something unexpected happens with a purchase, you can request to cancel before it ships.
The seller reviews and decides whether to approve your request. In limited cases, Whatnot may step in to help.
If a cancellation is approved, your order will be canceled and refunded in full. If it’s declined or the seller doesn’t respond within 48 hours, the order will ship as normal.
Note: In line with Whatnot’s Community Guidelines, all bids are binding. When you win an auction, you’re expected to complete the purchase, but you can still request cancellation if something unexpected comes up.
On this page:
- When can I request to cancel my order?
- How to request cancellation
- After you request cancellation
- When Whatnot may step in
- Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
When can I request to cancel my order?
You can request to cancel a purchase if:
- The seller hasn’t created a shipping label yet, or
- It’s been less than 24 hours since you placed the order (even if a label was created)
Once an order is in transit, it can’t be canceled.
Tip: If your order's already shipped, you can still report an issue and get help with your purchase.
Note: Trust in the selling experience is what allows communities to thrive on Whatnot, and frequent cancellations may lead to account action. Learn more in our Community Guidelines.
How to request cancellation
You can request to cancel individual items you order.
If the item is part of a bundle, only that item will be canceled and refunded for its portion of shipping. The rest of the bundle stays unless those items are canceled too.
Request cancellation from the app
- Open the Whatnot app
- Tap Activity at the bottom of the screen
- Select Purchases
- Choose the order you want to cancel
- Tap Get help with this purchase
- If eligible, you’ll see the option to Request cancellation – tap it
- Fill out the form and submit your request
Request cancellation on web
Note: When you use whatnot.com, your request is sent to the seller and creates a ticket for Whatnot Support.
- From whatnot.com, click the Activity icon on the top right
- Under the Purchases tab, select the order you want to cancel
- Choose Get help with this purchase
- Click I need help with something else
- Choose Submit a cancellation request
- If eligible, submit your request
After you request cancellation
Once you submit a cancellation request:
- The order status changes to Pending Cancellation.
- The seller is notified and has 48 hours to respond.
- You’ll get notified if the seller approves or declines your request.
- You can track your order’s status under Activity > Purchases.
Sellers have full discretion to approve or deny cancellation requests:
If the seller approves, your order will be canceled and you’ll receive a full refund within 3–5 business days. The refund appears on your original payment method.
If the seller declines or doesn’t respond within 48 hours, the order remains final and will ship as normal.
When Whatnot may step in
Whatnot may review cancellation or make exceptions to final sale in certain cases:
- Bidding error (auction purchases only): If there was a technical issue during bidding, contact Support within 2 hours of the error. Tell us what happened and include any screenshots.
- One-time exception: If the shipping label hasn’t been created and you haven’t been granted an exception in the past, Whatnot may approve a one-time cancellation for eligible buyers. This exception doesn’t apply to Card Breaks, or items that can be used or consumed on-screen.
- EU or UK buyers: You may have a legal right to cancel under local consumer laws. Review our Buyer Protection Policy to learn more about the EU/UK Right of Withdrawal.
Note: Whatnot reserves the right to deny any cancellation request. Cancellations and refunds aren’t offered for buyer's remorse. Learn more in our Buyer Protection Policy.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
I bid by mistake and won. Can I cancel?
You can request to cancel your order, but approval isn't guaranteed.
Can I cancel my pre-bid?
No. Pre-bids can’t be canceled or changed. If you win the auction, you can still request to cancel your order.
My package is delayed. Can I cancel my order?
Orders can’t be canceled once they're in transit. What to do if your package is delayed.