Request to cancel an order

If you’re a buyer and want to cancel a recent order, you can submit a cancellation request before it ships. The request goes to the seller, who decides whether to approve or decline it. If it’s approved, you’ll be refunded and the item won’t ship.

Bids on Whatnot are binding. If you win an auction, you’re expected to complete the purchase. You can still request a cancellation if something went wrong, but seller approval isn’t guaranteed. Review our Community Guidelines for details.

On this page: 

• When you can request to cancel
• Seller approval and response time
• How to request cancellation
• Common questions about cancellation

When you can request to cancel

You can request to cancel your order if:

• The seller hasn’t created the shipping label yet, or
• It’s been less than 24 hours since the order was placed, even if the label was created

You can’t cancel an order after it ships.

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 and What Actions We Take.

Seller approval and response time  

Sellers have full discretion to approve or deny cancellation requests: 

• If the seller accepts, the order is canceled and refunded
• If the seller declines or doesn't reply within 48 hours, the order is final and will be fulfilled

Exceptions to final sale

In some cases, Whatnot may make an exception to final sale and step in to review cancellation requests:

• 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 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. We don't offer cancellations or refunds for buyer's remorse.

How to request cancellation 

You can request to cancel individual items you’ve purchased on Whatnot. 

If the item is part of a bundle, and your request is approved, only that item will be canceled. You’ll be refunded the shipping costs you paid for that specific item. The rest of the bundle stays unless your requests to cancel those are approved too. 

After you request to cancel an order: 

• The order status changes to Pending Cancellation
• The seller is notified and has 48 hours to respond
• You’ll be notified when the seller responds
• Review cancellation status from the order details page

Common questions about cancellation

I accidentally bid on something and won. Can I cancel?

Yes. If you placed a bid by mistake, you're welcome to request cancellation from the seller, but approval isn’t guaranteed.

Can I cancel my pre-bid on an item? 

No. Pre-bids can’t be canceled or edited. If you win the auction, you can explain your situation and request cancellation from the seller. 

Can I cancel an order if my package is delayed?

You can’t cancel an order after the item has shipped. Learn what to do if your package is delayed. 

How long does a refund take after cancellation?

Once a cancellation request is accepted, refunds usually take 3–5 business days to appear on your original payment method. You may see the refund as statement credit or the original charge might disappear.