Change your shipping address before the seller ships

If you have not yet paid for your item, you can change the shipping address during checkout. Open your eBay cart, select the item, and look for the "Shipping address" field. Click it and enter your new address. The address must be confirmed by eBay before you complete payment — if you type it incorrectly, eBay will flag it and ask you to verify.

If you have already paid but the seller has not shipped, contact the seller through the eBay messaging system within the item listing. Go to "Purchases," find the order, and select "Contact seller." Explain that you need to change the shipping address and provide the new one. The seller can cancel the order and ask you to repurchase with the correct address, or in some cases will update it on their end. Response time varies — some sellers reply within hours, others within a day or two.

Do not change your address in your eBay account settings and assume the seller will see it. The seller only sees the address you provided at checkout. Changing your account address after purchase does not automatically update an order that has already been placed.

Key Takeaways

  • Before you pay, edit the shipping address in your cart and let eBay verify it to catch typos.
  • After you pay but before the seller ships, message the seller through eBay's messaging system with your new address.
  • The seller can see only the address you entered at checkout, not changes you make to your account settings later.
  • If the seller has already shipped, you cannot change the address — you will need to refuse the package or arrange a redirect with the carrier.
  • Always double-check your address before clicking "Pay" to avoid delays and the need to contact the seller.

What to do if the seller has already shipped

Once a seller marks an order as shipped, eBay does not allow address changes through the platform. At this point, your options depend on how far along the package is in transit. Check your order status to see the tracking number and current location of the package.

If the package has not yet left the eBay fulfillment center or your local post office, you may be able to redirect it. Contact the carrier (USPS, UPS, FedEx, or DHL) directly with your tracking number and request a change of delivery address. Most carriers charge a fee for this service, usually between $5 and $15, and it works only if the package has not been out for delivery yet. Call the carrier's customer service line or use their website to start a redirect request.

If the package is already out for delivery or has reached your local post office, redirection becomes difficult. Your other option is to refuse the package when it arrives. The carrier will return it to the seller, who can then reship it to your correct address. This adds time — typically one to two weeks for the return, plus shipping time for a new package.

How to prevent address problems before checkout

The easiest way to avoid this situation is to verify your address before you pay. In your eBay account, go to "Account" and then "Addresses." Make sure your default shipping address is correct and complete, including apartment or unit numbers. eBay will not accept addresses that are incomplete or do not match postal records.

When you are checking out, eBay shows you the address it will use for shipping. Read it carefully — do not assume it is correct just because it came from your account. If you see a typo or need a different address for this particular order, change it in the checkout form before you pay. Once you click "Pay," the address is locked in and can only be changed by contacting the seller.

If you move frequently or have multiple addresses, consider adding them all to your eBay account. Go to "Account," select "Addresses," and click "Add address." You can then choose which one to use for each purchase during checkout.

Contacting the seller: what to say and what to expect

When you message a seller about an address change, be clear and polite. Include your order number, the item name, and both the original address and the new one. A message like "I need to change my shipping address for order #123456789. Please ship to [new address] instead of [original address]" is direct and gives the seller everything they need.

Sellers are not required to honor address change requests, but most will if you ask before they ship. Some sellers ship the same day you pay, so the sooner you contact them, the better. If a seller refuses or does not respond, you have limited recourse through eBay — the platform generally sides with sellers once payment is received, unless the seller explicitly agreed to the change and then did not follow through.

Keep the seller's response in your message history. If a problem arises — for example, the seller says they will change it but ship to the original address anyway — you will have proof of what was agreed to.

Using package redirect services

If you realize the address is wrong after the package ships but before it arrives, some people use mail forwarding services. The USPS offers mail forwarding through their website, but it typically takes five to seven business days to set up and works for all mail, not just packages. This is useful if you are moving, but not if you need to redirect a single package quickly.

Private redirect services like UPS Mail Innovations or Amazon Logistics' address change options exist, but they are designed for ongoing forwarding, not one-time redirects. For a single package, contacting the carrier directly with your tracking number is faster and cheaper.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my address after I have paid but before the seller ships?

Yes. Message the seller through eBay's messaging system with your new address and ask them to update it before shipping. Most sellers will do this if you contact them quickly, but they are not required to. Response time varies from a few hours to a day or two.

What happens if I refuse a package that was shipped to the wrong address?

The carrier will return it to the seller. The seller can then reship it to your correct address, but this adds one to two weeks to your delivery time. Some sellers may ask you to pay for reshipping, though many will cover it if the error was on your end.

Can I change my address in my eBay account settings and have it update my order?

No. Changing your account address does not change an order that has already been placed. The seller only sees the address you provided at checkout. You must contact the seller directly to request an address change.

Is there a fee to redirect a package with the carrier?

Yes, most carriers charge $5 to $15 to redirect a package to a new address. The fee depends on the carrier and how far the package has traveled. Call the carrier's customer service line with your tracking number to request a redirect and ask about the cost.

How long does it take to change an address if the seller agrees?

If the seller agrees and has not yet shipped, they can update the address when ready and ship to the new location. This usually happens within 24 hours of your message. If the package has already shipped, you will need to use carrier redirect services, which can take a few days depending on the package's location.