eBay Time Away (vacation mode): pause or keep selling while you’re away
eBay’s vacation setting is called Time Away, and every seller can use it (it used to be “Vacation Settings”, for Store subscribers only). You choose between keeping sales open with a notice, or pausing them.
Allow sales or pause sales?
| Allow item sales | Pause item sales | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum length | 15 days | 30 days |
| Listings | Still visible and buyable, with a Time Away message at the top | Fixed-price listings hidden from search and can’t be bought |
| Delivery dates | Updated automatically | — |
| Auctions | — | Still visible and buyable, with a message |
When you pause, it takes 1–2 hours for listings to hide, and the same to reappear. When Time Away ends, listings come back automatically — no editing needed. Buyers who had your item in their Watchlist or cart see a message that you’re not processing orders until your end date.
How to schedule it
- Go to My eBay → Account settings → Time Away settings.
- Select Schedule Time Away.
- Choose Allow item sales or Pause item sales.
- Set a start date and end date, then Apply.
Time Away starts at 12:01am on the start date and ends at 11:59pm on the end date. eBay suggests starting a day or two early to handle last-minute orders, and ending a day after you’re back to catch up.
To end early, go to the same page and Cancel Time Away or move the end date.
What still applies while you’re away
- You still need to ship orders sold before your start date, and answer open buyer requests about them.
- eBay fees continue, including listing-related and Store subscription fees.
- Delivery dates aren’t updated for some items: Second Chance Offers, auto-accepted offers, pending counter-offers, offers you made that were accepted during Time Away, local or in-store pickup, digital items, and athletic shoes eligible for Authenticity Guarantee. Consider changing their handling time or shipping option before you go.
Set an automatic response
Under Time Away settings → Automatic response, select Message when on Time Away, set dates and type your message. A few examples:
After a long break, views can take a while to pick up again — see eBay sales dropped if they don’t.