eBay automatic messages and auto replies: how to set them up

By Brian, an eBay seller and the founder of SellerThanks · Updated October 2026

If you're typing the same few messages to eBay buyers every day, you can automate most of them. The words "automatic message" and "auto reply" get used for two different things though, and the best fix depends on which one you need. This guide explains both, what eBay's rules allow, and how to set them up.

Automatic messages and auto replies: what's the difference?

An automatic message goes out because something happened to an order: the buyer paid, or you posted it. You write it once and every buyer gets it at the right moment.
An auto reply goes out because you can't answer, usually because you're away. It's the eBay version of an out-of-office.

For most small sellers, automatic messages save far more time. They answer "has my order gone?" and "when will it arrive?" before anyone asks, so fewer questions need a reply at all.

How to set up an auto reply on eBay when you're away

eBay's built-in option is called Time Away. eBay says it lets sellers schedule an absence and tell customers with an automatic message, and that it's available to all sellers. You can either pause your sales or keep selling.

Open your eBay Account settings or Seller Hub and look for Time Away.
Choose your dates.
Choose whether to pause your sales or keep selling while you're away.
Add your message, saying when you'll be back and when orders will be posted.

eBay can change where its menus are, so if yours looks different, search eBay's help pages for "Time Away".

Time Away message example

I'm away until Monday 12th and will reply to messages as soon as I'm back. Any orders placed now will be posted on my return.

[Your name]

Can eBay reply to buyers' questions automatically?

Time Away is meant for when you're away, not for answering questions day to day. A buyer asking about their size or postage usually needs a real answer from you, and a generic reply can be more annoying than a short wait.

The better approach is to answer the common questions before they're asked. Put the answers in your listing, and send them in your automatic messages after the sale.

To be clear about what SellerThanks does: it sends automatic messages for orders. It doesn't read or answer the questions buyers send you. Those stay in your eBay messages for you to reply to as normal.

The three automatic messages worth sending

After payment. Thank the buyer, confirm what they ordered and say when it will be posted. For items with sizes, this is the time to catch a mistake before you make or post it.
When dispatched. Tell them it's on its way, with the tracking number if there is one.
Feedback reminder. A polite nudge once the item has had time to arrive.

Automatic message examples you can copy

The words in {curly brackets} are filled in for each buyer.

After payment

Hi {buyer_first_name},

Thank you for your order of {item_title}. It will be posted by {dispatch_by}, and I'll message you when it's on its way.

If anything is wrong, just reply to this message.

[Your name]

When dispatched

Hi {buyer_first_name},

Good news, your {item_title} is on its way with {delivery_service}. Your tracking number is {tracking_number}.

[Your name]

Feedback reminder

Hi {buyer_first_name},

I hope you're happy with your {item_title}. If you have a moment, I'd really appreciate your feedback. If anything isn't right, please message me first and I'll sort it out.

[Your name]

For more wording, see our thank-you message examples and dispatch message templates.

Are automatic messages allowed on eBay?

Yes, as long as they're about the buyer's order and follow eBay's member-to-member contact policy. The same rules apply whether you type a message or it's sent automatically:

Keep it about the order. Don't send adverts or unsolicited offers.
Don't include links, email addresses, phone numbers or social media accounts.
Don't offer to sell outside eBay.
Don't offer anything in exchange for positive feedback.

Our guide to eBay's messaging rules goes through these in more detail.

How to automate eBay messages with SellerThanks

Connect your eBay account and start the free trial. No card is needed.
Write your messages for after payment, when dispatched and the feedback reminder, clicking to add details such as the buyer's name, item and size.
Preview them with an example order or your latest real order.
Switch on the ones you want. Each message can be turned on or off separately.

SellerThanks checks for new orders every 30 minutes, so messages go out within about half an hour. You can see each one in your message history, and buyers' replies arrive in your eBay messages as usual.

If you sell items in different sizes, it can also attach a picture of the item at the size the buyer chose, next to a 50p coin.

Let SellerThanks send these for you. Write your messages once and they're sent automatically to every buyer, after payment, when you dispatch, and as a polite feedback reminder, personalised with their name and what they bought.

Try it free for 7 days, no card needed How it works

More guides: What to write in an eBay thank-you message, with examples · How to get more eBay feedback without breaking eBay's rules · eBay's rules on messaging buyers, explained · eBay buyer says the item is smaller than expected? How to prevent it · How to reduce returns on eBay: a guide for UK sellers · How to show the size of an item in your eBay listing · eBay dispatch message templates, with tracking · SellerThanks vs 3Dsellers: a simple alternative for small eBay sellers