Rebecca Garland
Rebecca Garland
Business and Education Expert

Many people have made buying and selling on eBay.com a profitable business model. But not everything works perfectly all of the time. With so many sellers trying to compete for buyers and so many buyers trying to find the best price on the items they are looking for, some issues may arise. So, it is essential to find the best way to contact eBay customer service.

eBay.com is a website with millions of users. Not all of those users are satisfied, and when something goes wrong, they want to be sure they can contact eBay customer support quickly and efficiently. Unfortunately, looking at the sheer volume of eBay complaints online on sites like PissedConsumer, GlassDoor, and the BBB, contacting the company isn’t as simple as many customers would like.

Whether you’re buying or selling, the company has eBay customer service support for potential issues.

eBay Questions and Answers

Number of eBay reviews – 47.7K

eBay rating* – 2.0⭐⭐

Claimed losses – $378M

Successful calls – 7%/430K

Resolved issues – 594

Key Insight

  • There are several options to contact eBay customer service if you face issues. You may use eBay live chat, phone numbers of the resolution center, social networks, and community. 
  • The eBay telephone number for customer service is not readily available on the company’s website. However, there are opportunities to reach the eBay resolution center to address general customer service issues, hacked accounts, or to report fraud.
  • If you need to start an eBay live chat, you should do it via your account and the “Help and Contact” button at the bottom of the page. 

How Does eBay Work?

When eBay.com was first introduced, it was strictly an online auction. Very soon, however, the business model expanded, and eBay.com became not just an auction site, but also a prolific platform for buying and selling.

Sellers bring new or previously used merchandise ranging from figurines to RVs and vehicles and set a price or set up an auction. Buyers use the eBay search feature to look for the specific item they want and either bid or pay for the item like any other retail site. The seller then ships the item to the buyer.

There are quite a few moving parts in a transaction, and that is why so many customers look for eBay support. Unfortunately, like any website that brings buyers and sellers together, some are unethical. Many eBay complaints include issues with the buying and selling process. But many other negative eBay reviews have concerns about the platform or account issues and wonder how to contact eBay by phone. Still, others have questions about simply how to handle eBay returns. They also want to know what eBay phone number for returns is.

eBay's customer service fields complaints about purchased items that never arrive and payment issues. The most prominent articles in the eBay help section are about payment issues and hacked accounts. These are common issues customers complain about when they contact eBay.

ebay help sectionSource: eBay Help and Contact

What Are eBay Pros and Cons?

Overall, PissedConsumer users find more disadvantages in eBay than advantages. The most common issues concern difficulties contacting eBay customer service and getting refunds, faulty delivery, and fraudulent sellers. 

Some reviewers say that there are too many cons to enumerate. Still, the pros, such as affordable prices, great variety of choices, and convenience, are persuasive enough for consumers to shop on eBay.com.

Pros

  • Good prices
  • Variety of products
  • Convenient to use

Cons

  • Poor customer service
  • Not reliable shipping
  • Refund issues
  • Fake sellers

How to Contact eBay Customer Support by Phone?

The eBay customer service phone number is not readily available on the company’s website. If you dig through the help section in search of the eBay telephone number, you’ll eventually find options to get help from an automated assistant or contact an agent. Other options include a returning process and reporting an item that hasn’t arrived. 

Contact eBay assistantSource: eBay Help and Contact

While the company offers to call you, many eBay reviews express frustration with trying to contact the company on their own terms. Customers want to call eBay directly and are trying to find how to contact eBay by phone. While it might not be heavily publicized on the website, there is an eBay customer service phone number available for customers to use. You can reach the eBay resolution center by calling (866) 961-9253 for general customer service, (866) 348-9519 for hacked accounts, or (866) 643-1607 to report fraud.

Reaching eBay.com customer service by phone can be tricky, as one customer discovered. In his review (#2928911), the frustrated customer explained that his credit card was used fraudulently. Yet despite calling the various eBay phone numbers, the poster has not been able to reach a live representative, even a month later.

I have called several numbers found on the internet and NONE has been a good contact number. There is NEVER a LIVE agent available to speak with me.

How to Contact eBay Customer Service via Email

Some consumers prefer written communication and sending emails instead of looking for a phone number for eBay customer service. However, eBay's customer service does not list a general email address on the company’s website. If you dig a bit through the automated help chat feature, you can find an eBay email for specific purposes. A fraudulent eBay email, for example, can be sent to spoof@ebay.com and the company will record the message.

You can also get in touch with customer service through the eBay live chat feature if you are logged in to your account. To use this option, you need to click the “Help and Contact” button at the bottom of the page, select the topic that is most relevant to your issue, and follow the link. At the bottom of the page, you'll see a section labeled “Need more help?” Simply click the “Chat with us” button and follow the instructions provided. Alternatively, you can access eBay live chat with the representative through the “How can we help you today?” page.

For a more general complaint, however, the automatic help chat feature redirects you to the eBay customer service number and gives you the option to have the company call you. If you choose the relevant issue from the eBay support menu, you may see an option to email the company for specific issues. Otherwise, you will find the most eBay help by chatting with an agent, having the company call you, or calling the company directly.

One eBay.com user explained his issues with limited communication options in a video review. In his eBay complaint, the user explained that he had decades of positive feedback on the website, but had his account banned for life after a customer complained to the company rather than him.

Additionally, when he tried to contact eBay.com about the issue, he finally got some answers after “chatting with 2 customer support reps (who both hung up on me) who both said I am banned and they cannot disclose why due to eBay policy.” Despite positive ratings on all of his orders, the user was cut off from the service and no email was ever sent.

How to Contact eBay Customer Service via Community and Social Networks?

eBay support does have an online presence on social networks. While you always have the option of using the eBay customer service number, you can also contact the company through Twitter or Facebook. To contact eBay help via Twitter, ask questions using the @askebay handle.

There are many eBay complaints and questions available on the company’s Facebook page (@ebay) as well. Through the eBay Facebook page, you have the option to post on the company’s wall or contact the company through messenger. Some customers leave their thoughts and complaints in eBay reviews by tagging the company or commenting under their posts.

eBay comments on FacebookSource: facebook.com

How to Contact eBay Resolution Center?

The eBay resolution center may be your best option to sort out issues specifically between buyers and sellers. Inside the eBay resolution center, you’ll find resources specifically for buyers and sellers regarding transactions. In the resolution center, eBay customer support provides information and acts as a sort of mediation service when issues do arise.

eBay resolution center Source: resolutioncenter.ebay.com

If you have an issue with a return and cannot find eBay phone number for returns, you can use the company’s resolution center. If you have an eBay complaint, you might start by finding the specific purchase in your account through the eBay.com resolution service. The links provided will take you to your bought and sold items where you can see unpaid invoices or items shipped.

When you drill down into specific transactions, you are presented with options for how to contact or call eBay. In some cases, you may find options for an eBay email. You may be able to cancel transactions or send additional messages to sellers as well.

The options inside the eBay.com resolution center will be specific to the type of transaction you’re concerned about. In many cases, you may get more targeted support working through the resolution center than by calling a generic eBay telephone number.

eBay, Inc has become a powerful force in buying and selling online. Customers can find just about anything they might be searching for through eBay.com, which makes an eBay gift card a great present for most. The site has grown from a simple auction to a massive selling platform for just about every industry in the world. While some customers run into trouble with eBay's customer service, for many others, the platform may be the only place they can find what they are looking for.

*The company ratings on the PissedConsumer website are calculated using a mathematical algorithm that evaluates the information in the company’s profile. The algorithm parameters are: users’ rating, the number of resolved issues, the number of company responses and more. The PissedConsumer algorithm is also subject to change in the future.

 

Legal disclaimers:

  1. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide any legal, medical, accounting, investment or any other professional advice as individual cases may vary and should be discussed with a corresponding expert and/or an attorney.
  2. All or some image copyright belongs to the original owner(s). No copyright infringement intended.

Leave a Reply

Ross E Maniaci #3749
Trying to track a package can’t seem to find any information on it
frank senior #3759
Can you please tell me what I purchased on 16 / 18 March in sum of £21.99. I also made a charity donation £1.00 on the same day.
Peter Velasco #3770
Ordered a set of headlights, and wrong ones arrived. Set up a return/ refund and sent them back. I sent them back and the seller received them on March 8th. It is now 20 days later and still no refund.
Robin Charnock #3772
Iv'e bid on an item with a starting price of £250, my bid is £351. I am currently the only bidder so why is my current bid winning at £350? as the only bidder the current winning bid should be £250. Is this an auction?? so why are ebay ripping me off? in a real auction the current opening bid is £250 full stop.
Gene smith #3777
I sold a coin that had the wrong description of coin but the picture was right .what sould i do allready sent 2 emails to customer with no reply should i send the coin that was pictured?
Peter Sotolongo #3785
Hello trying to return a watch that doesn’t fit seller will accept return but eBay won’t do it I’m not getting stuck with watch
Rick Watson #3786
Post a phone number please
Monika Gallardo #3789
I need to follow up about my refund it was suppose to be done Monday and I don’t see it on my account I need someone to call me back
Zeno Wilkes #3791
I'll like to return a item that was worng
Marty M Cormican #3799
The seller sent me a return label through a message here. I am not able to print that out what should I do
Sandra Elaine Turner Watts #3800
Where is my package from ebay can someone please respond
Lisa A Kropp #3808
We are trying to order the item Maybelline Expert Wear Eye Shadow 23OS Constant ToastAccording to your page if you order for or more you can have the item for $21.75 as opposed to the original price of $23.39, however we we tried each time it only calculates the higher price. I would appreciate it if we could get some help as the page seems to be malfunctioning.Thank you,Lisa Kropp
Graeme Bruce #3810
I purchased a 300kg weighing scale. The seller advertises that they use Australia Post as their courier. Australia Post is the fastest courier from the East Coast of Australia to Perth Western Australia. Fastway Couriers is the slowest and I have previously had to wait for 3 months for a delivery with Fastway. After purchasing the scales I immediately added a note " PLEASE DO NOT USE FASTWAY OR ARAMEX COURIERS. PLEASE CANCEL ORDER IF YOU INTEND USING THIS COURIER" When the item showed as being sent I checked ORDER DETAILS and it showed sent with AUSTRALIA POST. I then checked the tracking No. and it had been sent with FASTWAY. I contacted the seller immediately as the item was still in the Sydney warehouse so he could have cancelled the order and had it sent back to him. I didn't know how to contact ebay so the only way I could think of was to claim that I wished to return the item. Because I needed the item urgently I purchased another item the same from a reputable seller who uses Australia Post. I was notified by ebay that I must pay for the item to be returned to the seller by 7th April 2022. I won't have the item by then. Why can a seller falsely advertise that they use Australia Post and then add in the ORDER DETAILS that they have sent it with Australia Post. I have lost $69.00 . What is the point of adding a note when the seller ignores it and deceives the buyer by saying it has been sent with Australia Post? Can you please explain this to me? Thank you.RegardsGraeme Bruce
Forrest Hennington #3811
Message says suspended, why?I recently purchased a wheel, don't sell anything, no issues so why suspended ?
GRAEME BRUCE #3812
Why does ebay let sellers falsely advertise and deceive buyers?
GRAEME BRUCE #3813
Please read Fastway Courier reviews and you might understand why I am angry at the seller who sent my order by Fastway instead of Australia Post as he advertises and as he had deceived me by putting in order details " sent with Australia Post" I had added a note on the order " PLEASE DO NOT USE FASTWAY OR ARAMEX COURIERS. IF YOU INTEND USING THIS COURIER PLEASE CANCEL ORDER" The seller ignored my note and went ahead and sent with Fastway because it was cheaper. Seller tried to deceive me by putting in ORDER DETAILS " sent with Australia Post"The seller advertises that they only use Australia Post. False Advertising. I had to purchase another item the same from a reputable seller who uses Australia Post as I needed the item quickly.. Why does Ebay allow sellers to advertise Falsely? It's cost me over $60.00
Rick Beyett #3815
I need to talk to someone.i paid for a generator.now seller will not reply. and it's saying item is no longer available.want my money back.Rick Beyett
Thomas J. Cassel #3828
Hi, Why have I been suspended from ebay? I don't owe anybody any money, or anything else. please let me know your reasoning and how to be reinstated. It has been a couple of months now. Way too long. Sincerely, Thomas J. Cassel
trevor gonga #3830
you are not replying to me regarding my parcel delivery,which was schedule to address in altringham,u had contacted your team by email,to let them know there would be a change of delivery address to 9 tolchurch,dartmouth close london w111dt,your team are not replying to my messege.
Cyrus Saghafi #3835
Dispute the auction result