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, eBay's customer service stays busy. Of course, that is assuming that customers can figure out the best way to contact eBay when a problem emerges.

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. 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.

eBay Questions and Answers

Number of eBay reviews – 29.9K

eBay rating* – 1.8⭐⭐

eBay claimed losses – $16.8M

Successful calls – 7%/270K

Resolved issues – 193

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

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. Still, others have questions about simply how to handle eBay returns.

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 section

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 phone number, you’ll eventually find options to chat with the company or have the company call you. The website does post the expected wait time for both of those options on the contact eBay page.

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. 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

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.

For a more general complaint, however, the automatic help chat feature redirects you to the eBay customer service number and give 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 Facebook

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 page

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 phone 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 gift for most. The site has grown from a simple auction website 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

Lucy m jones #2461
Just send my money back. I have got a lot of stuff from you all. But never again. I will not
Anonymous #2467
I have returned a jacket back to the seller at my own expense. Leaving me with postage and handling $17, and the jacket that costed me $50. The seller requested that EBAY review the case and that I should receive a determination within the next 48 hours. Just like that I have NO Jacket, NO refund and less the additional $17 for postage and handling. Please help thank you
Fernando Garcia #2468
I'm without the item purchased because it was mailed back, I'm without my refund, and now I'm without the $17 which I used to return the item. The buyer received the item and I have yet to receive my refund. Nor did I receive my refund and now the buyer has the jacket as well.
Sam Wallk #2751
I can understand the anger and frustration with them reprobates. I purchased an item Dec. 24, 2021 and my debit card charged but then was told the item I purchased was canceled because of non payment. My account was clearly charged and I can't contact anyone about the issue. The seller says he never received payment. Where did my payment go? I'm now afraid to ever use them again.
Randy Robinson #2469
I made a purchase at the end of August the package never left China as confirmed by the seller. They said they will send replacement will take 3-5 weeks it's been 8 weeks. The amount is $30.44 for a camera for my vehicle. I'm tired of them saying wait a little longer. After reading their reviews it seems I'm not the only one with this issue. I would appreciate my refund as soon as possible thank you
Brandy L Crawford #2472
They they sent me the wrong size when I ordered a Green Bay packer outfit the pants was supposed to be a medium and this shirt was supposed to be a 2X they sent me a large and pants and an extra large in the sweater
Sandra Listner #2483
I ordered a girl huggywuggy doll December 10tn2021 got a text it was delivered however I didn’t receive it. I have my order number and the time of day I placed my order I would appreciate my merchandise please. Thank you so much Ms.Kistner
James E. Randolph #2498
I'm responding to a "Accept Offer" and it tells me to contact customer service
Maurice Atty #2499
Man do not sell on EBay they have a ton of hidden fees and they still haven’t paid me on an item I sold over 3 weeks I’ve called in 5 times and every time the customer reps assure me that the problem concerning my Pay has been resolved I’m so frustrated I want to scream and throw my phone out the window, the customer service reps are very nice but no trained very well and have lied to me several times I’m very frustrated and about ready to speak to my attorney about how to move forward because this is just ridiculous *DONT SELL ON EBAY* use Facebook market place.
Jill #2662
I completely agree!! I hope more people leave. They are greedy and steal from their sellers. They don't have it together and they don't care about their small sellers. You also get the most hateful people in chat. They need a number to call.
Jerome Wilks #2502
Help me with an order that I never received
Leticia Cadena #2505
I do not understand why ebay is trying to do a recurring payment to my bank account, I have already been charged an overdraft fee recurring times, Please stop trying to get a payment from my bank account when I don't know why in the first place.
kegai4932 #2535
I bought an item from your seller that was a 100% false advertisement & it was broken, but it arrived on time so you people are giving them 5 stars when it was actually a reject that got sold for more than the originally listed price. I have e-mailed 5 or 6 complaints because it is fraud, I have called every darn number listed , all of which have been abandoned. You are now as guilty because there is no way to report it. You are NOT monitoring e-mails or you would know that the problem with fraud is that you can't take a picture of it & that seller knows it. I wasn't angry at ebay until it allowed them to berate me on the phone & gave them 5 stars for shipping a product that was both broken & never what it was advertised on time. I',m petitioning our presentatives to have e-bay's sales suspended or restricted in Florida as long as it continues to let vendors routinely defraud our elderly & handicapped population with no recourse. I'm about to have a stroke over this ridiculous policy & we have a governor that will force to make it right for our residents. This isn't the state to scam our people under a company umbrella that is known to the officials. If I don't get some sort of response or return call, or something of the sort, there will be public fallout. Happy new year. I am discouraged this experience is no better than scamazon & if you don't want people to go elsewhere, you should clean it up & fast. There is no excuse for missing 9 e-mail exchanges with no intervention. Originally the complaint was merely for the vendor's intententional deception & it's been since the 24th to resolve it. You'd think they wouldn't want to get caught but e-bay hasn't lifted a human pinkie! Thank GOD I never trusted the site with a bank card! The account would be bleached clean with no consequences..
Carol Ann Humphrey #2539
I ordered an Amethyst Tissue Box Cover & it arrived damaged in 3 places. I want to send photos of the damaged item & get a refund. Please help me with this. I’d like to speak to someone. I’ve been dealing with this for several weeks with no help from EBay. I feel I am due a complete refund for this purchase.
Deb Brown #2548
I am trying to return within return limits and seller refusesProduct was pathetic
Deb Brown #2550
Fraudulent seller did return on Dec 30 and she declined it even though it were Dec 30She told me these boots were like new they are horrible worn stretched out and expensive I want my money back
Paul Williams #2559
They sent me the wrong package how do I send it back
Lel #2606
eBay is ridiculous and unreasonable to block my account and I’m extremely angry. I’m a new user and just listed two items, which definitely do not violate any of eBay’s policy. One item is a travel size face cream I bought from Sephora, new with box. The other was a Kisskitty handbag. I don’t know this brand very well, but I can see its style does not copy any big designer that I knew.Then I received two offers for them. I accepted, bur the sale was canceled by eBay, saying that the buyer account was suspicious. That’s fine. However, my account became restricted right after that. It’s very wired. I have no other activities on this app at all: I had sent no message to no one, posted no fake item, wrote no misleading information for item. I found no way to contact any real agent to solve my problem and it’s really frustrating. Such a ridiculous company. I cannot believe such a large organization can’t really do their basic professional job.
DENISE FAUSTINO #2690
I want to sell on ebay. I am having a hard time connecting to Pay Pal. I just want to put my Debit card on to start selling on ebay but I can't get anyone to help me what can I do to start sellin on ebay what is the process that is all I want to know. Thank you
Joy Hilton #2704
Not received refund from seller - not got back to me - when u try to contact through feedback - she no longer there and not eligible for cobtact
David Strohfeldt #2709
I placed order on Dec.20 2021 and haven't received it. even though money was taken out of my account.Order#18-08012-86053 Should have gotten it Dec 23 2021.
Anonymous #2753
Same thing happened to me. I paid for an item and it was cancelled for non payment even though my bank card was immediately charged. No way to contact them yet I paid and received nothing!
Dean #2711
eBay is the worst!!! They harbor bait and switch thieves. Just purchased new wranglers posted with a stock photo. I received old souled dirty rags. eBay money back guarantee does not work. Shop elsewhere. The whole operation has become too big, out of control and greedy!
Anonymous #2752
So true. When a company can't deal with the problems their users have their done!