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

Luis valera #5905
Im reviving my item incomplete i cant contact with the seller
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Drema Nutter #5912
I placed an order for a Sauter sewing machine table through a buyer called buerspath On August 10. I paid $259 and found the item on Amazon for 135 and contacted eBay to send back the one through ups. The buyer issued a return tag And it was picked up on UPS on August 14. I cannot find my order under my email my telephone number and there is also another ID on my account that I did not create. I want my money back today.
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Zachary maas #5918
Like spending $10 on a game and not getting the CD for it Now I can’t even contact you because you won’t even accept my email eBay {{{Redacted}}} no wonder why you guys got a 1.8 star review never using you {{{Redacted}}} again
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Colin Michael Blundred #5926
I have purchased a armchair of yourselves and have had a bad time sorting it out as i have had to return the item twice. If you check your e-mails i surrgeusted that i return just the base unit to which you said this was exceptable, so i returned the base unit.the second delivery the box with the chair in it never left the lorry as the driver pointed out the damage to the box and chair, eventually i received a chair that was alright, you have asked me to return the rest of the chair ( which is boxed up and has been for over a week ) I have printed a reur label and fixed it to the package, Would you let me know when a couirier will collect it. Mr C M Blundred.Order No 17-08955-23081Reurn No 5218206854Item Id 361606550419I will think twice in purchasing anythink from ebay again because of all the hassle i have encounted in purchasing a chair. ( But i am pleased with my chair even with all the hassle i have meet ).
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Dave Johnson #5928
I have been trying to get a refund on a 02 Harley Davidson Dayna I paid the $800 for bike then it said I had to pay $600 for insurance which I did then it said I had to pay another $600 for customs tax an that tax has to do with livestock not vehicles so now I'm done with it all an would like my $1400 I've already paid refunded thanks Dave Johnson
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Alan moore #5929
If I am not talking on THE PHONE to an Ebay op on the next 10 minutes I am closing my account 0927900053. Let me see how much you value my custome
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Mohamed Adam #5965
I need to change the order I place it last night which is dress shirt with matching tie. I want to pick up another color shirt with a different color and different necktie. Is that possible
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walter d hilpipre jr #5988
I sold an item on ebay and the buyer paid for it and left a great review 4 days later after receiving the item. Ebay not only withheld 159 dollars but refuse to send me my money for 30 days all while using my cash for whatever they choose. I highly recommend never selling on eBay ever, there are plenty of other ways to sell stuff
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Katrina lambert #5996
Hi I received my steam mop from ebay and I have missing items, no instructions with what bits are for, no measure cup, and no microfiber pad to clean my carpets, floors with. Tracking number is 48....please can I get these missing items sent to me please, as I've paid £37 for something I can't use.
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Mary Bullard #6029
I am missing an item I would like this issue resolved.
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Pamela Jones com #6035
I received the wrong jacket. I purchased a Southern University Jaguar jacket and I received a Golden Rams ASU jacket. I am so dissatisfied.
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David mitchell #6039
Hi eBay my name is David Mitchell I order a dvd movie name delta force 3 and got a Gmail alert that my package had arrived but the mail man did not drop anything off I ask my next door neighbor they told me they not see anything that the mail man drop off my address is {{{Redacted}}} that's my correct address so can your help me find my dvd movie that I order on eBay from David mitchell
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Yousely Jean- Baptiste #6046
I will like to return my items pls
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Leslie Shaw #6047
I open a return request but ebay closed it down been trying to contact them with no response it's a bloody joke
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Leslie Shaw #6048
Buyers beware big red
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Ted #6051
Your customer service is horrible can’t talk to a live person. You lost two purchases today. Going to order elsewhere.
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DL Betterton #6075
I purchased item #363842594745 order #03-09071-39521, which was a misrepresented item. The Tory Burch emblem was missing from the left boot and there were holes in the boot where the emblem had been. The seller conveniently didn't show in the picture. I contacted the seller and they refused to refund the money, said I should have inspected the item more carefully, you can't inspect something you cannot see and I want a refund for their dishonest.
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Jason Hamilton #6078
Hi,I have a debt collection agency chasing me and I don't know what to do. I'm really concerned about this as I have not used my account for a couple of years at least,
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Cris #6080
I ordered a countertop ice maker and protection plan on August 26th for $223.58. The seller is Studiocoffe who is based out of Indonesia. I did not know that about the seller when I placed the order. The ice maker never came. The seller claims it was delivered and provided usps tracking # that said it was delivered on Sept. 2nd. The post office says that the package with that tracking number weighed 5 pounds and was delivered to the address on the package which was not my address. The tracking printout that says it was delivered says to the front porch or door but does not list the address. An ice maker is much heavier than 5 pounds. The post master believes it is a scammer. Ebay said that I had to work with the seller until today. I got no where. Today I got 2 messages from Ebay that said the case is closed because the seller provided a tracking number. I filed an appeal and have not heard back.
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Yvonne Spencer-Payne #6085
Hi, I bought a commode from a seller but it was not suitable for my disabled son. I I formed the buyer and was told to send it back for refund. The tracking from agent I bought fir showed delivered on Friday morning last Friday. Since then I have been trying to contact the seller and he has refused to answer and to refund me. All I am asking now is for my refund to be sorted out. Order was on the 1st of sep. Order number 22-09044-98509
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