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

Sheena Musgrave #6086
Hi I'm trying to sign in to my account but it's my old phone number please can you help as I have alot of items on there for sale
Sumant Chaganti #6113
Hii one fraud person talked to me and blackmiled me to pay the amount by purchasing the eBay gifts which was worth of 1000$ Actually he said and blackmiled me that I didn’t submitted the unique Id number in USCIS portal and he blackmailed me if you pay the amount with the gift cards of worth 1000$ I won’t take legal action against you otherwise if you don’t pay the amount of 1000$ I will take legal action against you and file a police case against me and also said he is the person who is one of the person working in USCIS organization so please try to help me by cancelling those 4 eBay cards of worth 1000$ and refund back the amount to my credit card
Janet Milne #6133
Iam trying to resolve a payment what was made on the 18th of Sept I haven't received it and the buyer is calling me a scammer do you have the direct number for ebay
Paul W #6139
HiI'm trying to get get back in touch with a potential buyer but when I enter my email and passwor, the mobile number that that shows does not relate to mine. how do I get this changed. Thanks
Rikki goodall #6145
I can't gets into account on my new phone
Walter Delgado #6150
They are charging me triple the amount.
JORDAN KALECK #6153
terrible customer service
Neil Sharp #6154
Account stopped- unable to obtain correct invoice and therefore unable to pay!
James Bany #6155
My account is suspended and there is no correspondence telling me why.I cannot bid or do anything. Please reinstate my account.Thank You,James Bany
Ludivina Young #6162
I have been scammed by your company. Mr. Michael took 1.548.80 from my account . While he was supposed to be refunding $151.80 .I was on the phone for more than 41/2 hours.I used an EBay number for the refund.
Bradley Hartzler #6165
Someone is using my card for purchases that I did not make.
Michele Azard #6175
Aucun respect pour les clients qui ont acheté en tant qu’invité
Mindy Shapiro #6177
My husband purchased an item from EBAY that has a terrible odor. I tried contacting EBAY with the order number and they wanted me to download two apps as well as giving them my debit card number.This seemed very odd to me. Why couldn’t they just look the order up.I need a refund and a return label and don’t have a clue who to contact.
Seth Zarecky #6178
I need help I need a contact number to talk too a customer service person
Maria james #6187
How can you contact them when the ebay site wont allow you to log on - you cant. All the phone numbers are a recorded message telling you to go through the site then it hangs up on you. About as much use as a chocolate teapot.
PIERRE KEDI EDOUMA #6197
Hi am here to know what to do if the saler declined my refund request?
Martin Tinsley #6199
Having trouble trying to change this email address to my current email addressNot allowing me to do this myself need to delete email address associated with account in favor of the new one will not allow me to do that keep saying new email address already taken I know I'm the one that has it
Robert wagoner #6218
I bout a knife and hadn’t received it by delivery I think and I messaged ebay money back guarantee. Well I think but won’t swear he was in that flood this summer in ky and he contacted me telling me he shipped it in boing that the money went back into my account and the seller never got paid and I have no way to get hold him order number 17-08976-12350 can u arrange to pay his cost of 60 or 70 dollars cause it’s not fare to him and I feel shitty 8-21-2022 this occurred not positive
Gordon Odell #6238
I AM TRYING TO CONTACT EBAY UK VIA PHONE BUT CAN FIND NO NUMBER THAT WORKS,I HAVE A ITEM THAT BUYER SAYS DID NOT ARRIVE BUT HAVE PROOF FROM THEM TODAY THAT BUYER IS A LIAR AND HE GOT IT ON THE 28TH OF AUGUST, HE IS TRYING TO ESCULUTE A NOT RECEIVED CLAIM STILL AGAINST ME.COULD YOU PROVIDE A UK PHONE NUMBER FOR EBAY FOR ME PLEASE AS URGENT.
kavan sajadi #6244
Hi I bought from e-bay and I paid for the item but I did not received a confirmation by email. This is my reference number 14-09180-16993