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 for Wendy Pisani

Jill Laing #6511
I wanna speak to someone on the phone it's ridiculous not being able to customer service is garbage
Wendy Pisani #6513
I ordered an item on Aug 3,2022 received an email stating the item was lost or stolen. I have requested a refund on or about Aug 8,2022 and I still have not recieved it. When can I expect the refund?
Frances Mackay #6536
I have been trying to sign into my by a txt code or email code eBay keeps sayingThey sent but Ihave not received any can you please help
Yuna choi #6545
I order pants from eaby oct 11 2022, order number 08-09206-01341 and I cancel it right away when I order it, they take out money right away $37.06, and I don't heard anything from them until now, I keep massage to them "ok, sent me that pants, they still not answer anything. Please help me, I love eaby, naver problem before like that.Taank you so much.
Shuford Swift #6549
I am a guest I'm not a member and I can't sign up to be a member I need to return a product this place is ridiculous the guy that has my money does not want to return my product
Gloria Acosta #6575
I would like to cancel a wrong item that order
Ann Waters #6580
I ordered on eBay seller mapul size 5 navy loafers new. Order no 27-0931457223 paid fir 9.11.2022 should have been delivered 11-14.11.2022 according to delivery instructions they haven’t left mapul I can’t get any answers and I will take the matter further if necessary
Chukwuemeka Ibeziako Nzenwa #6587
I was charged two times on two items, instead of one time.please could you reverse it and return my money back to my account. It should be charged one time not two times.
Darren byerley #6594
I paid for my items for gas heater to be delivered the person that's selling these gas heaters as contacted me to pay another 30 pound into to he's bank account for delivery so I did and know he asking for another 30 pound before he can deliver ,he's refunded me on ebay which I can see but he as taken other money of me thinking to me to be leave I was going to get my heaters
A waters #6598
The seller has been I’ll and he has contacted me and is sending the shoes today
Beverley sinclair #6600
I need my money back, or the goods I sent back item on time not my fault there is a postal strike
Joel Rosales #6608
I ordered an item I received it 2days later I received the.same item I need to return one of them
George m Pungratz #6631
I returned a propane heater item #304707005839 that was described as natural gas. seller said to return it which I did. it was returned by fedex on nov.30 at 12:51 pm and signed for by J.Jones (seller) tracking # 614574937640. My refund was denied, and my case was closed. I appealed and no response from ebay or seller!I need answers, and my refundSincerelyGeorge Pungratz
Donald Lascelle #6648
Ebay cannot find my order number or even why I can't registerOrder number: 08-09346-73301Item ID: 265838137094
Roxy #6655
I tried to login and it asked me to 'verify it's you' and gave me a code to put in when I called the number they gave me.. problem is the number they gave me was unreachable so now I'm stuck. Any advice welcome cause now I just can't login cause I'm seeing the same message everytime
Philip A. Kelley #6656
Ebay made a charge to my checking account on 12/6/2022 for $9.03, I need to know what this charge was for as soon as possible.
Sebastian Isaac #6660
Last week I ordered one AC power adaptor with power cord for My Lenovo laptop model G400)G500You promised the same will delverd to me at my Hicksville address by 7th December 2022.So far I have received any information about the despatch details of the same.Please send me an email at least when the parcel should deliver to me.Regards yours sincerelySebastian
Anonymous #6668
Need to retrieve previous purchases and i cant
Kym streatfield #6670
I am still waiting for my refund. Nightmare trying to find out how to email ebay? There is nothing to click associated with no refund given, they have put my complaint on hold !!! Useless crap service
DENNIS PODGORSKI #6674
CANT GET INTO EBAY ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERY OTHER SITE WORKS FINE. THIS JUST HAPPENED ABOUT 3 HRS AGO AND ALL I GET IS A MESSAGE THAT SAYS BAD REQUESTHELP