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

Naseem Mohammed #6677
Trying to contact EBay is absolutely disgraceful I call many may times but unable to speak to an operator not like PayPal someone is always their to HELP you this puts me off from purchasing anything from EBay such a big company like this should get its act together for it costumers
Ian King #6693
I received two of the same items but only paid for one. I would like to pay for the second one instead of returning it. How can I do that.
Melissa Clayton #6701
A package I ordered said it had been delivered but never came
Meeran Malo #6702
My account has been hacked
Anonymous #6705
Sick of trying to get help from ebaySellerbsays I signed for order received No no.I never got order .They say contact delivery service .Well how can I when I didn’t get it .Sickto dead of trying I’m 74 and haven’t got much time left at this rate
Bobby Lawrence #6707
I return a item that wasn't what I ordered I want me refund please
Susan murphy #6719
Seller wants me to retract my negative feedback Seller will not refund me ignored by seller ebey a waist of time can't speak to anybody am vunerabul them dirty sellers taking of advantage ebey is letting them do it going to to my ebey app dealeate the app
Monica Ronan #6721
I've tried so many times with on live texting to eBay to find out what happened to my order .They say I receieved it and signed for it .No I did Not.They even gave me Post Office delivery Code Number .No such record to that .Dead End .With Amazon kindness itself refund delayed delivery compensation .eBay Dreadful Sellers get away with it Customer just Tough .Best of luck "Pissed off"Happy Christmas xx
Amber Reece #6722
My eBay was hacked
pat Hewitt #6736
I have been trying to call eBay to pay extra fee. Don't have a PayPal account and the site won't let me pay by my credit card
Beverley Thomas #6745
I ordered an ironboard cover several weeks ago and I have still not received it or any emails concerning it.Hoping you can help me with my query.Miss Thomas
Justin #6757
I ordered 2 perfumes Anais Anais. I received 1 , the seller didn’t send the other one.My phone number is 8622453237
Anderson Chukkiriyan Stanley #6758
Hi, I am planning to buy a car. The seller told me I don't need to send the money until I receive the car through e bay. But now he told me to pay 500 cad as a refundable deposit. The 500 cad is for e bay's guarantee. He send me the order details about e bay . I need to check and confirm it is not scam.
Joseph Lee Smith #6767
Item not scanned Right
Hamidullah #6768
i purchased an item it’s saying the item is delivered but i haven’t recieved it
Philip Middleton #6771
Funds statusPayout initiated31 DecIn progress31 DecFunds sent31 DecWe'll provide the bank reference ID once it's available.Learn how payouts workPayout breakdownReceived funds£60.61Held funds£0.00Released funds£0.00Total payout£60.61Transaction infoTypePayoutPayout ID5724327980Sent toLloyds Bank ending in 8568MemoScheduled payoutCan you check i haven't received funds of £60.61
m taylor #6783
IM STILL WAITING FOR EBAY TO RESOLVE MY REFUND-SELLER SOLD FAULTY ITEM AND NOW REFUSING TO REFUND. IVE BEEN ASSURED BY EBAY ALL WOULD BE SORTED THIS WEDNESDAY-NOTHING RECEIVED!CONSUMER LAW BREECHED…I NEED TO BE REFUNDED BY RETURN AND WRITTEN CONFIRMATION APPLIED.I look forward your replyM Taylor-customer
Joshua Ortega #6797
Appreciate the advise here on resolving an issue that I let delayed a bit. So I send some auto parts back finnaly after they been sitting in my garage new and still in pkg. Ord. By mistake assuming needed the parts.
John M Morris #6799
My boyfriend Mike bought a tractor first time he ever bought anything on line and lost 3,000 dollars so for years we've stayed away from ebay.well I needed a Sim card for a phone I bought. I thought surely I would receive so.ething as small and simple as that and it's been 21 #ys and I still haven't received my shipment. It even shows it hadn't been shipped. I've sent emails to the seller to no avail.
Dion bennell #6808
I have tried to pay my eBay fees but eBay can't verify my debit card and I don't have another way to pay. Also it is damned impossible to get in touch with ebay to explain and try to resolve this issue I am getting demanding emails but until they verify my debit card I can't pay I want to pay I have the money to pay..... I am so angry