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 Raymond F Aiello

HELEN Edwards #6812
I ordered a book for my mum for Christmas, it never arrived, seller said it was delivered, it wasn’t, tracking shows it was delivered to wrong address,wrong postcode, eBay said they investigated and no refund, surely if it is posted to wrong address it’s the sellers fault, not the buyer
Tonie #6814
Need to no when I will get my refund back on my card
Mansoora Haidary #6816
I ordered my item on the 25th of December and still have not recieved it .The order number is 19_09502_85106
Edward Griffith #6822
Never deal with eBay again your crooks when it comes to returns you keep half my money I’ll will bring you down
Terry Goebel #6829
I need help returning item. Order number 4065710 . Presto stainless steel 6 qt. pressure cooker. I need a return label.
Mark Sewell #6835
Im having problems with a seller
James R Byrd #6847
I bought a bra for my chevy hhr and and it's nothing like the picture I don't like it will make my car look awful and the directions said it had to be installed in 70 degrees are warmer it want be that hot here for 3 months or more and I can't afford to put it in a heated shop and pay to install it I just want to return it thanks
Keith beetham #6851
Im trying to buy something off a seller but he hasnt dome the postage right he put freight and ebay wont me buy untill he has changed the postage to free postage .and ive commited to buy but its his fault for not correcting the priblem .and i dont want an item strike
William Kidman #6876
I cannot access my eBay account saying I need to verify by phone. This is not acceptable. I am a longstanding member of eBay.
Anita nitzsche #6878
I am a pissed buyer. I did have a case filed #5309343873. I received my refund today. I’m dissapointed that I didn’t get printer and I would like to know why. I had one just like and it died. Was I buying from a bad source? I may never try this again. I just want to know why and how you got my money back. Before I ever buy on eBay again.
John Gill #6888
I ordered a German army parka they say it was delivered but I have never recived it
Md shoriful islam #6911
I have ordered a battery but did not get it yet.I had tried a lots to communicate but is not getting any way. I have ordered number and items number. Please help me.
Darrion Dunbar #6912
Ok to whomever this mssg reaches at this point but im trying to validate a seller of vehicle from this site and would like some assistance to do so !...
Raymond F Aiello #6916
Still trying to get my account closed after almost 20 daysVery bad service, another reason why after 18 years, I no longer want to do business with E bayPlease close the account asap
Anonymous #6919
I would like to talk to a human,by phone not through text about refund
Colin Cosgrove #6922
This is a joke. I cannot log in and when I try it tells me to call a number. I call and it can't recognise my voice and tells me to go to the website which then sends me back to calling ebay this is all i get and have pent 3 days trying to speak to someone.
Susan pugh #6924
I spoke this morning to hannah told me tonreopen my dispute with PayPal rhey told me to contact you again as paypal need rhevteacking number if thebparcel inreturnedvtone bay you r ecieved it this morning have you got tge tracking number on the parcel because paypal need it thanks please help because u bought the item through ebay but paidcwith pay pal the item was sent back as faulty I have Alzheimer's and I'm a bit slow but need some help
Paul Walsh #6928
Please could someone please give back to me bye phone I need to speak to someone I have bought an item on eBay and it was a lot of money the seller won’t speak with me and what I was sent was a box of bits and pieces and I just don’t no what to do thank you Paul walsh my phone number is 07526 029172 thanks
Phil Harwood #6931
I want you to finally release my monies from my sale of the golf club I have not received any micro payments to confirm my account. Get real and stop making monies off others in YOUR ACCOUNT very dissapointed
David Slade #6937
I am trying to log into my account but cannot every time i press send code by text i get nothing. {{{Redacted}}} in case you have it slightly wrong, can you help as my account has over 1100stars. Thanks Dave.