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 Lulu George

Ira kloss #7077
Had a seller return item shipped back to address on file item was never received can't log into account can you tell me what the deal is or where my item may be
Lulu George #7088
Wrong item sent from the seller. Requested for red colour jewellery set. But got green coloured set ( Crystal bridesmaid jewellery set) which I don’t want.)
Daniel #7102
My account has been suspended and I don't know ow what to do I have funds that was ment to be payed out to me but hasent could someone from ebay please call me so I can resolve my problem.
Trimmane Clarke #7106
I ordered an item on ebay on the 9th of march item # 26-09793-55155 from yesterday I waited no1 contacted me no 1 email to why it hasn't arrived I tried a million times to track it at this point I don't want it no more I just want my money back & I will never shop with this company again nore will I tell anyone else to ..I have never had this issue with Amazon
WAnda burns #7472
Waiting for my refund
Charlie McGill #7481
Every thing stated above is total BS eBay has no direct Contact chat or phone and once an order is in the system for over an hour you have no option to cancel it even if it has been days and the Seller has not yet shipped it. All the numbers above direct you to a text link that is Auto attended and not human.I wish Sites like this would stop misinforming Buyers on eBay.eBay dropped it Human Support over a year ago and pissed off Consumer should get on their Game?
Bob Wood #7482
I have a buyer who cancelled a buy. I was late responding and his money is still in my account. I approve of the cancellation.Secondly I have not been able to update my account; the system will not let me.
David Bushnell #7483
I am sorry but my seller has sent my item to the wrong post code and it has still not arrived. I find it extremely cheeky that you charge a £1 admin charge to speak to a tech advisor?Is this really a way to run a business when you are holding a gun to the head of your customers!This item left Australia 15 days ago and is a vital item so can you look into this for me with an email reply please?
Jason Fraser #7493
I will in future not deal with eBay and deal with amazon trying to speak to a live person on eBay is virtually nil I need to cancel most of the items bought thru eBay but the delivery date is too late as I will be away in India when those items arrive and need confirmation of my cancellation and refundJ Fraser
Tom R Coughlin #7513
I have yet to receive my order: 11-09620-XXXXX.Tom
DeVmel 2 #7621
Yes I sent my package back to seller he told me I would get money back after the package arrived I have still yet get my refund. After a week I still haven't heard from the seller and ebay want do nothing, then I opened a return back which return has been gone for a tried numerous times to get a hold of ebay no way of getting in touch unless you cancel return. Now that's its cancel ebay refuses to pay me my money back
Trevor Graham #7695
HelloA short time ago I sent for an item intact it was 2 of the same item which was thermal vests,a short time later a package arrived which was ripped open if you ask for a copy of the camera short what the man took it showed the rip,I removed the thermal vest which was left and the size would not have fitted an adult more like a child.I contacted the seller which I have not to date received a reply,I was asked to leave a comment which I stated how disgusted I was and received a reply from ebay stating Don't worry we will be responsible for the problem they asked for a photo which I do not know how to transfer photos to a computer I offered to send the item to yous if you sent me a returns bag. I then received a email from you asking me to send it back to the seller with a cost to me of a possible £8 more than half the cost of what I sent for I am not responsible for this I in good faith sent for an item which had been tampered with you have stated you will be responsible for this which I think is only right, I wish to have a full refund, Again I have the email you sent stating that you will take responsability, I have felt with ebay for many years and I will stop if you refuse to deal with this issue.
Karlos Theodoros #7701
I have a pending case form Nov/22. I ordered a dvd from newst*4678 shop in China.Fisrt I never received item.Contact them again on 01/23 they said shop closed due covid 19. At 20/01/22 they contacted me to resend item at 31/01/23. Once again nothing received. At 02/23 they contacted me to refund my money. I agreed .At 20/02 they asked for my account on paypal.I geve it. At 23/02/23 they told me "money sent".but no money fefund to my account .From then they do not answer my e-mails.Is there any way to get my noney back ??I send you the link with to follow the order Thank you in advance
Aset #7703
Item I haven't received it. I have called several times but they have not answered. I have a complaint
Joseph s Lewis #7716
I have been waiting for my payment for five weeks, nothing is being done!
JANICE THOMPSON 434-990-0212 #7719
I purchased (Sold by undergoodsOrder number: XXXXXXX Order date Apr 10, 2023Item no 256028568103)The seller said this was a plus-sized dress size 2X. It was not. I received a dress that was for a preteen. very small. made in the orient where the women are small. She/he will not let me return the dress for a refund. Please help me.
Jennifer bain #7726
Item arrived unusable
Michael Lent #7727
I sold something on eBay last night. I did not receive a notification via email that the sale had been made. I found out about the sale by going to my sales site on eBay. This is the second time this is happened. I contacted eBay before and they said they had contacted me. They did not contact me that time and they did not contact me this time. Somebody better communicate with me.
Sam #7731
I was deceived by a salesman in Ebay, and despite my continuous attempts with the company, promises were only without action can you help me that
Elain wilkinson #7742
My account has been suspended and not sure why can you help me