How to Contact eBay Customer Service to Resolve Issues?

eBay is a great place to buy and sell, especially niche items. But plenty of eBay reviews tell us things don’t go right all the time. eBay doesn’t sell items itself—it’s a marketplace between buyers and sellers, which means finding the right eBay phone number for a seller can be tricky.   

With at least 133 million active buyers and sellers in a given quarter, there is a lot of potential on eBay – potential for smart buying and potential scams. One of the top eBay complaints is trying to find solutions when something goes wrong. How do you contact eBay? What is the eBay customer service number? How can you get help to resolve the issue at hand? 

Fortunately, contacting eBay customer service is straightforward. 

Number of eBay reviews – 48.1K

eBay rating* – 2.0⭐⭐

Claimed losses – $378M

Successful calls – 7%/430K

Resolved issues – 616

Key Insights

• eBay has several contact options, including eBay live chat in real-time, a phone resolution system, and social media accounts. 
• The eBay support number isn’t easy to find online, but you can contact the company like many others when you reach a company via PissedConsumer. You also have a chat, social media, and eBay email support options.
• Some issues can be solved by choosing to contact eBay seller accounts directly. You can also chat with the “Help and Contact” button at the bottom of any eBay website page. 

How Does eBay Work?

When eBay.com was first introduced, it was strictly an online auction. Very soon, however, the business model expanded, and the company 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. However many other negative eBay reviews have concerns about the platform or account issues and wonder how to contact support by phone. Still, others have questions about simply how to handle eBay returns. They also want to know what eBay’s phone number for returns is.

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.

Source: ebay.com

How to call eBay customer support?

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 telephone number, you’ll eventually find options to get help from an automated assistant or contact an agent. Other options include a returning process and reporting an item that hasn’t arrived. 

Source: ebay.com

For most situations, the only option is to arrange a callback from eBay. 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 the company directly and are trying to find out how to contact eBay by phone. 

While it might not be heavily publicized on the website, there is an eBay customer service phone number available 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 consumer discovered. When their account was locked due to login attempts, one customer called to reset his password at eBay's request. This consumer claimed the “agent was the worst experience I’ve had with a company.”

He [the agent] totally doesn't listen to my issue and just reads off a script they tell every customer over the phone for such cases...  I would have to call them back in 24 hours, and he literally hung up the phone on me without even listening to what I have to say.

Another complained about how hard it is to arrange a callback. In their review, they shared that they sent “6 emails to finally get a callback” and then were “blown off” by eBay. Ultimately, they closed their account after eBay backed a buyer in a dispute.

What is eBay customer service email

Some consumers prefer written communication and sending emails instead of looking for a phone number for eBay support. However, 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.

How to contact eBay customer service via live chat

If you are logged in to your account, you can also contact customer service through the eBay live chat feature. To use this option, click the "Help and Contact" button at the bottom of the page, select the most relevant topic to your issue, and follow the link. At the bottom of the page, you'll see a section labeled "Need more help?"

Simply click the “Contact Us” button and follow the instructions provided to narrow down the various choices available. 

Source: ebay.com

Once you're in the more general categories, you'll find various help articles with more information, and on the left side of the page, you'll also see an option to start a virtual chat.

Source: ebay.com

From there, a chat window will pop up asking you questions about your problem to connect with you the right information or eventually to chat with or arrange a callback from an agent. 

Source: ebay.com

For a more general complaint, however, the automatic help chat feature redirects you to the eBay customer service number and allows you 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.

How to reach eBay customer service via 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 many social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter.)

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.

Source: facebook.com

How to use eBay resolution center?

The eBay Resolution Center may be your best option to sort out issues, specifically between buyers and sellers. You’ll find resources for buyers and sellers regarding transactions. In the Resolution Center, eBay customer support provides information and acts as a mediation service when issues arise.

You might use the Resolution Center for:

• Canceling an order
• View and work with disputes and issues related to items you've sold (or are trying to sell)
• Report missing items
• Return items to sellers
• View purchase history and the various interactions with those sellers.

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 than by calling a generic eBay telephone number.

To use the eBay Resolution Center, start by clicking one of the three available options for buyers or sellers. If you have an eBay complaint, you might start by finding the specific purchase in your account through the resolution service. The links provided will take you to your bought and sold items, where you can see unpaid invoices or items shipped.

Source: resolutioncenter.ebay.com

Once you have clicked through to either your Sold items or your Purchased Items, you will see action items for recent orders as well as specifics of the items themselves.

Source: ebay.com

By clicking on more actions, you have the option to contact a seller or seek additional help with the item as needed. 

Unfortunately, the Resolution Center doesn’t work correctly for everyone. In the review #4609789, a customer noted that they had “spent hours trying to get to the resolution center,” and after typing their information “so many times and fingers are bleeding.” They claim the company makes “it impossible to get something resolved.”

Making eBay Work for You

eBay is a powerful platform that connects millions of buyers and sellers. A smart consumer knows that a good deal only works if it’s a safe one. That’s why it’s important to vet each seller and know the best ways to call eBay if things go wrong. Customer reviews tell us that it can be challenging to sort out issues when something goes wrong but that there are plenty of fabulous finds to discover when things go well. Make the most of the site by shopping safely while keeping the eBay customer service number closer at hand! 

*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.