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.

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EOIN ORR #7851
I BOUGHT A MOBILE PHONE PAID 149.99 PENCE FOR IT HAD TO SEND IT BACK AS IT WAS FAULTY EBAY PRINTED A CODE FOR ME TOOK IT TO PO WHERE I GAINED A RECIEPT .EBAY HAVE ISSUED ME A LABEL TO SEND BACK A SAMSUNG S9 CASE TO THE WRONG ADDRESS I HAVE TRIED IN VAIN TO CONTACT THEM NO JOY I HAVE BEEN RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND IT IS CAUSING ME GREAT DISTRESS REGARDS EOIN ORR
Margaret Bonson #7857
I recently ordered a Mahonia plant which was advertised in a 20 - 30 cm pot,When it arrived it was in a 9 cm pot, considerable smaller.O/N 22 10084 85244 item no 265350605556
marija #7869
Hi i wannt remove negative feedback. can someone help me?
David Goode #7876
I am an OAP and having trouble sending back an item. Would it be possible to have someone call me please. I dont have a printer and i don't know what to do.David
Richard Davis #7894
Had a email from you Earlier to say item ID235032160410 Silver Watch 1899 had sold for £50.Something is very wrong because it was listed for £175. How has this happened?
David Harris #7905
The seller that I bought a bike from says eBay have frozen his account, eBay have taken payment from me but won't refund
Xavier Reeves #7906
I wanted to know how to get my payoff for sold items of mine???
PAUL TAVARES #7907
I am so upset with ebay. I ordered 3 items and have been trying to process a return. I followed specific instructions online. The order number and item number I input is not processing. The history is saying I haven't ordered anything which I have. I simply want to return items. The seller is not responding back to me. Can you please contact me thank you
leshoole #7910
i have recently been suspended from ebay i was contacted by a buyer who offered me a price for several items i had listed i was aware of the ebay rule of no selling outside of ebay so i asked him to buy one of the items then i would invoice him for the other12 items. the deal never happened. so no money changed hands if this was the reason for my supension feel i have the right to apeal. also have not been paid for other items i have sold. i suffer from mental health problems and i joined ebat to help me with this, the suspension has affected me badly. i therefore ask you to look into my case with a view to releasing my money and reinstate my account.best wishesleshoole
Anonymous #7925
Hello there. I seem to be having problems with my delivery,in the recent past my items were delivered to unknown addresses the latest being yesterday. My address is clearly written with my eBay account but I don't understand why the delivery people not delivering at my address. Now I'm worried purchasing online items I regularly purchase from ebay.delivery's issues worried ebay customers.
Jan Harte #7926
I am unable to get a refund from a purchase through e bay. E bay information pages are most unfriendly and complex.Why can’t I talk to someone directly on the phone. Can you advise please
Mr Salum Abdallah #7927
Refund
Brian Kennett #7936
I just received a phone call from someone who said they were from eBay and that $295.00 was going to be taken out of my bank account for a purchase that I was supposed to have made,is this a scam
William Friedman #7938
NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE
Faith Smith #8010
So frustrating that you’re unable to talk to a live eBay agent! This has got to be changed for customer satisfaction promptly!
Stephen Melville #8021
We bought a fan off eBay and it overheated after 7 days ::: asked to return it for a refund but seller sent a corrupted return label ::: tried 3 different post offices even took it to main deliveries office in Wa51dx and he checked it and stated it was corrupted::: need this returned but seller won’t send new return label and we’ve got a week to return it ::: need help here
Mr chappell #8026
Hello i made an order for a garden host a and looked forward to it as i have meny in my garden.( but) when it arrived it was so dry and broken i just put it in the bin. (it was dead this is the first time I have made an order with this seller) I always order my host a plants from gardeners dream but they did not have this one. I am not asking for a refund but a replacement. ( Thank you god bless from mr chappell).
Keith Williams #8029
I want to know if this seller is legit and legal before I make any transactions.I want to purchase a vehicle but the last time I did such thing I have lost my money.I was send a name and address of the seller from eBay along with a order number and directions for payment transfer. If I provide you this Information can you check your ebay site and see if it is official and not a scam.
Randy Johnson #8035
Need a response for returned item
Tammy Bowman #8038
I bought a pair of shocks from Rough Country, I need to exchange them, but because I bought it as a guest I can’t find my order!!!!