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, some issues may arise. So, it is essential to find the best way to contact eBay customer service.

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 quickly and efficiently. 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.

Whether you’re buying or selling, the company has eBay customer service support for potential issues.

eBay Questions and Answers

Number of eBay reviews – 47.7K

eBay rating* – 2.0⭐⭐

Claimed losses – $378M

Successful calls – 7%/430K

Resolved issues – 594

Key Insight

  • There are several options to contact eBay customer service if you face issues. You may use eBay live chat, phone numbers of the resolution center, social networks, and community. 
  • The eBay telephone number for customer service is not readily available on the company’s website. However, there are opportunities to reach the eBay resolution center to address general customer service issues, hacked accounts, or to report fraud.
  • If you need to start an eBay live chat, you should do it via your account and the “Help and Contact” button at the bottom of the 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 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 and wonder how to contact eBay by phone. Still, others have questions about simply how to handle eBay returns. They also want to know what eBay 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.

ebay help sectionSource: eBay Help and Contact

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 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. 

Contact eBay assistantSource: eBay Help and Contact

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 and are trying to find 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 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

Some consumers prefer written communication and sending emails instead of looking for a phone number for eBay customer service. 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.

You can also get in touch with customer service through the eBay live chat feature if you are logged in to your account. To use this option, you need to click the “Help and Contact” button at the bottom of the page, select the topic that is most relevant 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 “Chat with us” button and follow the instructions provided. Alternatively, you can access eBay live chat with the representative through the “How can we help you today?” page.

For a more general complaint, however, the automatic help chat feature redirects you to the eBay customer service number and gives 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 FacebookSource: facebook.com

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 Source: resolutioncenter.ebay.com

If you have an issue with a return and cannot find eBay phone number for returns, you can use the company’s resolution center. 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 telephone 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 present for most. The site has grown from a simple auction 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 Roxy

Mollie Sanchez #12699
Ebay should be put out of business! It's virtually impossible to call a human being from Ebay. They should be ashamed of themselves operating in the US. This is an awful company and allows fraud on a daily basis.DO NOT DO ANY BUSINESS WITH EBAY. YOU WILL REGRET IT!
Joseph Forster #12713
I have sold a book to Tomoulle-0, but the purchaser is having difficulty sending the payment. I have information saying that it has been paid, but also information saying that it has not been paid and no buyer's address. The transaction was done on Sunday, 3rd December. Could please inform the buyer how to send his payment. J.W.Forster.
Alaska moore #12743
Cannot log into my account
Yvonne Cullinane #12747
The seller didn't pay correct postage, I had to pay £1-50 to get my item delivered. It should have been free delivery.
Anonymous #12820
I don't have an ebay account and I keep getting emails telling me my account has been permanently suspended. My guest order was cancelled but I'm baffled as to how an account I do not have can be suspended.
Anonymous #12944
I am so sorry that I ever considered ordering ANYTHING from Ebay. This outfit epitomizes SCAM. Worthless, any transactions with them are certain to screw both the buyer and the seller. Of course they don't have actual employees to answer the phone. Who would even consider working for scum like this. This worthless operation should be put out of business immediately and permanently. I, for one, will do everything in my power to discourage people from using this site. They are basically stealing from people. I urge everyone to avoid Ebay like to proverbial plague.
richard yale #12981
I demand the money back on the phone along with the case and the warranty of the phone a few people can't come across and help me out I don't even have any have enough money in the account to to take care of any of this a few people can help me out at eBay without having to charge me that I want the money back on the phone and the case and the warranty of the phone and a story
Joanne vawter #13048
I am pissed!!! I’ve ordered and paid for item that still has not been delivered!!!! Is there no human being I can speak to?!!!! I am about to blow up social media with my complaints of horrible customer service and care! Item ordered should’ve been here before Christmas!!!! According to tracking it has sat an hour and a half away in Springfield Missouri for 5days!!!!! Im beyond angry and I think everyone else who’s been treated with such ignorant disrespect will be glad to vent all over internet with me!!!!!
Joanne Vawter #13049
Where is my order????!!!! Paid for and still waiting!!!!!! It was supposed to arrive Dec. 23!!!! According to tracking info it’s been sitting in Springfield Missouri for days a mere hour and a half from delivery address
Lorraine Barnaby #13061
End of November I order, thru guest not an Ebay account, 2 Hydro Flask Water bottles from seller gdlae-99 thru Ebay. I received 1 but not the 2nd. I have contacted the seller repeatedly, but to no avail. I just want to receive the 2nd water bottle or have that money refunded. Not really impressed with the ability to contact Ebay or the seller. Terrible customer service.
Viv Foster #13101
Over £600 has been removed from my bank account. Having realized the account was hacked I informed my bank. Now another purchase has been attempted via eBay and I have been advised this has failed. I wish to close my account with eBay but will this interfere with (so far non-existent) compensation claims. I am an elderly pensioner and totally appalled by all this . It is impossible to speak to a human being at eBay and my Bank informs me that since I have an account with this mob of thugs (aka eBay) my Bank will not recompense me for my losses. I am in England, by the way.
Chadrick Windham #13156
Return a package back now I try get my money back
Chadrick Windham #13157
Need my money back
Bert L Poirier #13222
My name is Bert Poirier. I have been contesting Seller versus the Buyer since right after his purchase on December 10. As you will note from the files, I advertised the computer as having no blemishes which is still my contention. I have many photos of what the computer looked like as I packed it on the day of shipment to him. There were no blemishes then, however the Buyer claims it was received with chips and scratches. The computer was meticulously rapped in bubble wrap and any blemishes which are present could only have occurred after the Buyer received the computer.The only reason I can think of why someone would do this is for them to demand a partial refund which is in fact what this Buyer did. I refuse to be extorted and have tried to keep eBay in the loop from day 1.Now the Buyer CLAIMS to have returned the computer. The computer was given a drop dead deadline for returning the computer by Jan 10, On Jan 11, I checked the USPS cite using the tracking number provided and this is what was on your eBay website "The item should already have been delivered.StartedDeliveredRefund by:Jan 16The item's been deliveredNow that the item has been returned, please refund the buyer.Tracking details. Without even going through all the hassle trying to figure out when (if ever) the chips and scratches occurred, the fact that the Buyer FAILED to comply the the return shipping date automatically disqualifies him from being eligible for returning the computer. Previously, eBay assured me that once I get the computer returned to me and look it over, I need to contact you to resolve this issue. I refuse to issue a refund. His extortion scheme should not be allowed to work. Why would I advertise a blemish free computer knowing fully well the Buyer would inspect it upon receipt as well he should. This is no longer something we should dwell on as the Buyer did not comply. Moreover, I noticed eBay is still after the Buyer to return the computer. IT IS TOO LATE NOW. He did not comply with the deadline.Finally, there is the issue of ME paying the return shipping label to him for shipping the computer back to me. I am demanding that I get the money back as well. Should the computer arrive, please inform me as to what I am to do with it.
Bert L Poirier #13223
In my opinion, Buyer received an impeccable computer (as advertised) but felt like he could extort money from me the Seller by asking for a partial refund. I have fought this every step of the way and I am depending on eBay do to their part and stop doing business with people like this guy.
Michael Greer #13618
I had 79.85 removed from my account and I wanted to know who it went to .I haven't purchased anything
Teri Johnson #13838
Got sold a broken safe the top don't lock.
Anonymous #14022
I was a customer Since 2017 I want item there was delivered, but I never received it. They will not refund me the money. I will never do business with eBay again. Do I get my refund you know just take money from people custom like me
Antonio J Wilson #14116
Ebay does not call you back and don't answer to help i click on us call you and they don'ti would like to talk to owner
Ralph scott #14276
Second time I ordered a package same one paid for it haven’t received it. What’s the problem?