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 Mark powell

ben #15495
bought a volume control wireless remote thru eBay, want to return but there is no record of it on my eBay account, yet I have from Ebay confirmation of order, however trying to get thru to Ebay to have them correct this is like pulling teeth and tearing out your hair, they have made it so hard it's like they want to discourage you and hope you will just go away.
Boris Zindel #15568
Sorry I ordered wrong Size I wonte send back to the seller.I never open still have origenal packidg Boris.Tank you for help and cooperative
Seller is a scammer #15782
Seller guse-07 is a scammer. I bought an outdoor propane grill weighing 26 lbs. Instead of shipping the grill, he slapped on a USPS label with my correct city, state and zip, but a completely different street address (which USPS confirmed but can not provide). USPS also said the package associated with my tracking number was a 7 oz envelop. I filed a complaint, and eBay denied it because the package was delivered. I appealed the decision, and eBay still denied it because the packed was confirmed delivered, even though they can not confirm the physical address. Since the delivery was "confirmed" eBay is not doing anything to record the seller as a scammer or anything to refund my $165 payment (which they guarantee). eBay provides no other recourse for a buyer so I'm screwed.
Anonymous #15918
Talked with seller about center rims. I tried to contact them bf 30 days with no availability. I text the seller and explained those rims are suppose to be guaranteed fit but they were not. Talked with the seller and he was so rude and actually hung up on us. I went to modern chev and spoke with them. Those rims or center pieces are not guranteed fit as stated. They asked for a picture to be sent and he is goung to send one when he gets back to his residence. Those are poor quality parts and also the color is coming off. I ask them for my refund back. Thank u for your help.
Chris Lloyd #15951
For some reason you restricted my account, I have no idea why. I would like to buy from you again, how can we make that happen?
Richard Cole #15960
I tried to pay for a purchase. The message from eBay was "Sorry for the Interruption",but we feel you may be a "bot". Tried to speak with agent. They NEVER call you back. My bank and Paypal say my account is not blocked. How can I pay when no one at eBay will help??
Nancy Ellmore #15982
In the past year I have delt with five deferent sellers that where trying to scam sending a package to the wrong address, but close enough where it will say it was delivered. This time I have a picture of the house it was address to and it is not mine. It takes weeks before anything is ever done if EBay does anything at all meanwhile they have your money and every day interest is being charged on Your card. eBay does everything they can not to reimburse you your money. Meantime, they do not do nothing to get rid of these sellers. I have no problems on Amazon with this not once has this ever happened with Amazon. It’s starting to seem like eBay is in on the scams.
Linda Molitor #16223
I have tried all of the channels of communication with eBay since February 24. I have called to talk to agents three times and ended up in a country far, far away. I have talked to people who are nice but I don't understand them easily, and obviously, they do not understand me. None of them have helped me solve my issue even though they tell me that they will. I have written many emails and suspect I am writing to AI which is following a script. No help at all--suggestions asking me about my problem on their feedback page do not cover the issue. I wrote a three page letter to Customer Support,Corporate Office, San Jose, California on July 11 this year with notes, names, ticket #'s of people I talked to, and copies of all emails I have sent---13 contacts to date, pleading for help. AI interpreted a feedback on an incomplete transaction as a negative. Neither eBay nor agents read any of the emails sent to eBay or the customer/myself, or they would see the customer did NOT send a negative feedback, which he states himself. I had a 100% feedback prior to this customer. My feedback has now dropped to 66.7%. My item said "LOCAL PICK UP ONLY". This customer asked me to ship to him in Arkansas. I am in Chicago area. I immediately cancelled his order and refunded explaining why I could not ship. eBay has not answered my letter with proof of my complaint and it is August 1! Who wants to buy from a seller with 66.7% customer satisfaction rate?
Austin #16260
I need someone from ebay to call me .Thank you
John Hall #16653
Seller not returning messages about car cover. item says life time warranty & 100% waterproof. After 10 months the cover failed, it is deteriorating and leaking. Have sent seller refund requests with no reply..
Leanna Mcgee #17000
My eBay gifts have not arrived yet