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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Kevin Clinton47 #2913
I purchased a used passenger door on the 8th of December and haven't received
Veronica Sebuck #2954
I must tell you that I am very upset with your customer service. I have tried many times to reach a live human being regarding a problem I have with you and apparantly you don't want your customers talking to someone live.I called ebay and spoke with a gentleman named George Wilson - at 661-414-0681 in Santa Clarita CA. I told him I was wondering why my refund for the make up that was returned as it was was not on this months bank statement and he told me he could help me . However he asked me to give him more information than I thought he needed tofor my simple question And like shame on me I trusted him and gave him address, phone, creditcard etc and then told him I would not continue the conversation and hung up. I trusted and was screwed so I tried to call you to report this incident - he told me his ebay number is1096 and his badge was EY33285 . Now I can't explaini how this all happened when he answered EBay and I Believed him but you should have some way a customer can reach a LIVE human and not on line all the time, I did cancel my credit card immediately but I want you to be aware of what is going on and know that I am very nervous what might comeout of this!!!!!!!!! Veronica Sebuck
Lisa Hunter #2980
I am trying to send a guitar that I bought back to the owner. The guitar can not be tuned and feels like when my son is trying to use it it doesn’t feel right. I have got a email stating that I was blocked for life. I absolutely confused. Can you please check in to this and get it working so that I can send the guitar back
Taurean.Knighton3 #2983
I am trying to purchase a car off of offer up and they want me to pay thru ebay motors and I want to find out if it is a real offer
Duke Aubert #2990
Left my house keys in a return u guy's received 1/12/22! A leather coat Duke Aubert!!
gracey donaldson #2991
I ordered a part for my car and used the wrong shipping address on monday the 10th and cancelled it right away but then 3 days later my cancellation was denied. it hasn’t been shipped so there’s no reason it should have been denied. i need my 80 dollars !
Kim Cote #2995
I have NOT RECEIVED the items that I ordered on December 18th and my card has been charged! EBay says SEND the PRODUCT BACK. I CANNOT SEND something back that I NEVER RECEIVED!HELP !
Scott Farmer #2997
Somehow my address was changed and I know I'm not the one that did it. My items were sent to North Carolina and I live in New York state. The sellers have told me that they can't do anything about it so I want a refund for both of my items. I have been trying to call eBay customer service all night and everytime it's a dead end. I want my money back!
Anthony Fuda #2998
I can get in to my account says I'm suspended but I have never sold or baught anything so I don't know what I did wrong
AJ DAgostini #2999
I purchased a phone and a warranty through EBay. Phone comes just fine but the company that sells me the $32 warranty never sends me anything and never responds. I go to contact ebay and you basically tell me to go pound sand b/c there is no Ebay Gaurantee for that purchase. Stupid me, I didn't check the feedback until after the purchase and this SquaretradeUs has 23,000 negative reviews. Are you trying to piss off your customers? Shut this scam down now! The only resolution path that Ebay gave me was to reconnect with a seller that doesn't respond. Order # 07-07923-34127
Menchita N.Par #3002
Im regular costomer of ebay 15 yrs ago already ,starting 10/29/21until 12/7/21 ebay to hard to contact and still now i did not recieved my refund total $3.774.81 i want my money back to my visa credit card .
Dexter Ray #3003
How do I get warranty information and service on a purchase. I purchased a Hit Box welder that has a 2 year warranty. It stopped working at almost the 1 year mark. So far I can’t get a response that includes how I’m supposed to take advantage of the advertised warranty. The only response I’ve received is a cheerful “ yes Hitbox has a 2 year warranty “. Then nothing more. That’s absolutely no help.
Menchita Par #3004
Im regular customer of ebay im trying to contact ebay because iwant my refund bact to my visa credit card total $3,77481 starting 10/29/21 -11/1/21 $11.33 & 11/11/21-11/12/21 -$286.20 & 11/12/21-11/15/21 $319.38 & 11/12/21-11/15/21 319.38 &11/13/21 -11/15/21 $319.38 ,11/15/21 -11/18/21 $319.38 & 11/15/21 -11/18/21 $319.38,11/17/21-11/17/21 $49.59 ,$ 11/17/21 -11/24/21 $51.58 & 11/18/21-11/18/21 $560.95 & 11/19/21 -11/11/21 $496.11 &12/7/21 -12/7/21 $722.03 total3,774.81still now i not recieved to refund my money & send back in my visa credit card 4 digit 6672 i want return my money back pls since month 0f october is to hard to contact ebay to request to refund money back no ebay customer contact any money pls help me. Before lm going to the consumer dept to file complain. Againt to ebay. Thank you.
Jorge #3007
On november 4 2021 i order a spare tire for my 2000 toyota Corolla was cancel but was charge to my debit card didnot got my money back
Frank Bennett #3009
I recently bought a foglight assembly through ebay but it doesn't fit my 2018 chevy equinox. I reordered the one I hope is the right one. I am trying to return the wrong one for refund but need to know where to send and who pays to ship back Thank-you!
Allen Stoller0 #3013
Based on my last experience with ebay, I will never ever order again from eBay as long as I live. We just got a divorce. Rotten service, rotten sellers.
Montana Ingold #3031
Pleas Help! Order # 22-08069-54630 and read return details. The seller was dishonest about condition and refuses to accept full responsibility .It appears he was also able to erase my and others negative feedback! I am still waiting for a full refund as the book was returned almost immediately by mass media. Please look into this as it is very alarming ! How did E Bay let this happen?
Linda Dwyer #3049
I frequently purchased things from ebay. I have been blocked out of using ebay. I did nothing wrong and was a good customer. Therefore, I use Amazon now. I did like the unusual things I could buy from ebay and MIGHT do so again if allowed! Why was I blocked?????????? I would like to know even if I do not buy from you again.
Jacklyn Jones #3052
I purchased a box of matches for$10.00 bot they sent me a small $1.00 box of matches. I want a refund. Thank you.
Anonymous #3053
Your customer service system is worthless.