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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Miriam Suarez #3255
I order the windshield wipers for my Nissan Versa 2010 I received the front ones, because the order was separately but the windshield wipers for the rear window did not arrived and I need my refund of $10.97
Brian Clarke #3261
I have been blocked from eBay purchases i have made numerous prior purchases but now every time i try to purchase something i keep getting messages telling me to change my bank details WHY ?.
Susan n surles #3264
No number works. I am calling the attorney general. The buyer tried to force me into illegal transfer of drugs to complete the transaction. Could not get an answer from anyone. Will NEVER use them Again.
Purnima Mehta #3270
I have received the product but it's useless and neither any support from eBay or seller.You got my money, seller got money what about the customer who are very disappointed with your business.No contact number. In my account it not showing my items which I order like Amazon does.I want to speak someone urgently.Mrs P Mehta
Anonymous #3273
So I have chatted with several customer service representatives.Have asked them not to send me to where they are asking for a refundable $1.00 fee.... because I have had to cancel my banking cards. They still send me there.Yes I was scammed.I thought that I was buying a vehicle thur eBay motors. I bought eBay gift cards loaded with money and sent them the scratch off codes.I didn’t get suspicious until they asked for more money to insure the vehicle.Now eBay won’t help me because I can’t send them a dollar. That the say is going to be refunded. Really???
Richard Smith #3275
I have a shithead i bought what suppose to be a 1 gram gold bar from and its not even a half gram. I sent them pictures and its obviously short intentionally and they are refusing to make it right. I want what i am owed.
Stefanny #3280
I can't register to eBay after trying several times. There is an item that has not arrived yet, and I'm trying to contact the seller but no one has answered me. I need the item urgently.
Diane Martindale #3301
I have a case open right now on an item I DID NOT receive. I spoke with someone from eBay 2/9/2022, Rose is her name. She explained that my order would be monitored and someone from eBay would call me the next day, 2/10/2022 and asked me what a good time was to call me. I told her 6:00 pm would be perfect and she assured me someone would call. I sat by my phone from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm and no one called.The next day I had an appointment of town; as I was driving home my phone rang. I couldn't answer the call since I was DRIVING. I later saw my missed called was from eBay. What!? They were supposed to call me the day before at 6:00 pm. What was the point of asking me what a good time was to call me if they weren't going to call me back at the time I gave them. What's with calling me during the day the next day when I couldn't answer my phone. I'm unable to contact eBay to speak with someone and I'm growing very angry about this. Can you help me?I would like some help regarding an order I DID NOT receive by speaking with someone at eBay, please
James Gembala #3302
eBay has the worst customer service out of any company I’ve ever dealt withThere employees are untrained , have trouble speaking the English language clearly and only objective is to lie to you and say there escalating the case !! That’s all they ever say .. you can’t speak with the right department! Because that department doesn’t exist !! I strongly urge anyone reading this to stay away from the eBay platform as you will only end up frustrated and angry
James Gembala #3303
eBay will also restrict your account and leave you with no way to resolve the situation.. they keep your money and you will end up in a nightmare scenario of never ending phone calls , messages and a staff of untrained, limited ability to communicate workers , who’d rather lie to you and get you off the phone … it’s a literal NIGHTMARE with NO END IN SIGHT … beware!!!!
Ellen Crowdy #3305
I had my card stolen 5 days ago and when I checked my online banking someone used it on eBay it was not myself so I have lost alot of money for goods I haven't received I have blocked the card but it was used before I could my driving licence was stolen with it is there any way I can get this money back I'm really not happy I've been in hospital having cancer treatment
Anthony jarry #3312
I have been trying to return an item to partsforless2014 but they said I needed to talk to you,I filled the return you have and when I was finished it said close but that’s not what I thought it was and instead of closing the form it closed the action.I still need to return this item to the seller
Danielle Columbo #3316
I placed an order on January 27Order # 22-08186-0375. I paid in full through eBay Seller is cjbutler75(258)I have emailed seller and have not been able to receive—a RESPONSE. IT is now February 14 and I have still not received my products products are supposed to be delivered on February 6, 2022 it apparently shows in the tracking system that they have not even been in transit yet I would like to know immediately what can be done about thisID# 22452002666Tracking 9461208205498562380747SincerelyDanielle
Derek R Moots #3319
I'm suing eBay in Small Claims court for incompetence and lying! I'm a Tier 1 Status Seller, and contracted Covid last month, which had me reeling for a couple weeks. In that time I screwed up two buyers order by not sending the amount they bought correctly. When I got better I was notified of what happened and quickly corrected it! I let eBay know what happened to me and why there were a couple problems, which eBay fixed on my reviews, which were impeccable previously. If you ever call eBay you'll hear the famous term they all say "No Worries". If they say that WORRY! They just do lip service for the most part and don't handle the problem or guide you correctly to handle the problem internally afterwards in their system, even if you ask directly about it? Bottomline is they don't do much or anything at all after getting off the phone with you for the 17th time in my case. They haven't paid me one dime for the entire month of January 2022, and I would normally get paid 2 to 3 times per week. After hearing the 5th person tell me, "I don't know why your account isn't activated yet?" I've just had enough, and filed a $5,000 Small Claims Court Suit against them this week! This is how they treat the people who make them money, not matter how much you make them?
Joyce Livesay #3320
Your representative did not understand my problem. But she continued to refund buyer #2 instead of contacting buyer #1 and requesting she return the order for buyer #2 to so I could send it to buyer #2Results of your actions: I’m out $33.00. And buyer number 1 has 2 orders, one of which she DIDN’T ORDER OR PAY FOR!I have been trying to contact buyer #1 for a week. I gave her my phone number. She has not called or messaged me. THIS ORDER WAS HER FIRST ORDER. SHE IS NEW! LUCKY ME! And, I had NO help from eBay!This is what happens when an Ebayer (me) cannot talk person to person to an English-speaking representative. It is hard to understand non-English speaking representatives AND they very rarely solve my problems.
Angela Craven #3335
Evidently you don’t want me to use eBay any longer. I gave y’all my number u called acted like u couldn’t hear me, it’s sad that y’all prey on people not computer savvy, do what you do, I dust my shoes off I’m done trying
SANDRA STEGALL #3339
I PAID FOR A JOGGING SUITE AND ONLY GOT THE JACKET NOT THE PANTS
EMAD #3340
HiI sall item today and the buyer asked for refund.I try to send full refund but it's saying refund can't completely it's something wrong
Anonymous #3341
eBay sent me a product that I didn’t order cost me $400 I’ve tried and tried to get a hold of customer service to resolve the issue there’s no way to talk to human being this company is a rip off and should be prosecuted for stealing money from people I will never ever use eBay for anything again you’re fucking thieves
Mrs bowden #3353
Not received ear phones ordered from eBay seller dollar point this was ordered a few weeks ago