eBay - www.ebay.co.uk

I have been an Ebay user for round two decades, buying and selling (I mainly use Ebay to buy books and, occasionally, to sell odd bits and pieces).

Over time I have noticed a gradual but consistent decline in Ebay's customer services along with consistently rising charges.

To give an example I recently sold an item, the buyer decided it was not for them, which is perfectly acceptable and, under UK trading laws the purchaser has fourteen days in which to return an item, albeit with the return at their now expense. The buyer notified me of the return and, as soon as I had proof of posting I issued a refund. Ebay, however, charged me for the return. Their website giving vague reasons as to why a purchaser may choose not to pay the return. As it happens I intended to refund the cost of the return postage to the buyer once I had received the return and verified the postage costs - I do this as a matter of course - I do not get many returns and I detest paying the return costs on an item myself, so I do not feel comfortable expecting somebody else to pay it. In this instance Ebay took the matter out of my hands and charged me the postage fee, without my permission (a breach of UK banking regulations) and when I tried to contact them I found that it is through AI and it is incredibly difficult to get an answer. As a result I no longer feel comfortable with this corporate entity holding my bank details. Due to this incident I am going to close my Ebay account. I have found out, with very little effort, that most of the business users I have bought from via Ebay trade on their own websites, and at a cheaper price (which is, of course, logical when one takes into account that they will paying Ebay seller fees to trade on there but not directly).

In summary Ebay get only 2 stars from me, and it would only have been 1 star had I not used them for purchases mostly successfully over the years, but as a seller they no longer meet the minimum standards I expect.

for months now ebay have been ripping people off more bidding on auction that is not even in real time and when auction it apparently finished it continues another 2-3 minutes

ebay auction is NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE NOR IN REAL TIME

I recently placed an item on Ebay for sale. After some time I received an offer, which I declined. I then received a second offer, also declined. I then received notification from Ebay that my item had sold and that the money, less fees, had been sent to my account. Also, Ebay sent me an address label.

When I clicked on the link to the label, I was informed there was a variation in the address. I contacted the supposed purchaser, through Ebay. No response. I contacted Ebay Chat, who suggested I contact the buyer again. I did. No response. I contacted Ebay Chat again. (Now it becomes very interesting). After relaying my problem, the Chat was ended. I received a copy of the Chat in my email inbox. Surprise, surprise, nothing had been recorded! I logged into my Ebay account, Messages. Surprise, surprise. All messages pertaining to this offer were vacant. Not a trace!

I concluded from the above that whomever was perpetrating this worked for Ebay. This is purely my opinion from my own observation. I went on and tried to close my account with Ebay, but Ebay won’t let me. I then received a message from my supposed buyer confirming delivery address.

My advice, purely from my current experience of what happened in Ebay, is that if you use Ebay at all, be very careful as there is something very wrong. If I had sent off the expensive item to the address sent to me, there would have been no comeback on Ebay because the messages concerning the offer and Ebay’s email to me telling me they had credited my account which originally appeared in my Message Box on Ebay all disappeared without trace!

After 21 years with eBay and a 100% Feedback I finally called it a day. Beginning of march 2020 I purchased 3 polo shirts from a seller called "Clothing Shed" When they arrived one of the shirts was ingrained with dirt, so i sent it back. After a sort period (week) I asked for my refund and they told me they had sent a replacement (allegedly) which never appeared. They wanted to contact royal mail to find what happened to it. I agreed.This was all part of their plan to over run the eBay involvement. To cut a long story short. I have tried to find a customer service phone number for eBay to no avail.If you ever come across this seller. Stay well clear. I believe this seller works out of a flat in Camden London.

I do love ebay. I have found some wonderfully unique pieces of furniture and vintage clothing on the site - an ercol coffee table and rocking chair, huge brass lamps, ceramics from St. Ives, all at reasonable prices. It may take some searching, but that's part of the fun.

With countless thousands of products available, it seems a good place to buy. However, be aware that despite their pompous sounding safe to buy and buyer protection, there is actually neither. Any so called protection expires after thirty days... so the sellers string you along for that long by promising refunds that never arrive or replacements that don't arrive either. Any dispute and Ebay ALWAYS find in favour of their power sellers... they are the ones who pay big fees, you are a worthless one of. Check out Ebays reviews, then go to Amazon , or a seller that does offer protection.

Over the years of buying items from eBay has been a disaster.

They tell you to buy with confidence and if anything goes wrong the will help you out with problems from the seller.

If only.

Just to name a few.

Desktop PC got up one morning I couldn't boot in, this was hardly used as my laptop was my main computer, kept asking the company for a telephone number and then told by eBay they have sent the phone number so why was I keep asking for it?

Doro mobile phone developed a fault, I was told if it was bought on eBay you have to send it to Doro for £7.99 I understood it to be new nothing told me otherwise.

Bulb holder damaged in transit after photos listing was removed.

All these things just become a memory gathering dust.

The worst company on the internet.

Gave me an offer to sell three items, and get £5 back for each. They applied the vouchers on my account, stupidly I forgot to print screen this, which I usually do (knowing they take vouchers off your account.)

So I have the vouchers in my account, they were there last night. This morning when about to buy an expensive table saw with one voucher, and something else with the other voucher, (as they came in two separate vouchers) I find eBay have removed them!

Spent half the morning on chat with them. They tried to advise me that I can still accept the offer, in other words...go sell three more items....nice that hey?

Luckily for me I print screened the accepted voucher code to sell and get £5 for each item back.

I sent the print screen and the representative says 'yes, I can see you have accepted the offer now. Funny that hey! Because she couldn't before the proof arrived in her mail box.

Now I have to wait 60 days for the vouchers they took from me, to be given back.

I bet I don't receive them, and will have to rage on at them to get them...I am very angry about it.

So table saw now being bought form Amazon. I was going to set up a business account too to sell, that is not happening. I will buy from eBay if I have to, but never sell again. And I will try and find items elsewhere before buying from eBay.

I actually hate this company, they do it all legally. Everything I said to them, the vouchers I had on account was the truth, but they can just say.. I can't see it. Too convenient.

The amount of problems I have had with them over 15 years is ridiculous! But most of the problems of this kind in the last few years, they have gone right down hill.

They make a mistake, and it is always on you, they should have honoured the vouchers.

Do not trust these voucher codes and offers, print screen everything you get on your account! I say this because it will happen to everyone if they are not vigilant.

2003 - 2018 so a long time ebay user.

From the beginning, when it was wonderful, simple and good value to use, it has over the space of those 15 years become increasingly obstructive to use and - in tandem with Paypal - become absolutely extortionate as a seller with fees - along with scant seller protection against scam buyers.

Terrible site, terrible customer service.

When EBAY started it was quite good, but the crim`s have become wise to being able to easily ripping people off!.

I brought a pair of safety shoes which fell apart after a week, the seller ignored any attempt at contact. Also people will by stuff, damage it and say it arrived damaged ( lie`s). The company as a whole is not focused towards customer service and the staff you speak to are often totally useless ( if they can understand English that is ) A horrible criminal set up , Amazon is way better!