Cannot Contact eBay UK

[siouxbook]

I have not been able to use the UK eBay website properly for 18 months. Some days I can login after 4 pm other days after 10 pm - most days not at all. No one will help.  eBay UK has no telephone number (what company has NO telephone number?). I have sent emails - with no replies. I have sent letters to the Complaints department - with no replies. The only only way I could speak to someone was to go to the US site - use the CHAT service and ask them to contact someone in the UK - and get them to phone me. Spent 5 hours yesterday on CHAT and the reps. just disappeared or ignored me.  Now it seems the call back service has been removed. What the hell can I do?

[fargvs]

 Google search  = Apologies accepted !.>>>

'  Here are some of the most popular alternative browsers that you can install on your Chromebook:

• Firefox.
• Opera.
• Microsoft Edge.
• Dolphin.
• Internet Explorer.
• Brave.
• Midori.
• Vivaldi.

[siouxbook]

I don't want alternative browsers I want to be able to use eBay 24/7

If I can use eBay some days (not many) with a Chrome browser (the most popular on the internet) why would I need another browser?

If you are talking about apps (not the proper programmes) - then such apps are not compatible with chromebooks anyway.

I want to know what is wrong with the website - it is not ME that is the problem - it is eBay - one day they will fix it - but I want someone to get them to hurry up and try and fix it now.

Sue

[*vyolla*]

To be honest, that sounds like a user end issue, not a site one.

Have you tried the obvious - clearing all eBay cookies and cache and a different browser?

What device and browser are you using?

[siouxbook]

That is always the answer eBay gives - it must be my fault - never the website.

If it's the cache & cookie problem - how come it starts to work late in the evening (when the cache is full and cookies abound - but hardly ever in the morning (except for the miracle of today) when it is clear? I clear them over night. I kept clearing them all day at one time - because you blamed me - but it made no difference at all.

It has not worked properly for 18 months - for 2 weeks it worked after 4 pm (regularly) - and then it started to work at 10 pm. WHY?

How come it's the fault of my computer (a chromebook)? I can manage to use the US website perfectly (and every other website) - but of course I cannot make listings and have to trawl through all the US sellers stuff when looking at my saved searches?

What is worse is that eBay UK has no telephone number (what company has no telephone number - even in a pandemic!!) To speak to someone I have to go to US website. Until this week I could ask for a call back - but now you have stopped that. I have to do a CHAT call and get them to phone the UK team - so they can phone me. It took 5 hours yesterday!! Also no emails or letters of complaint are answered. What a company!!

This is no joke - and it is definitely the fault of eBay UK.

Sue

[*vyolla*]

Nobody else has reported the same issue though, so that indicates that the problem is a user end issue and not a site one. What browser are you using?

[siouxbook]

There were hundreds of mobile users recently who could not use the website - I expect it was their fault too.

Chrome

[*vyolla*]

Presumably they weren't blocked for 18 months though. There are rarely outages on eBay, and we're aware of them when they happen because they affect loads of users, yours isn’t a site issue. I’d approach this by a process of elimination. Have you tried a completely different device and browser?

[siouxbook]

As I haven't heard from my 'expert' I will try again.

I do not intend to buy a new device - I am happy with my chromebook thank you. If it means never selling anything on eBay again - so be it.

Sue

[fargvs]

Still don't know what browser/s you are using ?.

[*vyolla*]

Neither eBay CS or an expert seller can help with a technical issue. The only way you’re going to find out what the problem is to do this by a process of elimination, it’s definitely a user end issue. Once you know what it is, you can deal with it. You’re already clearing cookies and cache on a regular basis, so that box is ticked. The browser is something you can change yourself, so I’d download a different one and see if that bypasses the problem. Is your current browser up to date? I wasn’t recommending that you dash out and buy a device, I’ve no idea if you own more than one or perhaps you have a friend or relative whose device you can borrow. Try logging in on broadband somewhere else too. I’m presuming that you’re not using a VPN. I’d be extremely surprised if you don’t manage to work this out yourself if you follow the above process.

[siouxbook]

As I said I use a chromebook - so guess what? It is a chrome browser.

Sue

[siouxbook]

How can i download another browser on to a chromebook?

Expert - I think not.

Sue

[*vyolla*]

Lol, there are loads of other browsers you can put on a Chromebook, Firefox and Opera being the two most obvious.

[siouxbook]

If you can manage to download anything to a chromebook you are a miracle worker - but definitely NOT another browser.

I hope people don't take your advice - or they will get into awful problems

Sue

[*vyolla*]

Seriously? You don't think that you can use a different browser on your Chromebook? Try Google is you don't want to take my word for it. Sheesh, no wonder you’ve had issues for 18 months if this is how you’ve responded to people trying to help you. For what it’s worth, I beta test Macs for a company called Apple, so am pretty techy if I may say so myself. Your problem is a simple one to sort, but somebody else may want to help you. I certainly don’t.

[siouxbook]

You bloody idiot - you know nothing about computing - well maybe Apple Macs (and I admit I do not know much about them because I do not have one)

But you really must be ignorant about the rest of the world of computing ...

I have used computers since they first came out - and probably know more than you do.

I certainly know more about chromebooks as I have used them for over 6 years.

A chromebook (O wise one) is a glorified browser. You cannot download programmes on to it (including other browsers) and that is why it can be free from viruses. It automatically updates itself too - so don't tell me to update it.

There you have learnt something O expert - and if you don't believe me just Google "can i download another browser on to a chromebook other than Chrome" - and will get your answer.

Do you think I have had this argument with eBay staff - of course - because they are ignorant too - but did admit it in the end when they Googled it.

Yes, that is why it has taken 18 bloody months .... because you are all stupid - but are pretending to be clever.

So you admit you do not know what the problem is .... just what I thought ....

When you feel like apologising just email me - I will be more than willing to forgive you my expert.

Au revoir

Sue

[*vyolla*]

Okay, so according to you, eBay staff, other experienced eBay sellers and every man and his dog are stupid and ignorant etc, yet it’s you who’s been limited to accessing eBay for a few hours a day for the past 18 months? Do you not think that your incredible rudeness might be impeding you in life, just a little bit?

Do you have any friends? Perhaps if you could use their device and browser and see if the problem still occurs that would narrow it down.

Here's how to download the FireFox browser onto a Chromebook:

https://www.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/browsers/chromebook/

[siouxbook]

No it is the eBay website team that are incompetent and stupid - everyone else is just ignorant - as they have always proved to be for all my previous problems. They just need to be forced to fix things. That is what I am trying to do - but cannot contact them. No one at eBay has ever helped me with technical issues (including you) - the problems have all just resolved themselves when the website has been fixed. I have far more experience of eBay's technical issues than you - and I can tell you downloading a browser won't fix anything. That is a cop out (with cache & cookie removal) that people tell you to do - when they haven't a clue. If you are honest [!] you will admit you have no idea why my website only works intermittently. I use Chrome when it works and Chrome when it doesn't.

This is nothing new - technical problems have happened many times before to me - and all the other poor souls who contact you - and just receive your sarcasm (I've read them). Of course, because you do not have an answer - you just blame eBay's incompetence on me and all the other users - and say I am 'incredibly rude' because I challenge eBay - and try to get them to fix the problem. You don't scare me.

This email shows exactly where you are coming from. I ask for help to access the eBay website - and you end up saying "Do you have any friends?" You are a joke. You are the one supposedly helping sellers - yet you don't help - but are rude and sarcastic. You don't try and get the eBay technical team to fix the problem (as no one did when I could not upload photos) and seem to think its my problem!! Yet, eBay fixed the website eventually (regarding the photos and all the other issues) and they will do the same for this problem.. I am just trying to get them to hurry up. I thought you had wisdom regarding this - but now I see you have no idea what to do.

No clearing cache and downloading other browsers (as suggested for all the previous problems that were eventually sorted by eBay - not you) will do any good. I tried them originally when I had a PC and they didn't work. As for making my lovely friends give their devices to me - no I am not as selfish as you. What if it worked on their devices - do you want me to do all my selling round their houses - just because eBay cannot fix the problem? You seem to think eBay is perfect and never causes any problems with their websites - and all users are stupid. How wrong you are. Think of all those poor souls recently who could not use their mobiles to access eBay - was that their fault? Of course not - but I bet you told them it was. eBay had to get its finger out and fix the website. Otherwise they would have lost a lot of money. We chromebook users are few - and no one cares about us. As I told a lovely Amazon rep. today - these problems would never happen on Amazon - if their website did not work they would lose thousands of pounds a minute. I suggested to eBay that they poach some of the clever people who deal with the Amazon website for themselves.

Yes, I am getting annoyed now aren't I? - because 18 months is longer than any problem has continued with eBay before (due to the pandemic I was told once) - and I'm fed up - anyone would be. What makes me more angry than not being able to use eBay - are silly people telling me to clear my cache. If only that would enable me to sell my junk on eBay. But of course, I can use the site some of the time - so I suppose I should be grateful. Why does it work some days - like today - when I haven't cleared my cache / downloaded a nasty app browser / asked my friends to use their devices ? You cannot answer that can you? Why type out all this nasty vitriol - when you could try to find out how to sort out people's problems? You say it is easy to sort out - but you haven't got eBay to do it have you? I will let you know when eBay does fix the problem - and it won't be when I download a stupid app ..... And now I am going to sell my stuff on Facebook - that has never refused me entrance!

All I can suggest is that you stop trying to be so high and mighty, and sarcastic (as it will cause eBay to lose even more customers) - and actually attempt to find out what causes all the website problems on eBay - and I guarantee it is not using the most popular browser on the internet.

Sue

[tobiasd4]

If ebay is as bad as you claim, here's link to close your account.

Closing your account and deleting your data | eBay

[fargvs]

'' I certainly know more about chromebooks as I have used them for over 6 years'' ... suggesting a look at 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Google Chrome and Chrome OS Paperback – by P*u*l M*Fed*rie* (Author)> Internet Web Browsers' < would be a waste of time then !? 

[siouxbook]

That talks about eBay does it ?

Or does it talk about how you cannot download programmes (.exe) on to a chromebook but only cheap android apps? And all the people using these browser apps all say how incompatible they are with chromebooks and really don't work very well - and you want me to use an android app?? WHY? Is it because you don't like me?

I think I would rather use the Chrome OS browser thank you - the one made for chromebooks - and just wait for eBay to catch up.

I have had lots of problems with eBay over the years (even when I used I.E) - and eBay has always sorted them out (eventually) without my having to change browsers or need the help of people like you. When chromebooks first came out (not that long ago) you could not use android apps on them - so what did you tell your community then? eBay, however, have always told their reps to tell us to delete cookies and cache and get a new browser. This was before you could use apps - so there no way to use a new browser on a chromebook - but eBay didn't know that - they didn't even know what a chromebook was when I first used one - they just told me to get a new browser - in order to get rid of me.. I worked at a university library - where computers and later chromebooks were first used - so yes, I do know about chromebooks - and I was the one to fix the the PCs when they packed up. In the end colleges and universities used only chromebooks - because there was nothing to go wrong with them - and no engineer was needed to help. This was long before your Apple Mac etc. All the time I have had a chromebook - nothing has ever gone wrong with it (apart from eBay's faulty updates and websites) - nothing can really go wrong.

I just thought (wrongly) that you might be able to give some better assistance after all these years of ignorance. I didn't think that after 18 years or more you would all still be trained to say to users "just clear your cache & cookies and get a new browser." They have conned you mate. That will NOT get rid of website failures. Nothing will happen - until eBay fixes it and updates itself.

There is nothing wrong with a proper Chrome browser (that is why it's the most popular browser out there.) If it was so bad everyone would be contacting you for help. eBay will one day sort this out - and I will tell you then - and it will be without your help - or any new browser apps. Don't let them con you into thinking otherwise. There seems to be nothing you can say or do to help someone with a website problem - if eBay does not sort it out from their end. I have proved this again and again. Unless you have some further insights into the eBay website that you haven't told us - your assistance seems superfluous now. I am sure you are very clever with all other matters of helping eBay users - but not with this issue. Just wait for eBay to catch up with the rest of us.

I have managed to fix PCs and laptops without the help of any techy people over the years - and that included removing hidden viruses that people didn't even know they had on their computers - so I think I will now just patiently wait for eBay to update everything one day - and not attempt to help them out. But I am still annoyed about their incompetence.

[*vyolla*]

By a process of elimination you’d be advised on any forum, eBay or computing, to try clearing cookies and cache first. Nobody here is a mind reader so nobody knows that you’ve already tried this and you're at some self certified Chromebook genius level. So, instead of taking umbrage with it and calling us 'idiots' (do you really think that's acceptable?) it would be politer to just say something along the lines of “I’ve already tried that and it didn’t work”.

If you know anything about computers then you’ll know that the art of problem solving is by a process of elimination, which is why a different browser has been suggested. You’re quite insistent that you can’t install FireFox or Opera on your Chromeboook, that it isn’t possible and that we’re all daft here for thinking that you can. Well, you can. If you don’t want to, that’s fine. It’s not the eBay app, so I’m not sure where you’re getting that from, it’s just a different web browser. Again, it’s a process of elimination. If the problem still persists the next step is to try a different device. Again, you took umbrage with this thinking that I was suggesting that you move in with somebody or something similarly dramatic, when it’s a simple “Hey, may I borrow your phone for a minute just to see if I can log into my eBay account to see if I get the same issues as I do with my Chromebook?”. We’ve managed to help thousands of people over the years, most are nice and chatty and it’s a pleasure, some are just plain rude and get on some kind of high horse and can’t be helped. That’s okay, it takes all sorts and it’s your problem, not ours.

[siouxbook]

NOW ALL IS WORKING PERFECTLY

I was nice to everybody when I started here - but I don't like sarcasm. I noticed how you "experts" are quite sarcastic to other users - so that probably put my back up. Sorry I should not have answered in the same manner.

I did tell you (as I told the eBay team) I'd cleared the cookies and cache and was using a Chrome browser. I told you that chromebooks cannot download programmes (an .exe file for a browser). That is correct whether you believe it or not. Until a couple of years ago there was no way to use other browsers. So if anyone has an old chromebook - they cannot download a new browser - YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS BEFORE GIVING ADVICE (perhaps ask how old their chromebook is!). Now the only way to get another browser is by installing a browser app. which as chromebook users know are often incompatible or useless for chromebooks (as they are in their infancy I suppose). The idiot who sent the link to the "Idiot's Guide to Chrome" was so ignorant that he didn't even realise this book was published in 2010 when chromebooks couldn't use apps - and could definitely not download browsers. Deny this as much as you like - but it is true. The trouble with "experts" is - facts become superfluous. ADVICE MUST BE ACCURATE BEFORE BEING POSTED. You agree browsers come via an app - because you sent a link to download an app! But as I said browsers do not solve the problem. Any company that would make you use another browser before its site was able to work properly - hardly instils confidence - but eBay is not one of them.

I believed some ignorant eBay reps. when I first joined eBay - and downloaded a Chrome browser on my PC. It did not help the eBay problem - but I like 80% of all internet users liked it and preferred it to I.E. I tried other browsers too - but eventually realised all my problems were WEBSITE ISSUES not browser issues. I am saying this to help other users. I've had problems with eBay since joining - having used a Windows PC and laptop and two chromebooks. I have learnt over the years that it is the SAME problem - no matter what browser you use or what computer - it is a website problem (usually when updates are being installed). You cannot accept that - and want to blame eBay users instead - fine if that keeps you happy. But I have been proved correct by years of experience.

Over the years all problems with eBay will eventually be resolved when they make updates / fix problems / bring out new websites - they have for me - without changing browsers etc. YOU MUST ACCEPT THIS - as you investigate all other options. There is nothing you can do - if eBay has caused issues by being slow to correct its problems. You say my issue was easy to resolve - but you didn't resolve it did you - eBay did.

When I came to you, I was optimistic, thinking that as an expert you might be able to fix the issue - I was wrong. I was desperate because this particular issue had continued (off and on) for 18 months. Then when you denied the truth and kept insulting me - I realised I had been correct all along. You didn't know the answer - so just wanted to belittle me.

I now have to let you know that this is the second day of everything working perfectly on my chromebook. This PROVES that I am correct. I easily managed to get eBay to call me today - why? Because they have just updated their system - and there is now a new button for call backs. That is the result - but look at all the silly answers to this problem that the "experts" have given here!

When I told all of this to the lovely rep. at eBay today, he completely agreed with me. He too said my issue has nothing to do with cache / cookies / or browsers. That is obvious - even to a lay person. It seems to me that (unlike other companies) eBay's technical team are either incompetent or just very slow. This update has taken 2 weeks to install - and then fix. In the past, problems were solved more quickly - but let's face we are in a pandemic situation now. It is not a coincidence that my problems continued (off and on) for 18 months during a pandemic. In that time eBay has created a new website and updated so many many additional extras - they have all caused incompatibility problems requiring extra time to resolve - with fewer staff. THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD BE TELLING EBAY USERS - NOT TO CHANGE BROWSERS & THAT THEY ARE IDIOT'S. My nice eBay rep. today said I was absolutely correct. It is a shame - but I suppose they are not allowed to tell us that things might get a bit rough due to a prospective update. But it would be so much nicer if they were allowed to be honest. Then you would be able to advice users more accurately.

Anyway, I hope you have learned some valuable lessons from this discussion - but I doubt it. To you we are all probably still 'the problem.' I remember the first thing you said to me was "sounds like a user issue" - well, let us finish on this note - it wasn't ......

BYE BYE MY FRIEND

Sue

[*vyolla*]

Glad that you’re up and running now, I had an idea that you might be back to tell us that it was all fixed within the next few hours. Glad that the eBay CS rep agreed with everything you said and confirmed that you were absolutely right, clearly an excellent rep.

For what it's worth, there's been a button to ask for a call back for the past few years now. 

Just to clarify, at no point whatsoever has anyone here called you an ‘idiot’, I think you’ve got your posts mixed up. If you look at the ones attributed to your name, you’ll see that it’s you who has called responders here idiots. All there in black and white.

Online sites are constantly being updated and tweaked, nobody here is going to deny that. To be honest, all I’ve learnt is that some people are so incredibly rude and do wonder what happened to make them that way. Still, all’s well that ends well, happy eBay selling.