Q1: eBay is one of the only major Internet "pure plays" to consistently make a profit from its inception. What is eBay's business model? Why has it been so successful?
A virtual sales platform that connects sellers and buyers from all corners of the globe. It has been so successful because it’s boundaries are almost unlimited. People from all corners of the world and all walks of life (with access to the internet), can use the services eBay has to offer.
Q2: Other major web sites, like Amazon.com and Yahoo!, have entered the auction marketplace with far less success than eBay. How has eBay been able to maintain its dominant position?
I think eBay has continued to remain successful because millions of different people can list millions of different items for sale, to a customer base that is spread world wide. Sites like Amazon and Yahoo list what items they are able to access and that’s it. It’s almost like, two minds are better than one. One item I might like to buy or sell, will be something completely different to what my next door neighbour would like to buy or sell. I think what eBay comes down to, is choice, unlimited types of items can be listed to be sold.
Q3: What method does eBay use to reduce the potential for fraud among traders on its site? What kinds of fraud, if any, are eBay users most susceptible?
eBay provides its users with information on fraud through its website. It has dedicated fraud pages that give users information on how to handle and report fraud.
The biggest threat of fraud on eBay is paying for an item and the seller not sending it.
Q4: eBay makes every effort to conceptualize its users as a community (as opposed to, say "customers" or "clients"). What is the purpose of this conceptual twist and does eBay gain something by doing it?
For me personally, it is a play on words. The word ‘community’ sounds trustworthy. No-one ever likes to think that anything bad is going to happen within their ‘community’. When you start talking about clients and customers, automatically you think, business, companies, corporations, and once you start thinking in those terms, you start to get the feeling of ‘not being loved’ any more. The personal feel of ‘community’ has been wiped from the corporate world of today. The longer eBay can hold on to this ‘feeling’ the longer they will continue to be successful.
Q5: eBay has long been a marketplace for used goods and collectibles. Today, it is increasingly a place where major businesses come to auction their wares. Why would a brand name vendor set-up shop on eBay?
eBay IS a brand name, so why wouldn’t a brand name vendor enter into business with another brand name that is equally if not more, successful? eBay’s marketplace would most likely be far wider than a brand name vendor could access in the physical world.
Q6. I have a few businesses, and I have used eBay for about 12 years on and off. Currently I have about 600 books listed on eBay (seller name ozrural). I stopped selling on eBay for a few years but they changed the rules this July and it is viable again (for me). What do you think changed?
In July, eBay changed their payment systems to more trusted and secure systems, as well as their listing price policies, making it more viable as a physical book seller in that environment.
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