Unlike Craigslist, eBay isn’t closely associated with local sales. But the company says it views itself as an ideal platform for local sellers to extend their reach online, to mass numbers of consumers. In fact, the online retailing giant sees local sales as one of three big trends it intends to pursue over the next two to three years. (The article hints that eBay will focus more on the B2B space, providing a platform for local merchants to reach mass consumers. Craigslist operates in the B2C space.)
In the future, when people search eBay for items, the site could present results in two different ways: online listings from sellers located anywhere in the world and local listings from nearby stores, said Marks. Currently, the site only does the former, though there is a “local pickup only” option that sellers can use to avoid the hassle and expense of shipping goods.
To facilitate local sales, these local listings would show up as virtual “pins” on a navigable map. Information on the stores’ locations and operating hours would help consumers decide whether to purchase something online or in person.
The two other areas of future focus are social commerce and digital goods. In early November, eBay unveiled a beta service called Group Gifts that helps groups organize purchases of big-ticket items for holidays, thank-you’s, weddings and other events. Groups can be set up via Facebook, giving these purchases a new, social dimension.
The digital goods opportunity relates to PayPal, eBay’s payments subsidiary. Marks said the proliferation of digital goods, such as online games, would boost PayPal, which can license its payment infrastructure to developers and media companies. Though PayPal has been doing similar work for years, eBay sees new potential in bringing the technology to mobile devices and integrating it inside digital products.
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