Retailing: From A to Z

eBay is well known for its online retail prowess. As the company notes: “With more than 100 million active users globally, eBay is the world’s largest online marketplace, where practically anyone can buy and sell practically anything. Founded in 1995, eBay connects a diverse and passionate community of individual buyers and sellers, as well as small businesses. Their collective impact on E-commerce is staggering: In 2011, the total value of goods sold on eBay was $68.6 billion — more than $2,100 every second.”

Now, eBay is looking to enhance its customer service capabilities and its services for sellers.  Consider this example as reported by Tricia Duryee,  who has been covering technology for more than a decade: “Gail Weber had never sold anything on eBay, but she was interested in the concept after inheriting a number of antique vases, platters, and plates. ‘I’m not intimidated by going on eBay, but I don’t know how to sell, and PayPal is another deterrent,’ she said. But the San Jose resident lucked out after hearing about eBay’s new pilot program on the radio. The program offered to send an eBay employee to her home to pick up the items and deliver them to an expert, who would attempt to sell them — for a cut of the proceeds. ‘I can’t tell you how fabulous this is. You never know what’s going to sell, but you might as well try,’ said Weber, who was visited by two eBay employees in December. The program is one of several pilots that eBay is experimenting with as it tries to figure out ways to connect with consumers locally by having a physical presence, rather than doing everything anonymously over the Internet.”

Click the photo to read more from Duryee.