All aboard the eBay Express

The auction giant has launched its new fixed-priced online store in the UK, just in time for Christmas. But will it have a negative effect on the main eBay site and what will it mean for established web retailers such as Amazon?

Anyone who has used eBay for any length of time recognises there are two main types of seller: The casual vendor looking to offload unwanted presents and assorted bric-a-brac, and the professional supplier retailing high-street goods at web-based prices.

While there is no question that a little diligent searching can unearth you brand new goods at cut-down prices, many a casual buyer still baulks at the idea of shopping on eBay. Stories of scams and the site’s ‘garage sale’ approach have always frightened off shoppers more at home online with the likes of Play.com, Amazon and Tesco. Sites where you can search for what you want, find it and buy it at a fixed price with no messing around or fear of non-delivery.

eBay Express is the auction site’s attempt to appeal to those shoppers who want to buy products, not bid on them, and who are only interested in new goods, not second-hand ones. It is, essentially, an extension of the company’s 'Buy it Now' model. Retailers are successful sellers on eBay's main site who have upgraded to a business account and who have an exemplary feedback rating. Goods are all new and covered with a minimum seven working days returns policy. On top of that, if you buy something, aren’t happy with it and the seller doesn’t respond in a satisfactory way, you can claim back the cost of your purchase directly from eBay.

The design of the site is also different; it’s cleaner and better organised. The goods that are available to purchase are just as diverse though and range from GPS systems, DVDs and digital cameras, to clothing, gardening equipment and face creams.

Unlike on eBay, however, you don’t have to purchase each item you want individually. Here you can buy a range of goods from multiple sellers, add them to a single shopping basket and then pay for everything in one go when you’re ready to check out.

Click here for part two of this article.

http://www.express.ebay.co.uk

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