eBay: The World's Online Marketplace

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, more than a decade later, eBay has become the most successful online enterprise in existence, with millions of users all over the world. The author points out that eBay was developed by Pierre Omidyar in 1995 as a small online auction to kick-start the sales of his girlfriend's Pez dispenser collection. The paper relates that eBay can be considered successful based solely on its highly rated customer service, which is a major component in the success of any C2C business. The author underscores that, although countless auction sites have attempted to duplicate eBay, by 2002, eBay controlled more than 80% of the U.S. online auction market. The paper explains that, for international trading, eBay created a section of the site, which contains useful tools, such as a shipping rate calculator, a currency conversion calculator, a global community chat, and a guide to the process of international trade.

From the Paper:

"In 2002, eBay launched a new extended warranty program to further serve its customers. This program pertains only to electronics and allows sellers to list a free link in their listing that gives buyers an option to purchase an extended warranty through eBay for any electronics that a user wins through auction on the site. This program essentially adds value to electronic items, helping eBay to attract even more customers who may have been avoiding the site based on the fact that an extended warranty was not an option in the past."

Sample of Sources Used:

• About eBay the Business. Retrieved December 3, 2007, from http://ebay.about.com/od/ebaylifestyle/a/el_business.htm.
• Beale, M. (2000). E-commerce Success Story: eBay, Exclusive Interview with Kevin Pursglove. E-commerce Times. Retrieved December 3, 2007, from http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/2127.html
• eBay. Wikipedia. Retrieved December 3, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EBay.
• eBay's Business Success - Offering Opportunity for Home Based Business Success (2007). Self Employed Web. Retrieved December 3, 2007, from http://www.selfemployedweb.com/ebay-home-based-business.htm.

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