eBay will hold a “Deals” event that coincides with Amazon Prime Day, it announced hours after Amazon released the date of this year’s July shopping event. But whether eBay “Prime Day” deals help *regular* sellers is difficult to say.
The eBay Deals platform is separate from regular marketplace listings (eBay.com/deals) and only a small subset of sellers are allowed to sell there – 900 sellers participated in eBay Deals in 2017. One of the requirements of participating – sellers must offer free shipping on their deals.
While most sellers will not benefit directly from the eBay “Prime Day” sale, sellers could see a bump in traffic from the marketing campaign.
In its press release announcing the July 17th Deals, eBay played up the fact that shoppers would not have to pay a membership fee to get deals on items they want – a jab at Amazon, whose customers must pay for Prime membership in order to be eligible for Prime Day deals. “Skip monthly fees and access hot deals on new, in-demand items with free shipping and no membership required, ever,” eBay wrote.
At the same time, eBay also played up its more Amazon-like inventory: “Shop thousands of brand new, in-demand items across categories like electronics, home, fashion, and sporting goods at up to 80% off their regular retail price. And, with free shipping on eBay Deals items, you can get all the things that’ll fuel all your passions.”
eBay also played up its new Best Price Guarantee. “If you find an item for less on an eligible competitor’s website, eBay will give you 110% of the price difference for all eligible Deals and Top Products, including popular, best-selling items across thousands of categories. And with no blackout dates this summer, you’ll know you’re getting the best price on the things you love.”
eBay advised shoppers to stay tuned to eBay for more information about its Deals promotions scheduled to kick off the week of July 16th.
Comment on the EcommerceBytes Blog.
It will help the diamonds but screw the small sellers. We will shop Amazon prime on that day as we have lost all interest in the glitchy Ebay for anything.
I’m sure Devin has been trying to think of a way to get the buyers to pay a membership fee. All he has to do is con enough sellers into paying for free, two-day shipping and his plan will roll out. He can call it “eBay First,” which would also be a good advertising slogan to convince people to shop on eBay before they go to a site that isn’t stuck in glitchville.
They have already rolled it out in Australia. It is $49 a year and allows them to get free shipping and free returns. Not sure how that will work with sellers who do not offer free shipping though. Ebay has finally gotten so desperate for money that now they are willing to con their buyers, their most precious commodity, out of theirs also.
It’s a moot point if a seller’s listing(s) doesn’t meet ebay’s “viewable” standard.
disintegrating into oblivion