The characteristics of the eBay platform are mainly reflected in the following aspects.
1. Sales model
The eBay platform is mainly based on the B2C vertical sales model, targeting individual consumers and suitable for most developed countries.
2. Service system
The rules of the eBay platform are more biased towards buyers. If a seller encounters a complaint, it is easy to be closed down, and consumer rights are greatly protected. The customer service is highly professional and the after-sales service is also tending to be perfect.
3. Payment method
(1) For sellers. In February 2018, the eBay platform launched a new policy of self-management of payment processes to simplify the shopping experience from the buyer to the seller. Sellers can enjoy more convenience, including a simplified charging model and more controllable fund management. Most sellers can reduce the cost of payment processing.
(2) For buyers. Currently only PayPal is supported.
4. Logistics model
The eBay platform does not have its own logistics and mainly relies on third-party logistics alliances. eBay’s main well-known international logistics companies include FedEx, US Postal Service, UPS, DHL, etc. eBay’s logistics and transportation are fast, the service is professional, and the price is low, which provides convenience for buyers.
Compared with other platforms, eBay is different in that, on the one hand, eBay charges for listing goods and the fees are cheap, with an average monthly investment of 300 to 1,000 yuan. eBay’s profit model is also very different from other platforms. It mainly charges sellers for product display fees, transaction fees, payment fees and other transaction-related fees. In addition, it also has a small share and advertising income. On the other hand, in 2015, eBay successively closed small business products such as Magento Go and ProStores, and only focused on large cross-border e-commerce retail companies.
As we all know, the operating rules of the eBay platform are very strict, and the quota limit is a headache for many sellers, which is also the most unique feature of the eBay platform. eBay will limit the seller’s publishing quota based on the performance of the seller’s account, and newly registered accounts will be restricted from the beginning. This rule has caused many sellers to stop developing products on the eBay platform or directly turn to other competing platforms. Many sellers said that eBay’s platform rules are indeed too strict, and a large number of sellers may face purges. In the face of this severe environment, only sellers who persist can achieve ultimate success.