Monday, May 4, 2009

eBay



eBay is the world’s largest online marketplace. Founded in 1995, eBay created a powerful platform for the sale of goods and services by a passionate community of individuals and businesses. There are literally millions of items across thousands of categories for sale on eBay at any given moment. eBay enables trade on a local, national and international basis with customized sites in markets around the world.

In the words of eBay’s founder, Pierre Omidyar, eBay was created to be a "force for good". eBay’s core businesses do indeed have a very positive impact around the globe. From breaking down geographic barriers to generating economic opportunity, eBay is used in over 190 countries worldwide. It is also fundamentally green, with eBay having facilitated the re-use of an estimated €50 billion in used goods since 1998. People can purchase goods without driving to a shopping centre and no paper receipts are involved in each transaction.

eBay helps members to trade safely and builds trust between members through the development and enforcement of rules and policies and the creation of reputation-building programs.

eBay also works behind-the-scenes to prevent fraud and proactively works with law enforcement and government agencies throughout the world to make online shopping an all together better experience. eBay's policies are aimed at encouraging open, honest, and accountable transactions, and creating economic opportunities for everyone using the website.

eBay provides an open trading platform where the market determines the value of items that are sold. Over the years, the site has become a cultural barometer of sorts, providing a view into what objects consumers want most at any time.
The eBay Community is made up of more than 100 million people around the world who buy and sell in the eBay marketplace. eBay users include individual buyers and sellers, small businesses, and even enterprises. From the buyer who shops on eBay for practical needs or for fun, to the seller who relies on eBay as a primary source of income, eBay has become a trading phenomenon.

eBay members have helped one another to be successful on the site and through the eBay Community Hub, members meet and form meaningful relationships with one another via discussion boards, chat rooms, online workshops and eBay groups. Every day, members use these forums to get help from other experienced users, share their best practices with others who are just starting out, or just socialize.

eBay has changed the face of trading for the better and the site is still going from strength to strength. With more users and more products sold than ever, eBay is certainly not a short-lasting fad but an online trading service that has lasted the test of time.