Amazon’s Prime subscription service has grown in popularity since it was first launched. It started out as unlimited quick delivery and later expanded into media content. Well, eBay is looking into a similar subscription-based loyalty plan, taking on Amazon as far as fast, free shipping.
It is called eBay+. The company is testing the service on in parts of Germany right now. They also have plans to launch it nation-wide by the end of the year. Basically eBay buyers who become subscribers pay a yearly fee in exchange for free shipping and returns on all items they purchase. That certainly helps the buyers on eBay. But it does make things harder for sellers
There are benefits for sellers too, but it is basically what the do already for a fee. Those who participate will have their item listings “marked and highlighted” in search results, so they will stand out more to shoppers. Sellers will also get a discount on the commission eBay charges them for each sale as well. How much this will cost has not been decided yet, but it is likely that buyers will pay somewhere between 15 and 20 euros (from $17 to $22) per year. Aside from free shipping, buyers will also have one month from purchase to return an order at no cost to them.
Unlike Amazon, eBay’s marketplace doesn’t have direct control over how and when items are shipped, it is up to the sellers. eBay says sellers will be required to ship an item on the same day it’s ordered. What do you think? Do you like this idea?
