eBay has announced plans to launch its own fulfillment service called Managed Delivery, which will provide end-to-end packaging and deliveries to its sellers. The e-commerce giant plans to launch Managed Delivery in the US next year using a network of third-party partners to supply warehousing, packing, and delivery services using eBay’s technology platform. eBay says that its sellers send 1.5 million packages every day in the US, and Reuters reports that around 40 to 50 percent of items listed on its site will qualify to use the new plan.
The launch of Managed Delivery marks a big change for eBay, which has tended to take a hands-off approach to how sellers deliver their products. However, this approach has led to inconsistencies in its service. The new fulfillment platform should help solve this problem, but it brings eBay into much closer competition with Amazon. However, while the Seattle-based company owns and operates its own network of warehouses, eBay plans to pay third-party suppliers to provide them.
eBay says that Managed Delivery will aim to deliver packages in two to three days, according to Bloomberg, and that it will simplify and lower the cost to sellers of getting products into the hands of their customers. It also says that customers will benefit from faster and more reliable deliveries. Along with making its platform more attractive to sellers and buyers, eBay will also benefit from the increased brand awareness that comes with millions of packages being transported in packaging bearing the company’s logo.
Bloomberg quotes one seller involved in a trial of eBay’s fulfillment service who said that eBay charged him $3.99 to send a package from California to New Jersey, compared to the $3.09 he spent before, which didn’t include the cost of packaging supplies. However, more important was the fact that he saved the time he usually spent packaging his products by outsourcing the work to eBay. “I can focus on running my business and adding products rather than packing boxes all day,” he said.
Comments
I hope this goes well for them they could use a win.
By Rage_Rave on 07.25.19 9:16am
This seems like a big opportunity for eBay.
By Turbofrog on 07.25.19 9:24am
As a past seller on eBay, I hope they fail miserably. They are such a terrible company, along with PayPal, in how they take advantage and rip off sellers. Their customer service is a pile of garbage too. They really do nothing to help with problems or mistakes, especially billing. They’d rather ignore emails and keep your money until you give up.
By beergotmeripped on 07.25.19 10:42am
Not my experience at all, I’ve had problems with them and I’ve had times where they’ve exceeded my expectations.
At the end of the day we don’t use eBay because we love the platform, we use it because it’s got the biggest customer base you could hope for.
By Series on 07.25.19 4:17pm
eBay is still a great resource, in spite of its many flaws. The other day I ordered some replacement screws for an old MacBook Pro, it was less than two bucks, free shipping, arrived in a few days. Amazon would have been $4 plus $6 shipping. It’s always good to cross-shop them.
By NickFlex on 07.25.19 11:16am
Still probably my favorite place to shop. I use Amazon more because I can get more everyday stuff…but there are some really good deals on tech, games, new shoes, etc on ebay.
By Porcupine-Tree on 07.25.19 5:44pm
I like this, but not sure how I feel about eBay trying to become more like Amazon. Not sure that will ultimately work out well for them.
By CrabbyCrabberson on 07.25.19 1:00pm
But ebay fees are too high
They won’t be able to compete
By Littlebigmarc on 07.25.19 1:48pm