When it comes to a successful e-commerce company, eBay is definitely on the list. eBay is an online auction and shopping website where large variety of products are sold. However, the products are not sold by eBay, the products are actually sold by millions of users around the world. The reason for this is that, eBay simply provides a platform for buyers and sellers to meet. eBay can be classified under C2C, where C2C means consumer-to-consumer. Consumer-to-consumer means the consumers sells directly to other consumers. 
eBay first come about known as AuctionWeb founded by Pierre Omidyar, a French-born Iranian computer programmer. Omidyar first attempts to sell his broken laser pointer online and surprisingly found a buyer. When he clarify to his buyer that the laser pointer was broken, the buyer simply said that he is a collector of broken laser pointers. It was then that Omidyar realized that anything is possible. He later expands the business by hiring his first employee and president of the company, Chris Agarpao and Jeffrey Skoll in early 1966. Originally, Omidyar tried to register the domain name as echobay.com as the site belonged to Echo Bay Technology Group, Omidyar’s consulting firm. However, it was already taken, so he shortened the name, eBay.com. eBay went public on 21 September 1998.Today, eBay has gone international. Other than their original U.S websites, they have localized eBay in many countries such as Malaysia, Japan, Thailand and many other countries. In year 2008, eBay have reported earning revenue of USD8.46 billion. There are about 276 million users worldwide registered to eBay. More importantly, people all around the world are using eBay as their primary source of income.
In Malaysia alone, study shows that 41% of eBay users consider themselves as serious sellers. This could mean that they are either seriously sourcing for products to sell on eBay or they are using eBay as their primary source of income. The study also revealed the most frequently purchased products on eBay Malaysia, which are clothing, shoes and accessories (38%), followed by books (36%) and computers and networking services (34%). In addition, the study also shows that Malaysian shoppers spent approximately RM411 on eBay out of RM542 spent online.
Factors that contribute to the success of eBay are most likely to be; Web sites design and contents, consumer education, security, and customer service and support
1. Web sites design refers to the layout, whether the web site is clear,
2. Consumer education refers to an online learning centre that provides knowledge to consumer to educate them on online auctions which are especially important for new users of online auctions. Secondly, it also refers to the availability of online auction programs or seminars, where the web sites provide seminars and programs to educate users as well as increase their brand awareness. In eBay Malaysia, they provide an education centre in their web sites where users can learn more about buying and selling information as well as security centre. Other than that, eBay also provides an online course for sellers to be certified power seller. Allowing them to train other users on selling professionally and ethically on eBay.
3. Security, refers to the extent user information are safeguarded. They include secure payment mechanism and web site security. Secure payment mechanism provides safer online shopping environment and reduces risk of consumer’s payment information being exposed. Web site security enhances the security of the web site content, login information and personal information with encryption. In eBay Malaysia, transactions are either done via credit card or PayPal where both have their own security mechanism ensuring the safety of their customers. Also, eBay also provides advises on safe trading to help consumers avoid being cheated. When signing in eBay, the sites are encrypted with SSL to prevent information leaked to third party.
4. Customer service and support refers to the extent of help and the quality of support a user can expect from the web site. eBay Malaysia provides discussion boards, eBay blogs to allow discussion among users and people of eBay. Their support includes answer center, help topics, education centre and security centre which are created to help users who require assistant.
Here are some links you can refer to if you want to get more information:
1. http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2008/4/7/lifeliving/20815944&sec=lifeliving - How eBay started.
2. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/1/15/nation/19991397&sec=nation - A way to earn a living
3. http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2008/4/7/lifeliving/20638731&sec=lifeliving - wheeling and dealing online
4. http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2008/10/28/itfeature/2346843&sec=itfeature - By the numbers
5. http://www.naccq.ac.nz/conference05/proceedings_04/lin_auction.pdf - factors of success
By BK
comfortable and easy to use, where the colors used are good to the eyes, products are easily found and the web site can be navigated with ease. In eBay Malaysia, the layout mainly consists of white background and blue fonts which are ease to view. They provide a search bar which allows users to search for products of their interest easily. Also, left side of the main site provides a list of eBay categories where users can navigate and browse the items sold on eBay Malaysia.
2. Consumer education refers to an online learning centre that provides knowledge to consumer to educate them on online auctions which are especially important for new users of online auctions. Secondly, it also refers to the availability of online auction programs or seminars, where the web sites provide seminars and programs to educate users as well as increase their brand awareness. In eBay Malaysia, they provide an education centre in their web sites where users can learn more about buying and selling information as well as security centre. Other than that, eBay also provides an online course for sellers to be certified power seller. Allowing them to train other users on selling professionally and ethically on eBay.3. Security, refers to the extent user information are safeguarded. They include secure payment mechanism and web site security. Secure payment mechanism provides safer online shopping environment and reduces risk of consumer’s payment information being exposed. Web site security enhances the security of the web site content, login information and personal information with encryption. In eBay Malaysia, transactions are either done via credit card or PayPal where both have their own security mechanism ensuring the safety of their customers. Also, eBay also provides advises on safe trading to help consumers avoid being cheated. When signing in eBay, the sites are encrypted with SSL to prevent information leaked to third party.
4. Customer service and support refers to the extent of help and the quality of support a user can expect from the web site. eBay Malaysia provides discussion boards, eBay blogs to allow discussion among users and people of eBay. Their support includes answer center, help topics, education centre and security centre which are created to help users who require assistant.
Here are some links you can refer to if you want to get more information:
1. http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2008/4/7/lifeliving/20815944&sec=lifeliving - How eBay started.
2. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/1/15/nation/19991397&sec=nation - A way to earn a living
3. http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2008/4/7/lifeliving/20638731&sec=lifeliving - wheeling and dealing online
4. http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2008/10/28/itfeature/2346843&sec=itfeature - By the numbers
5. http://www.naccq.ac.nz/conference05/proceedings_04/lin_auction.pdf - factors of success
By BK
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