eBay is where used, refurbished and hard-to-find items turn up, from old car parts to trading cards. The experience depends on the seller, and its interface lags behind newer rivals.
Founded
1995
Based in
San Jose, United States
Business model
Marketplace and online auctions
Available in
14 countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Australia
Score by criterion, against the category
The tick on each bar is the category average; the signed number is the distance from it.
Product range90+4
Price82+1
Delivery72+6
Returns, warranty and escrow80+16
Buying experience and smart suggestions72-6
Good fit for
Buying used or refurbished goods with a money-back guarantee
Finding parts, collectibles or discontinued models
Anyone who wants to bid or make an offer
Less suited when
Someone who wants Amazon-style fast, uniform delivery
People in Iran; accounts from Iran are not accepted
Strengths
The largest online market for used, refurbished and collectible goods
The eBay Money Back Guarantee when an item does not arrive or does not match the listing
Auctions and offers alongside Buy It Now
A transparent rating and history for every seller
Opportunities for improvement
Can improve by encouraging standardized shipping timeframes and rates across sellers
Opportunity to modernize search interfaces for a cleaner browsing experience
Room to promote listing photo guidelines to elevate visual presentation consistency
Verdict
For used, refurbished or rare items eBay is still the best place in the world; for everyday new purchases faster stores are a better fit.
What eBay actually is
Since 1995 eBay has been a market where people and shops auction goods or sell at a fixed price. Most sales are now fixed-price, but auctions are still alive for collectibles. The closest Iranian analogue is a mix of Divar and an auction house.
What you pay and what you get
The seller sets price and shipping. The eBay Money Back Guarantee covers most purchases and refunds you if the item does not arrive or differs from the listing.
Where it is strong
For used and refurbished goods, parts and rare items, no platform matches eBay's depth. Every seller's history and rating is out in the open.
How it can improve, and what we could not verify
Delivery and packaging depend on the seller and are uneven. The interface is busier than Amazon or Etsy. eBay is not available to users in Iran.
Questions about eBay
Is eBay good for new items too?
Yes, much of it is new at fixed prices, but delivery is usually slower than Amazon.
Are eBay auctions safe?
With the money-back guarantee and a look at the seller's rating, the risk is low.
Can you buy on eBay from Iran?
No; eBay does not accept accounts from Iran, and it is not in the Iran view.
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Disclosure: Seemerce is developing products in some of these same areas (Seemerce Infinity). Scores are editorial assessments by Seemerce based on public information. Companies can send corrections or a reply to mahdiparto94@gmail.com. Names and logos belong to their owners and are used only to identify them; Seemerce is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
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