General Motors and eBay have formed a strategic marketing relationship that will include online and offline promotions. GM will showcase services that complement eBay's existing array of auto-related services. For example, eBay users who buy GM collector cars on the site may link to GM Restoration Parts to find new parts for vintage GM autos. Images of GM cars with links to detailed product information will also be available. GM will advertise its products and services on eBay, and GM is now the exclusive automotive sponsor of eBay subsidiary Kruse International's live auction events.
We've mentioned in past issues that sellers on eBay Motors have been extremely dissatisfied with recent changes brought about in the automotive section on eBay. http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/10/11/12/13/15.html#motors So how did they react to this week's announcement that GM would be advertising on eBay Motors? One seller sums it up as follows:
"Why can't they improve what they already have - and make it as successful as they BOAST it is...but in reality, is not. Ebay Motors has the ability to be the number one auto-related auction site on the Internet....They REFUSE to make the site better....but they'll merge businesses/fortunes - and make it worse. Can SOMEONE come up with a logical explanation?"
Some concerns that sellers have raised on car chat-forums:
1) The agreement will make things more complicated and will cause even more confusion
2) GM will be advertising its Web site and products on eBay Motors, therefore competing with eBay sellers!
3) Seller's auctions will take even longer to load
About the author:
Ina Steiner is Editor of AuctionBytes.com and author of "Turn eBay Data Into Dollars" (McGraw-Hill 2006). She has a background in marketing and research in the high-tech and publishing fields. If you have story ideas, comments or questions, send them to ina@auctionbytes.com.
