EBAY : Is it really consumer to consumer E-business
EBAY is one of the largest and most popular online markets today. Kids in elementary school can use EBAY just as long as their parents are crazy enough to give them a credit card. EBAY is a perfect description of an e-business. An e-business is described as the process of buying and selling goods and services, and also servicing customers, collaborating with business partners, conducting e-learning, and conducting electronic transactions with an organization. EBAY does all of these actions. It is a site where products are bought and sold. Transactions are made by credit cards, and people can search and even bid like an auction to get lower prices. It is almost like being at a car lot and making a deal with a salesman. EBAY is very easy to use and all that is really needed is the internet and a credit card. Once a person has that, numerous transactions can be made, whether it’s buying or selling.
One point that I would like to make about EBAY is to touch upon the type of e-commerce transactions being made over the site. Many would say that it is strictly consumer to consumer. Since it is a regular person trying to sell a product to a regular person trying to buy a product. The only argument that I have is that I would also consider it a business to consumer, and even consumer to business as well. This is a very brave thing to say, considering Professor Avital already described a site like this as being consumer to consumer, but I disagree. I know there are businesses out there that strictly buy and sell things on EBAY. Although they are still looking to buy, which makes them a consumer, they are an established business: So how are they not a business buying from a consumer? I don’t understand what automatically makes a business that buys things just to sell on EBAY consumers, they are, but they are still a business. Also, if these companies are businesses, then when they sell products that should be described as business to consumer. Although they are going to buy again, they are an established business selling to consumers.
In conclusion, I guess one could say that I am very confused on what to consider EBAY. It is one of the most popular online markets in the world, and many people use it. The one thing that really frustrates me, is just knowing what type of e-commerce business transactions EBAY is making. My argument is still to say that it makes business to consumer, consumer to business, and consumer to consumer transactions. This sounds wild, but I just don’t understand why a business is still a consumer. IF anyone has any comments and would like to help me out on that please write them.
Comments
Posted by: Rate Me
Posted on: September 19, 2006 12:42 AM
You bring up some good points about eBay. At this point I would say it is a mix of both B2C and C2C.
Posted by: Michel
Posted on: September 26, 2006 03:19 AM
This is getting much better. Consider adding some pictures and links to the posts. Your picture on top will be great too. | Michel
Posted by: Lisa
Posted on: October 17, 2006 11:18 AM
The distinct different between a C2C, C2B, and B2C, is that there is a middle man in between earning a small percentage as commission to sell the product for the consumer. C2C does not exclude a business as a seller, businesses are still considered consumers under this e-business model.