The name ‘eBay’ is fast becoming a household name and there can’t be many Internet users who haven’t succumbed to the lure of the world’s largest online auction. In fact, eBay is now the most popular site that UK office workers visit when they should be working! What you may not realise, as you sit in front of your PC frantically trying to outbid your eBay rivals, is how many other people around the world are doing exactly the same thing and just how big a phenomenon eBay has become. Established in 1995, eBay survived the burst of the dot.com bubble and has since gone on to become one of the most successful Internet based business in the world. eBay took the centuries old idea of a market place where buyers and sellers can come together to trade information and strike bargains and used Internet technology and the global reach of the web to create one of the largest marketplaces in the world. You can buy and sell almost anything on eBay, from antiques coins, collectibles, computers, memorabilia, stamps and toys. In fact, there seems to be very little that people won’t try and sell on eBay, from celebrity’s rubbish to human souls. In 1999 a human kidney was offered for sale on eBay, with bids apparently reaching $5.7 before the auction was taken down. Money really is no object, one of the most expensive items ever sold on eBay was a Gulfstream II Jet, fetching $4.9 million and a round of golf with Tiger Woods fetching $425,000. The lure of a bargain, combined with the excitement of a Las Vegas gamble, brings millions of new customers to eBay every week. Once hooked, it is hard to break the eBay habit and the loyalty shown by devoted eBay users all over the world has helped build eBay into the powerhouse it is today. When you look at the statistics it becomes clear just how big the eBay phenomenon really is. Ninety-five million users from more than 150 countries listed 971 million items on eBay last year. The total value of goods sold on the site reached nearly $24 billion, a staggering 60% increase on the previous year. The number of items listed on eBay.com and the international sites increased by 52% to 971 million in 2003, with the value of goods sold on eBay throughout the course of the year totalling $20 billion. At any one time there are more than 10 million items for sale live on the site and more than 1 million new items listed every day. eBay has even become the largest site on the web for buying and selling used cars, motorcycles and automotive parts. The company sells a motorcycle every 18 minutes and a SUV every 30 minutes. These statistics reveal the sheer scale of eBay and its rapid success.
eBay has spawned a whole new generation of entrepreneurs who are making a healthy living by selling on the site. It is estimated that as many as 150,000 people have given up their jobs to create their own businesses selling all types of goods on eBay. This in turn has created a whole new cottage industry of people and organisations advising people on how to get rich quick with eBay, some more legitimate than others. Established bricks and mortar businesses, both large and small, are also getting involved in the eBay revolution. Businesses are not only selling their goods, but also buying significant amounts of equipment through eBay. From printer cartridges to servers, companies are making significant savings by sourcing through the online auctioneer. Some of the world’s largest manufacturers also want a piece of the eBay action. They have recognized that the online auction giant is a potentially easy way to offload millions of pounds worth of excess stock. Companies such as Sony, Fujitsu and Sharp are by passing the liquidators and setting up their own shops on eBay to dispose of their surplus stocks. eBay itself, has also created several successful spin offs, the most successful of which is PayPal. Founded in 1998, PayPal, an eBay Company, enables any individual or business with an email address to securely, easily and quickly send and receive payments online. PayPal's service builds on the existing financial infrastructure of bank accounts and credit cards and is now firmly established as a global leader online payment solutions with 50 million account members worldwide. The company is even doing its bit for charity. At the end of 2003, the auction giant established eBay Giving Works, a program designed to let buyers and sellers contribute to non-profit and other charitable causes. So far nearly 3000 charities have signed up with about US$30 million raised for charities to date.
So can the eBay revolution continue and will the company be able to sustain it is incredible growth? EBay aims to grow by developing further strategic partnerships similar to deals it already has with AOL and Walt Disney. It has also set it sites on overseas expansion, acquiring operations in countries all over the world. One of its most recent acquisitions being China’s leading on-line auctioneer Eachnet, now re-branded as eBay. With only 10% of China’s estimated 90 million-plus web surfers currently buying on-line there is huge market potential. eBay has even received support from the Chinese Government who realise that through eBay they can empower entrepreneurs and provide access to the rural areas. So it would seem that there is plenty of opportunity for the eBay phenomenon to grow, as these new markets open up allowing even more people to catch the eBay bug.
Shopping on the Internet is Safe if Precautions are followed
You still have several holiday gifts to buy, but the thought of fighting the crowds on the high street leaves you feeling like miserable and tired. You may be tempted to try shopping online, although you're concerned about the security and privacy issues you've heard and read about.
Don't despair. The following advice about online shopping and about protecting your privacy on the Internet should help prepare you for the digital world.
Do Your Homework
The precautions you should take when making purchases online are not at all that different from what you might do when shopping on the high street.
As a general rule, you're safer dealing with well-established and trusted brand name businesses. Although there are no guarantees, a Website with its own domain is more likely to be credible than one using free space provided by Internet access companies. EasyPizza Ltd only accepts adverts from trusted and well known companies.
Just as you might have second thoughts about posting a cheque to an unknown company at a post office box number all online merchants must accept online payments which usually will mean you are covered by online shopping guarantees. that is if the goods do not arrive your payment is refunded. However, in the event of goods not being satisfactory it's a good idea to find out the merchant's return policy.
If after taking these precautions you're still concerned about online shopping, you might want to call the Trading Standards in the town or city where the merchant is located to see if it has received any report of Internet fraud or unscrupulous business practices by the merchant.
Protect Your Credit Information
When it comes to buying on the Internet, many consumers are concerned about sending credit card information over the Internet. The best way to protect yourself is by limiting your business to merchants with secure sites. Secure sites use SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), a type of encryption technology that protects your credit card information by scrambling it before transmission. To find out whether your credit card information is secure with a merchant, take a look at the pages' URL. A secure URL page begins with the code "https" rather than "http".
If you're using a recent version of a browser, you can also look for a padlock symbol or similar icon at the bottom of your browser screen. Many sites also post their own privacy policy or security statement that explains how the merchant protects the data you provide.
Also, you should feel safe dealing with merchants displaying the Veritas or WebTrust seal this assures online customers that the businesses carrying this seal adhere to standard business practices and controls and have the ability to maintain privacy and security for Internet transactions.
Bear in mind that, in some cases, you won't see the secure portion of a merchant's Website until you are ready to order. Just be sure to look for it before entering any credit card data.
Another important precaution worth taking is to check your credit card statement each month as soon as it comes it. Under the Consumer Credit Act, your financial liability is limited if you report fraudulent use to your credit card company promptly. It's also a good idea to check your credit report once a year to make sure that fraudulent accounts haven't been opened in your name.
In any case, if you suspect you've been subjected to fraud by an online merchant, you might want to contact Internet Fraud Watch on the internet at www.fraud.org.
Always Guard Your Privacy
Beyond shopping on the Internet, there are other issues you need to be concerned with to protect yourself when using online technology.
Perhaps the most important is the need to guard personal information such as your name, address, and phone number, as well as National Insurance number, date of birth, and mother's maiden name. Think twice about providing sensitive information online. The greater the amount of personal information about you available, the greater your exposure to security risks.
Treat e-mail carefully. Many people send personal and confidential information over the Internet, without realizing that doing so is akin to sending a postcard. Also, don't download programs from Websites with which you're not familiar. You could download a virus that damages your computer files.
Finally, use a creative password and change it frequently. Don't choose something as obvious as your birthday or your favourite team.
For maximum security, try mixing numbers, upper and lower case letters and even symbols in your password. Remember to never leave your written password near the computer.
We believe that the Internet can provide distinct shopping advantages and a wealth of information. Just be sure you take every precaution along the way.
For more information and for pizza franchise enquiries please contact info@easypizza.ltd.uk
