Web Stuff – Page 34 – WhiteAfrican

Category: Web Stuff (page 34 of 45)

Google Checkout Arrives

June 29, 2006 / HASH / 4 Comments

Everyone has been waiting for Google to release “Google Wallet” or “GBuy”, in the end we get Google Checkout. The idea of a payment system online is not new by any stretch of the imagination. What’s interesting about what Google is doing is their tie-in with advertisers.

What is more, for every $1 a company spends on search advertising, Google will waive the fees on $10 worth of purchases. Factoring in the 2 percent fee, that represents a rebate of at least 20 percent of advertising spending. (NY Times)

The standard rate for Checkout merchants will be 2% of the sale plus 20 cents – compare that to Paypalâ€™s standard rate of 30 cents plus 2.9% of the transaction. Google is hoping that this will encourage people to buy from smaller merchants, and give them more access to information on both the buyer and seller.

[Note: Take a look at the short Google Checkout video for BUYERS or the Google Checkout video for SELLERS]

How Big is the eBay Empire?

June 21, 2006 / HASH / 5 Comments

eBay Empire After getting back from the 16,000 strong eBay Live conference last week, I was asked by a number of people about statistics. I posted about eBay Nation (see video) – that there are 200 million users which if it were a country would be the 5th largest in the world. Here are some more interesting stats from Jim Courtney at Skype Journal about eBay, Skype and PayPal:

PayPal services 105 million accounts in 50 countries; PayPal provides the payment mechanism for 67% of eBay transactions. (PayPal has more accounts that Amex and Discover combined.)

Skype, in Q1 of 2006, provided infrastructure for 6.9 billion minutes of long distance calling; representing 7% of all long distance call minutes worldwide.

eBay: last year sold a “Gross Merchandise Value” of $44B, representing 14% of all ecommerce on the Net.

(read the rest)

eBay is a phenomenon that isn’t going to stop anytime soon. I read a great transcript of a Meg Whitman talking to the Financial Times where she states:

We have the number one ecommerce for franchise, the number one online payment standard, and the number one voice communications player in the world. I think we have three of the best brands on the Net. Maybe three of the top five brands on the Net are eBay brands.

They’re sitting in a very powerful position for future growth. Sure, it won’t be all in the auction world, but they’re branching out and will continue to grow at a steady rate.

eBay and the Developing World

June 14, 2006 / HASH / 15 Comments

I just got through a discussion in a seminar at eBay Live called “Global Artisans on eBay: Impacting the World’s Poor” led by Robert Chatwani from eBay. I say discussion, because I talked a little about Africa and the difficulties for the artisans there getting their products listed on eBay. eBay can leverage their size and create high-profile relationships/partnerships to really make something happen.

eBay seems to have a real interest in getting involved in developing countries. One of the initiatives that came out last year, more in answer to Craigslist than anything else, was Kijiji. They also are trying to source ideas from those in the community for ways that they can make change happen. That’s good news.

Education
One of the other gentlemen mentioned a good idea. How about leveraging organizations like the Peace Corps to use as education. Use them to teach people how to get their items on eBay, how to fulfill orders, how to price items, etc… It’s a good idea. Finding the right partner might be difficult though.

Another thought, could eBay institute a Fair Trade mark? Some way for buyers on eBay knowing that the money is actually going back to the artisan, not just the middle man with a large mark up.

My Idea: Accessibility
eBay Africa? People can get online fairly cheaply in Africa, and in a lot of places now, yet it’s still expensive to the individual relative to the amount of money they actually make. So, even if you get people educated, how do they get their items listed and how do they monitor and fulfill on that item when you have to be online so much?

Would it make sense for eBay to sponsor free kiosks in rural areas of Africa to let them list and monitor items for themselves? Sure, they still will have some fees to pay, but it’s now much more accessible. To make it work there would need to be individuals stationed with these kiosks that would handle the listing for people who aren’t really computer literate, or maybe literate at all.

So, winding up. Leverage partnerships to educate. Leverage relationships to get PR. Use eBay’s size to sponsor kiosks and police the environment on eBay. Am I talking about a “drop off shop” for Africa? Maybe. It would take some more thinking, but if eBay supports it, it could definitely get off the ground.

Off to eBay Live 2006

June 11, 2006 / HASH / 3 Comments

I’ll be off at eBay Live! this next week in Las Vegas. It’s always interesting to see what’s going on in eCommerce with the largest player in that space.

Why am I going? Well, I’ve been working on a project that simplifies the listing process. Using our product you should be able to sell an item on eBay easier than ever before. There won’t be a need to go through multiple confusing screens anymore.

It’s one of those fun projects that you’re glad you have the chance to manage. I apologize for not being able to say more at this time about it, but I will once we push it live.

I’ll also be wandering the floor a little and hope to find other neat applications that interface with eBay. At the very least expect some strange pictures. Mixing the eBay crowd and Las Vegas is a recipe for oddities.

Where Africa and Technology Collide!

Category: Web Stuff (page 34 of 45)