Online auction site eBay has been in business for nearly 30 years, bringing buyers and sellers across the world together. One of the pioneers in e-commerce, eBay helped redefine what shopping can be. Today it’s just as popular as ever, but with the constant growth of the internet, so are its competitors. Here’s some information on those other sites:
#1. Amazon
Founded: July 5, 1994
Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States
Need to Know
Amazon is one of the most recognizable companies in the world, and has made its founder, Jeff Bezos, one of the richest men in the world. Amazon allows sellers to offer their products online through their website, listing merchandise from all across the globe. The website hosts a variety of categories to sift through, and has a convenient search bar, making it possible to find nearly anything a person could think of.
Through its years of operation, Amazon has expanded unlike any other company. It not only sells various physical goods, it also sells audiobooks and ebooks, and has acquired several different online companies, like IMDb and Goodreads.
Amazon teams up with online influencers to promote its services, and many of them have created their own line of clothing sold exclusively on the website. It also has its own streaming service, which offers lots of content, including original television shows and movies. Amazon is also present in many houses, as people use Alexa as a virtual assistant.
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#2. Etsy
Founded: June 18, 2005
Headquarters: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Need to Know
Etsy is an online platform for artisans to sell their handcrafted products. It’s been described as an online arts fair, as items that aren’t mass produced are available to buy. Etsy calls itself a global marketplace, because artists from every corner of the world have accounts and ship their works to buyers thousands of miles away.
Etsy is committed to helping the world in a couple major ways, including cutting carbon emissions and bolstering small businesses. They also want their platform to allow artists to have financial freedom by giving them a place to easily reach a wide audience. Etsy also wants all exchanges made via their website to be secure for both the buyer and the seller.
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#3. eBid
Founded: 1998
Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom
Need to Know
eBid is an online auction site that has a variety of categories for buyers to choose from. The items are organized by general categories, then split even further by particular item, each heading including a number in parenthesis telling exactly how many items in each category are still available for purchase.
eBid has equipped their website with a forum for buyers and sellers to connect, allowing them to troubleshoot nearly any problem that arises amidst transactions. eBid also has information published to help anyone using their website have a better experience, from the moment they log on to the moment they receive what they bought. They also suggest sellers promote their items on social media, driving more traffic to their website and ultimately increasing sales.
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#4. Bonanza
Founded: September 1, 2008
Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States
Need to Know
Bonanza, another Seattle, Washington-based company, isn’t quite as big as Amazon, but it still has lots of customers. An online marketplace, Bonanza boasts a myriad of products, allowing sellers from all over to post their wares and turn a profit. Bonanza is known for its customer service and easy-to-use site, and has won several awards for both, as well as other aspects of its strong performance.
Bonanza cares about its customers, but its main focus is the seller, making their site seller-oriented so they can build relationships with those who buy their personal products. Bonanza does not charge sellers for using their platform – it just takes a portion of the sales. If a seller is not earning any money on Bonanza, Bonanza isn’t earning any money, either, as they do not charge the seller for use of their site, unlike many other internet-based marketplaces.
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#5. Flipkart
Founded: October 2007
Headquarters: Bengaluru, India
Need to Know
Flipkart is a website that began selling books, and now sells nearly every product imaginable. The company is based in India, and allows sellers to offer their merchandise to customers around the world. Flipkart gets over 10 million page views per day, making it one of the most-visited websites in existence. Flipkart also makes over 8 million sales each month, making it one of the highest-selling websites in existence. In other words, Flipkart is a force to be reckoned with.
Part of the appeal of Flipkart is its insanely low prices. Buyers are pleased to see the discounts they’re receiving on products, as well as ratings and a stamp of Flipkart’s approval. All of this information is listed without clicking on specific products, making everything transparent for the buyer before gaining interest.
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#6. Groupon
Founded: November 2008
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Need to Know
Groupon is a unique company that lists discounts local businesses are offering on a daily basis. Users of this website can find coupons, as well as listings of activities, restaurants, and businesses in their area that they were previously unaware of. Groupon also offers travel packages, and buyers can purchase hotel stays in locations around the globe.
Groupon helps small and local businesses thrive due to the exposure they’re given to citizens and tourists alike. They also have coupons available for major retailers like Forever 21 and TJ Maxx. Groupon helps stimulate the economy in many different ways.
Groupon also posits itself as a socially conscious company, helping their employees and customers give back to the communities they call home. Groupon is particularly active in the Chicago, Illinois community, as that’s where their headquarters are based.
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#7. Rakuten
Founded: February 7, 1997
Headquarters: Setagaya City, Tokyo, Japan
Need to Know
Rakuten is a shopping website that helps put money back in its customer’s pockets. Various brands and stores work with Rakuten, and through it, a portion of the money spent on items is put back in the buyer’s wallet. As Rakuten puts it, buyers get paid to shop, and they split the money they earn with the website. Since it began over 20 years ago, Rakuten users have earned back a total upwards of $1 billion, meaning Rakuten has earned even more than that.
When shopping on Rakuten, buyers can see what percentage of the sale they’re going to get back so they can weigh which is going to be the best deal. Rakuten is one of the most unique e-commerce sites on the internet, and is very appealing to users. Membership is required to shop, though, so Rakuten is not automatically accessible to everyone who visits their website.
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#8. Newegg
Founded: 2001
Headquarters: City of Industry, California, United States
Need to Know
Newegg, based in the United States, is an online platform used to buy loads of products at discounted prices. Their easy-to-navigate site makes it easy to see the potential savings, as well as get a read on what products are popular.
Newegg sells a lot of computer, gaming, and electronics products, but it also has home appliances, furniture, and cleaning products like vacuums and steam cleaners. A wide variety of merchandise is available at Newegg, making it one of the leaders in discounted goods websites. Newegg has distribution centers throughout North America, and sells its products all around the world.
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