eBay

shopping · internet · business

Global marketplace giant. eBay operates in 190 countries and markets worldwide, connecting buyers and sellers across the globe. In 2023, the platform had 132 million active buyers and handled a whopping $73 billion in transactions.

Founded in 1995. Pierre Omidyar created eBay in September 1995 as a way for people to auction items online. It was one of the earliest websites to let strangers buy and sell with each other on the internet.

Two ways to buy. On eBay, you can either bid on items in an auction or click 'Buy It Now' to purchase something instantly at a set price. It's like having a giant flea market available 24 hours a day on your computer.

Sellers pay commissions. eBay makes money by charging sellers a small percentage when they sell something. This fee is how eBay runs its giant platform and keeps everything working smoothly.

17 million sellers. As of 2021, about 17 million people around the world use eBay to sell items, from collectibles to used goods to brand new products. Some people run their entire businesses on eBay.