eBay ‘Simplifies’ And Shuts Down eBay Now

eBay is putting several of its recently-launched apps on the chopping block in the name of “simplifying buying and selling” for customers.

EBay is putting several of its recently launched apps on the chopping block in the name of “simplifying buying and selling” for customers.

The eCommerce marketplace announced yesterday (July 27) it will shut down some of its vertical mobile apps with the intention to move their functionality within the flagship eBay app.

But one of the biggest (and somewhat veiled) announcements included the termination of its same-day delivery eBay Now service in the U.S., which includes the local pilot program taking place in Brooklyn, New York.

The company seems to have an on-again, off-again relationship with the concept of same-day delivery.

Last November eBay pulled the app so eBay customers would no longer be able to shop on their phones and receive items from close-by retailers same-day (for an additional $5 fee). The company had been planning an expansion in the U.K. in 2015, but that seemed to come to a sharp halt.

Nearly a month later, eBay said 80 small businesses in Brooklyn had joined its eBay Local program, which aimed to bring “last mile” options to smaller sellers.

“We kicked off the program with a focus on large retailers to scale the program,” Tom Allason, senior director of eBay Local, said at the time. “Now we want to provide the same opportunities to small businesses, who are the core sellers on eBay.”

But it seems like, at least for now, the service is no more.

In reference to same-day delivery, the company’s latest press release said: “Last year, we retired our eBay Now app and brought the program’s delivery capabilities and many participating merchants’ inventory into our core mobile apps. This significantly reduced our dependency on a separate standalone service. While we saw encouraging results with the eBay Now service, we always intended it as a pilot, and we are now exploring delivery and pick-up/drop-off programs that are relevant to many more of our 25 million sellers, and that cover a wider variety of inventory that consumers tell us they want.”

EBay also confirmed the following plans for decommissioning its eBay Valet, Fashion and Motors applications:

  • eBay Valet app — will be shut down in the coming weeks, but the service will still be available at eBay.com/valet or by using the selling tools within the core eBay app
  • eBay Fashion app — will be retired in the coming weeks
  • eBay Motors app — will end later this year, but some functionality will be available in the other eBay apps

Since its official split from PayPal, eBay continues to make headlines with new changes and offerings to its services.

Just last week eBay’s acquisition of Twice, an online consignment shop startup, was confirmed for an undisclosed amount.

“Our vision for Twice has always been to make selling as easy as shopping, and to make buying used feel like buying new. Today, we’re announcing the next step toward that vision — our technical leadership and engineering team will be joining eBay to help power eBay Valet,” Twice Founders Noah Ready-Campbell and Calvin Young said in a company blog post.

EBay Valet is the company’s professional selling service, which estimates prices, takes professional photos and offers both buyers and sellers the peace of mind that they are using a safe and verified marketplace.

The service recently announced an expansion of its offerings, broadening its reach to accept high-end clothing, shoes, handbags, electronics and other popular household items.

[vc_row full_width=”” parallax=”” parallax_image=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”” parallax=”” parallax_image=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_separator color=”grey” align=”align_center” style=”” border_width=”” el_width=””][vc_single_image image=”148412″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow_3d” border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_blank” css_animation=”left-to-right” img_size=”full” link=”http://www.pymnts.com/whats-hot-today/”][vc_column_text css_animation=””]

To check out what else is HOT in the world of payments, click here.

[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”grey” align=”align_center” style=”” border_width=”” el_width=””][/vc_column][/vc_row]