eBay Takes On Prime Day With Its Own Shopping Event

eBay is taking on Amazon’s upcoming Prime Day, announcing that starting the week of July 16 it will offer exclusive deals across a host of categories.

In a press release, eBay took a swipe at Amazon, saying no membership is required to get the deals during the shopping event. “Summer is a time to enjoy the things you love — as the temperatures heat up, so do our deals,” said Scott Cutler, eBay’s senior vice president, Americas. “eBay has everything you need this season, and no one else can match eBay’s variety and value, which fuel our shoppers’ passions with deep discounts on the latest must-have items.”

According to eBay customers will be able to shop thousands of items across categories including electronics, home fashion, and sporting goods at up to 80 percent off regular retail prices. eBay is also throwing in free shipping on eBay Deals items. The company also highlighted in its press release its new Best Price Guarantee service. If customers find an item for less on an eligible competitor’s website, eBay will give them 110 percent off the price difference for all eligible Deals and Top Products.

Earlier this week Amazon announced its Prime Day is being extended to 36 hours from last year’s 30 hours, with the company touting more than one million deals during the shopping event exclusively for Prime members. In a press release the eCommerce giant said Prime Day will begin on July 16 at 12:00 p.m. PT or 3:00 p.m. ET and will run through July 17.

During the shopping event, Amazon said there will also be deals at all U.S. Whole Foods Market Stores. As in years past, Prime customers will be able to shop for deals on TVs, smart home devices, toys, clothing and a whole host of other categories. Amazon said Prime Day will feature double the deals on Amazon devices, with the largest deals seen on Alexa-enabled products like Echo, Fire TV and Fire tablets. “Prime members will enjoy a day (and a half) of our best deals, with 36 hours to shop more than one million deals worldwide,” Amazon CEO Worldwide Consumer Jeff Wilke said in the press release. “New this year, members can shop exclusive Prime Day Launches from hundreds of brands worldwide, enjoy exclusive savings at Whole Foods Market and experience surprise entertainment events unboxed from giant Smile boxes in major cities. More than 100 million paid Prime members around the world will find our best Prime Day celebration yet.”