eBay Gets Into The Household Services Business

Online marketplace eBay is getting into the home installation market in a bigger way, announcing news on Monday (November 12) of new partnerships with Handy, Porch and InstallerNet.

According to TechCrunch, citing eBay, online shoppers will be able to book installations and assembly services when purchasing items such as TVs, bikes, furniture and other products through its marketplace. The option to book the installation service can be found at checkout. Following the addition of a service online, one of eBay’s new partners will email the customer to schedule the installation, noted TechCrunch.

Handy is being tapped to handle TV mounting, setting up smart homes and assembling furniture, while InstallerNet will take care of the installation of consumer and commercial electronic products via independent contractors. Porch is in charge of more than 1,000 different types of projects, including furniture assembly and TV mounting.

“A massive amount of home and electronic items are sold on eBay daily, many of which require professional installation,” said Alyssa Steele, VP of merchandising at eBay. “With these new partnerships, we’re able to combine our incredible selection of inventory with easy access to affordable and trusted service professionals, making eBay a one-stop shop for our customers.”

At the end of last year, eBay launched its installation services; the added partners is simply an expansion of that. The eCommerce retailer plans to expand the offering in the future.

“We are thrilled to add eBay to the growing roster of top retail brands who rely on our platform to provide fast and convenient assembly and installation services,” said Oisin Hanrahan, CEO of Handy, in a separate statement to TechCrunch about the deal with eBay. “The integration with Handy will enhance the shopping experience on eBay with seamless access to service professionals who can help buyers avoid headaches and enjoy their home goods purchases without the hassle.”