eBay and Facebook are teaming up in a surprising move that will impact the way people buy and sell on both platforms.
Out of nowhere, Meta announced on Wednesday that eBay listings will now appear on Facebook Marketplace.
Buyers would then click through to complete their purchase on eBay. The move should increase the quality and quantity of items for sale, as well as quality.
The feature is being tested in the US, Germany and France.
It is an attempt to appease European regulators who believe Facebook has too much power.
“This could benefit people who use both platforms,” Meta explains.
“EBay sellers will gain exposure to the Facebook audience, while people using Marketplace will be able to discover a broader range of listings from the eBay community.”
In recent years, eBay has struggled to compete with e-commerce rivals like Amazon, Walmart and Temu. Since then, it has focused on niche markets such as vintage luxury goods and collectibles.
Some eBay listings now also appear on Facebook Marketplace
Users are returning to the site in search of used and refurbished goods in a tense economic environment, CEO Jamie Iannone told CNBC in October.
Meta made the adjustment after the European Commission fined the company $825 million in November for linking its Marketplace product to the main Facebook app in an antitrust case.
The EU regulator argued that the bundling was anti-competitive, given Facebook’s reach of three billion global users.
“While we disagree with the European Commission’s decision on the Facebook Marketplace and will continue to appeal, we are working quickly and constructively to find a solution that addresses the points raised,” the company said.
eBay said the integration will give the site an opportunity to “increase awareness of our sellers’ listings, on and off eBay, as part of our strategy to engage buyers and deepen customer loyalty.”
It is not the first time that Facebook has made such a deal, after announcing a similar partnership with Amazon in 2023.
It’s the latest user change to eBay since the resale site introduced a one-click cancellation option in August.
“Buyers now have the option to request an order cancellation via the ‘Cancel Order’ button before the item is marked as shipped,” eBay said in the announcement.
The European Commission has fined the company $825 million for linking its Marketplace product to the main Facebook app
“You retain full control over whether to accept or decline cancellation requests,” the report continued.
“You are protected from neutral or negative feedback for cancellation requests submitted through our updated process, whether you accept or decline them.”