Motor Giant BMW Plans To Drive Sales Of Parts Through eBay.

Everyone (surely!) has heard of eBay but how many of us are aware of how ebay has changed over the last few years.

Big companies like Argos now have an ebay 'shop'.

And it's no surprise that they sell lots of 'returned' products on ebay;

items shop-customers have returned within a few days of purchase but which are perfectly OK and can be guaranteed.

BMW is the latest large company to sell on ebay.
It has an online shop on ebay UK and plans to sell parts and accessories direct to consumers.

Direct means cutting out the dealer network. Previously you went all the way to the dealer and placed your order. Then you waited; now you go to your keyboard, login to ebay and order direct.

“All items sold through BMW Direct are offered with free postage and packaging and are covered by a two-year BMW warranty” says Carl Sanderson, one of BMW general managers

BMW is the first carmaker to sell on ebay but how long before many more join them?
And how is this move going to go down with the dealers themselves.
Are BMW joining the ebay market place to cut out the middleman (the main dealers) and pocket the difference for themselves or will they pass on any savings to the customer.

 In these difficult economic times businesses are looking for customers and customers are looking for the best deals.

 
BMW is massive; it owns BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce and ended upselling 1.46 million cars and more than 110,000 motorcycles worldwide in the last year. It's revenue income in that time topped 60 billion euros

eBay as well boasts huge revenues, something in the region of £6 billion per annum in the US.

And millions of customers worldwide something like 96 million world-wide.
Not surprisingly Motor parts and accessories is one of the most popular eBay categories.
This is a new journey for car makers and eBay alike – a journey which has only just begun and has a long way yet to go.

eBay and BMW join forces