eBay introduces significant updates to streamline local pickup options, making shopping simpler and more efficient for users.
eBay has announced updates designed to enhance the user experience for shoppers and sellers who utilize local pickup options. The company revealed these changes on Wednesday, under the title “Faster and Local Shopping on eBay Just Got Simpler.” The modifications aim to streamline how customers interact with local listings and expedited shipping options.
One significant improvement highlighted in the announcement is the addition of precise distance values displayed within search results for items eligible for local pickup. This new feature enables buyers to easily see the distance from their location to the item’s pickup point before making a purchasing decision.
Additionally, eBay has introduced a “Shipping and pickup” filter that consolidates various delivery options into a single interface. This filter aggregates listings that offer free shipping, local pickup, and Click & Collect, which is available in the UK.
For sellers, eBay provides guidance on how to implement local pickup options. According to the information on eBay’s help pages, sellers can choose to offer local pickup as their sole shipping method or alongside other shipping choices. To facilitate these transactions, sellers are mandated to offer at least one approved electronic payment method, with the option to include a “pay on pickup” method as well.
In terms of validating local pickups, eBay has devised a unique solution to replace tracking numbers, which are typically required for shipped orders. For local pickups, sellers will generate a code—either a QR code or a six-digit code—that buyers must present to the seller when picking up their items. Sellers can enter this code into the eBay app to secure protection against Item Not Received claims.
Despite these enhancements, the local selling feature on eBay has not yet gained widespread adoption, and sellers have expressed ongoing concerns and confusion regarding the local pickup process. For example, in a recent discussion thread, a seller sought assistance after a buyer opted to pick up an item rather than have it shipped, leading to complications with payment release. Other sellers responded with suggestions to cancel the sale and relist the item with the correct shipping method if local pickup was not explicitly stated.
In another development, eBay is currently testing the integration of its listings with Facebook Marketplace. eBay CEO Jamie Iannone referred to this initiative as being in the early stages during a discussion with Wall Street analysts, indicating that the company is still gradually scaling up the test. Further details regarding this integration are expected to be shared during a Seller Check-in scheduled for March 7, 2025.
Source: Noah Wire Services
