eBay keen to work with US agents

Auction giant ebay, which recently launched a travel section on its site, is stepping up efforts to work with US agents. If successful, the company may start forging relationships with UK agents.

eBay opened its travel section in June and accommodation has been the big seller, with demand for Florida properties particularly strong. eBay real estate, travel and new business vice-president, Doug Galen said: “Agents have seen so many websites offering them something, and it is more often than not hard to tell who is a friend and who is a foe. I think people are just starting to realise that we are a friend”.

Travel agents who want to sell on eBay go to the site and click on the “seller” button. This takes them through a series of prompts that ask for verification. Once sellers are verified, they can list freely in the future through an easier process.

Like its other sellers, agents pay a fee to eBay, based on the selling price. Mr Galen said: “eBay is part convenience, part entertainment and part great deals. There is a sense of friendly competition once you find something you like, which seems to be selling a lot of the product”.