Offers to baskets tool set to join eBay Seller Initiated Offer

eBay have announced that an additional feature ‘offers to baskets’ is set to join eBay Seller Initiated Offer later this year.

The new tool will see sellers targeting shoppers who added merchants’ items to their baskets by sending them personalised messages to convert browsers into buyers. Offers to baskets will be available in mWeb, desktop and eBay native apps on iOS and Android.

The eBay Seller Initiated Offer — has started to roll out in the US, UK, Germany and Australia on desktop, mobile web and eBay native apps for iOS and Android.

Shoppers express interest on eBay by watching sellers’ items or adding them to baskets. For example, if a buyer adds shoes to their baskets or puts them on their watch list, that’s a signal that a buyer is interested in an item. The eBay Seller Initiated Offer is designed to connect merchants with prospects via a three-pronged approach:

1. Sending offers to watchers
2. Sending offers to buyers who have an item in their baskets
3. Sending offers to shoppers via messages

Sending offers to watchers and offers in a message have already launched. However, eBay plan to launch offers to buyers with an item in their baskets later this year.

How does eBay Seller Initiated Offer works?

The eBay Seller Initiated Offer enables merchants to track shoppers’ interest via Sellers Hub. They can go into ‘active listings’ to see the customers that have shown interest.

Sellers can send exclusive offers with messages, personalised for the target audience. These targeted alerts will go to buyers that are watching or have merchants’ items in their baskets. These messages reach up to the 10 most recent people who expressed an interest in the item, ensuring that the offer is always relevant. Shoppers will receive them in the eBay app or email.

‘I want to make a deal. Let’s make it happen.’

eBay say that sellers have asked for this feature through community groups, social media and other channels. The eBay selling team responded to that feedback with this functionality to address the needs of the sellers. The eBay Seller Initiated Offers gives buyers another reason to make purchases wherever they are in their day.

Part of these eBay Seller Initiated Offer tools is ‘offer in message,’ which is an expansion of how sellers can reply back to buyers. For a long time, eBay buyers were able to send a message to sellers asking for a better price and sellers could reply back with a better offer. Before this update, buyers could only accept that offer through eBay’s website. Now eBay enabled it through their mobile app, allowing more buyers to shop while they’re on the move.

For buyers, this is another means to connect with eBay sellers and let them know they’re interested. For sellers, it’s another tool for sellers to use in their business. In the online world, eBay think it’s important for a seller to be able to reach out and say, “I want to make a deal. Let’s make it happen.”

When eBay created ​Best Offer​, they aimed to allowed a buyer to start negotiating on items. eBay say the eBay Seller Initiated Offers are a way to expand that economic opportunity and help eBay sellers do more and work faster. This will enable more engagement between sellers and buyers, embracing eBay’s mission of “driving ecommerce through innovation.”