Meta have announced the launch of a test in Germany, France, and the US that will enable buyers to browse listings from eBay directly on Facebook Marketplace while completing their transaction on eBay.
eBay are pretty happy with this, but it’s not been done by Facebook as a favour, it’s to stave off complaints from the EU that Meta imposed unfair trading conditions on competitors’ classified ads services to benefit Marketplace. In addition to a fine, the EU ordered Meta to stop engaging in this behaviour.
Meta are appealing the EU’s $840 million saying no harm no foul, but at the same time say that they are working quickly and constructively to build a solution which addresses the points raised.
While the European Commission could not find any evidence of harm to competitors, they claim the entry and expansion of Facebook Marketplace has the potential to hinder the growth of large incumbent online marketplaces in the EU instead.
– Meta
This is all potentially good news for eBay sellers with no action required on your part. Simply keep listing on eBay as usual to enjoy the benefits of broader visibility and the chance to reach a new audience of buyers through Facebook Marketplace. The entire process, from product inquiries to payments, will continue to be securely handled through eBay. That means your transactions, order details, and seller protections will all remain unchanged, even if a buyer first sees your product on Facebook.
We’re always looking for new ways to increase exposure to your listings, on and off eBay. Starting today, we’re thrilled to announce that we’re adding Facebook Marketplace to the growing roster of channels where your listings can be found. This week kicks off our collaboration, with a pilot of select eBay listings appearing on Facebook Marketplace in the US, Germany, and France.
– eBay
