Bring shopping to life and join the conversation with eBay Live

Boasting an impressive 136 million active buyers worldwide, eBay has been at the forefront of person-to-person online selling since the 1990s. Now, with eBay Live, that same idea has been adapted to elevate the user experience. In fact, the platform has created a new experience altogether.

Traditionally, buying online involves looking at one or two static images of the product you’re interested in and reading a brief description about it. All of which may still leave you unsure of whether it’s the right purchase for you. With eBay Live, however, users can livestream auctions, giving buyers chance to ask questions of expert hosts and chat with other viewers before deciding whether or not to place bids.

This way, you can join conversations and understand more about what you’re buying before you part with your cash. Whether you buy or sell on eBay, keep scrolling to find out more about eBay Live video events.

Tune in to live auctions

Joining a livestream auction on eBay Live turns online shopping into an interactive experience. Viewers can drop comments and questions, and get instant feedback from the host alongside live demos. You also get the chance to chat with other viewers in the live public chat room, whether you’re looking for more opinions or want to connect through a shared interest in a particular product category.

There’s an auction atmosphere, with countdowns and competitive bidding, but the “buy it now” option still allows for instant purchasing, if auctions aren’t for you.

Exclusive, rare finds in motion

While eBay provides a platform on which to browse mainstream big-name brands, it is very much a cornucopia that is full of exclusive and niche items, too. A haven for buyers looking for collectors’ items and exclusive rare finds, eBay brings its specialities to eBay Live, creating a more interactive way to dig into enthusiast categories.

From vintage clothing and retro accessories to niche media – think specialised vinyl records, Pokémon trading cards or vintage toys – eBay Live lets you see products in motion, as close to IRL as possible, helping you to decide whether or not you want to start bidding.

Sellers’ perks

On the flip side, the benefits for sellers on eBay Live are clear. Building a personal brand becomes easier when it’s done in motion, whether it’s through the personality of the host or via the opportunity for brand storytelling. The proof is in the pudding, with live content generating 10 times more engagement than standard video, seeing higher conversation rates. It could be because pain points are easier to grasp through Q&As or live demos, but buyers are 40 per cent less likely to return items purchased via live sessions, too.

A click away

If the idea of a new way to shop sounds off-putting purely because it seems like a bit of a hassle to set up, eBay Live is integrated into the eBay experience, with ease of use in mind. If you already use the eBay app, it’s as simple as clicking a button on the app homepage, which takes you to eBay Live, where it’s then easy to move between auctions and areas of content. You can also just hop into an event by clicking on banners around the app or go with what takes your fancy from the live carousel of auctions displayed on the home feed.