The use of third parties enables eBay to connect online sellers to end-to-end solutions without requiring the marketplace to build a large-scale e-commerce fulfillment model from the ground up. EBay called Managed Delivery part of its “ongoing evolution to create a more managed marketplace,” showing a move toward further control over supply chain services, a strategy Amazon has also used.
The release states eBay will “negotiate highly competitive rates” on one-, two- and three-day shipping options with third parties on eBay sellers’ behalf. For smaller enterprises, this could also enable them to more easily and affordably offer free shipping, thereby attracting more customers. EBay has yet to release pricing information for the service.
