EBay celebrates 10 years in Australia

EBay is celebrating its 10th anniversary since its launch in Australia in 1999.

In a statement, the company claimed its online auction and shopping site contributes an estimated $2.6 billion annually to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP); 0.27 per cent.

"EBay.com.au has come a long way in the past 10 years," managing director, Deborah Sharkey, said in the statement.

The site has attracted bargain hunters and businesses while also impacting the lives of many through online shopping. Despite its successes, EBay has also been a source of controversy due to the auctioning of ticket resales and secondhand software.

Despite these hiccups a US-based Seattle Judge has ruled that the sale of secondhand software is permitted, and EBay continues to facilitate sales of major concert tickets.

As most of the items on the site are user-generated, it is known to sell almost anything imaginable, ranging from former tennis star Pat Rafter’s ponytail to Nutri-Grains that look like ET.

“While eBay was once dominated by secondhand items sold by those who want to make a quick buck, the site has also become a mecca for those who love to sell brand new items, those who love a bargain and those that just enjoy the convenience of online shopping,” Sharkey said.

EBay provides 52,700 Australians with a primary or secondary income and 87 Australians each generated $1 million in sales in 2008 through the site.

Since the first item was sold, which was a Harmon Kardon amplifier, the shopping site has sold over 173 million items over the past decade, which translates to an item being sold every 1.8 seconds.

Since 1999, the site has accumulated 8 million registered users, an increase from the initial 9000.

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