eBay

eBay is an American e-commerce company headquartered in San Jose, California. Pierre Omidyar launched the site in 1995 under the name AuctionWeb, and it was renamed eBay in 1997. The company is listed on Nasdaq. It has offices in San Jose and other cities worldwide, and it earns money mainly from fees on completed sales and from advertising on the marketplace.

The platform lets individuals and businesses list items for sale by auction or at a fixed price. Categories include electronics, fashion, collectibles, auto parts and home goods. Sellers pay listing and final value fees.

eBay offers buyer protection, seller tools and a program that authenticates certain high-value items such as sneakers and watches. It sold PayPal in 2015 and StubHub in 2020. The company operates local sites in many countries and trades on Nasdaq. Competitors include Amazon, Etsy and Facebook Marketplace. Many sellers on the platform are small businesses. The company has also pushed into resale of refurbished goods, trading cards and pre-owned luxury items.