online auction company called eBay. The information gathered on eBay was gathered through various techniques including the Ten Commandments of case analysis, ESP-TE, PETR-PEC and AM-FAMUS. The report tries to therefore present eBay's strategic and long-term plans, criteria objectives, and other key data facts through statistical information and models and other indicators of key success factors. The report is presented in a SWOT analysis format so as to simplify

Ebay needs of to pay attention to brand equity and get back to the basics of offering good customer service to its customer base. Otherwise, it is an open market for anyone to step in and take their place. Losing focus of brand and company vision has been the downfall of many corporate giants. References Consumers Union. (2007). Winning at Ebay. How to bid smart & play safe. Consumers Reports.org. August

References Black, G.S. (2005). Is eBay for everyone? An assessment of consumer demographics. SAM Advanced Management Journal, 70(1), 50-51. Accessed from Questia.com at http:// www.questia.com/read/5009563642?title=Is%20eBay%20for%20Everyone%3f%20an% Assessment%20of%20Consumer%20Demographics. Calvert, S.L. (2008). Children as consumers: Advertising and marketing. The Future of Children, 18(1), 205-206. Accessed from Questia.com at http://www.questia.com / read/5027351357?title=Children%20as%20Consumers%3a%20Advertising%20and%20 Marketing. Hagel, J. & Armstrong, a.G. (1999). Expanding markets through virtual communities. The McKinsey Quarterly, 1, 140-141. Accessed from Questia.com at http://www.questia.com / read/5000569332?title=Net%20Gain%3a%20Expanding%20Markets%20through%20Vir tual%20Communities. Parrish, D.A. (1999, August). Technology for

Further, eBay's gross merchandise volume - the amount of goods passing through eBay's various marketplace platforms -shrunk by 22% in the last quarter (Buley, 2009). The company had misjudged the potential compatibility between Skype and the Marketplace business (Burrows, 2009). EBay sellers were uninterested in phone chats with customers (Barret, 2009). Although the company has announced that it will spin off Skype via an IPO, next year, the economic environment

In October 2009, "eBay announced layoffs of 10% of its 16,000 workers" (Fowler 2009, p.1). Because eBay makes more money from expensive transactions, it is shifting its 'common standing' or overall plan to focus more on large sellers, rather than small, quirkier, or independent businesses. "Mr. Donahoe is shifting the site's emphasis away from auctions and toward fixed-price listings. The moves have divided sellers, some of whom complain that big

However, it must be careful not to expand too far into venues that undercut its business model of relatively low operating costs. It also must remain vigilant against fraud -- the worse the state of economy, the more likely fraud will occur, as people try to make money any way they can. eBay's use of the 'Bill me later' program which was designed to help consumers who had difficulty finding