Ebay To Launch OEM Trade-In Program

By Amy Gilroy On Dec 20 2004 - 8:00am

Internet giant eBay says that certain subcategories of used car A/V goods are skyrocketing, including sales of OEM equipment pulled out of cars for replacement, which is prompting eBay to start a dedicated program for reselling OEM discarded goods.

While overall 12-volt growth hit about 13 percent on eBay this year through October, some segments saw up to 200 percent growth, with OEM products gaining 100 percent, eBay said.

With the shift to new-generation satellite radio product, sales jumped 200 percent in that segment as customers sold off first generation models, said consumer electronics director Karl Whiley.

Installation products such as harnesses and installation kits are growing at a rate of 150 percent, he said.

eBay said the value of OEM gear in the second-hand market is little known to both consumers and retailers. “A lot of people don't think there's any value for this,” Whiley said, noting that a factory OEM radio for a Chrysler Durango sold on eBay for over $200 with seven bids.

eBay is promoting this trend as a means for authorized retailers to earn extra cash. EBay said it would offer a program next year that will help retailers to “take old stuff out of people's cars and sell it on eBay. That allows the retailer to give store credit to help drive upgrade sales,” said Whiley, adding, “Independent retailers are the ones who tend to feel most threatened by the Internet and this gives them a tool to actually use the Internet to their advantage to help their profitability.”

Whiley, said of course, retailers can do this on eBay right now, but that eBay will be working on a formal program for retailer trade-ins for next year.

eBay also just launched a fit guide feature through a program with Mobile Toys called a Car Kit Compatibility Check. It allows buyers who are looking into car audio items on eBay to click a button to open a window that will tell them if an item will fit their car.