When eBay launched in 1995, it marked the beginning of a revolution in the way we shop. As one of the earliest ecommerce sites, eBay was initially intended for users to buy and sell used goods.
Ecommerce has changed in the last 25 years. With the increase in competitors, eBay has changed its business model from dealing solely in used goods to primarily selling new products from major retailers and professional vendors.
All that upheaval poses the question of this online marketplace relevance in 2022. To figure out where it stands, let’s look at some statistics.
Top eBay Stats: Editor’s Choice
- eBay had over 185 million active buyers in 2021.
- eBay’s monthly active user rate is over 885 million.
- eBay employs around 12,700 people.
- A whopping 71% of all purchases on eBay are shipped for free.
- There are about 1.7 billion active listings on eBay.
- About 80% of all sold items on eBay are new products.
- eBay controls 4.7% of the US online retailer market share.
- Over half of the platform’s revenue comes from outside the US.
General eBay Statistics
With so much competition in the ecommerce space, users have an overwhelming number of choices in terms of platforms to sell or buy products. eBay has been among the first options that spring to mind for a long time, and statistics for 2022 indicate that it will continue to be a key player in this market.
1. eBay had over 185 million active buyers in 2021.
In the first quarter of 2021, eBay had about 159 million active customers. That marks a slight decrease from the same time the previous year. However, due to the increased number of eBay users in June, the platform became the most popular one in the US. It accounted for about 45% of the online shopping traffic.
2. eBay has over 885 million unique monthly visitors.
Although Amazon dominates the market with over 2.4 billion unique monthly visitors, eBay is the second most visited ecommerce platform, at 885 million visits per month. This is almost twice as many as Walmart, which takes third place, with about 410 million unique monthly visits.
3. An eBay report reveals almost 35% of all US mobile shoppers use its app.
With a total of 476 million downloads, the eBay app is the third most popular mobile shopping app in the US, behind Amazon and Walmart. Stats show that three out of ten mobile users downloaded the app, translating into 66 million users per month.
4. eBay employs about 12,700 people.
eBay’s number of employees has remained steady for the last few years, after peaking at 34,600 in 2014. However, the company experienced a significant drop in numbers to 11,600 in 2015. The reason is many employees left around the time eBay spun off PayPal.
5. Approximately 71% of all purchases on eBay are shipped for free.
One of the more notable eBay trends—following in the footsteps of Amazon and other online retailers—is the increase in free shipping offers. Although it is an attractive option for buyers and is fast becoming an expected component of online shopping, it is not always the best option for sellers and should be carefully considered.
6. 61% of eBay users are aged 35 to 64.
46% of eBay users aged from 18 to 24 have purchased a used item through the site. However, data indicates that the majority of the platform users are between the ages of 35 and 64. What’s more, 44% of US customers aged 30 to 44 intend to increase their spending on eBay.
eBay Sales Statistics
eBay has stayed relevant in a competitive market by launching a mobile app, allowing vendors to sell new and used goods easily. The company also introduced the “Promoted Listings” feature, which gives vendors the chance to advertise their wares like they would on Facebook or Amazon.
7. Over 60% of eBay’s market GMV involves a mobile touchpoint.
In the third quarter of 2020, about $12 billion worth of merchandise was purchased via mobile devices. While many buyers still make their purchases via desktop computers, eBay demographics show that more than half of the users view a product on a mobile device before purchasing.
What’s more, mcommerce statistics indicate that 85% of US consumers use mobiles.
8. Over 940,000 sellers on eBay use the “Promoted Listings” feature.
Promoted listings help a seller boost the visibility of their product. As there are so many active listings on the site, eBay statistics for 2022 reveal it is best to invest a little in advertising your wares. Consequently, over 250 million items are promoted on eBay.
The way it works is that sellers only pay if the item sells, and eBay generated over $89 billion in revenue through promoted listings in the second quarter of 2019 alone.
9. The mobile and accessories category will likely hold the best-selling item on eBay for 2022.
Mobile phones and accessories are continuously on top best-selling eBay item lists and are predicted to continue to perform well in 2022. iPhone is the most popular brand for mobile phones, while brands like Otterbox, MyBat, and Storm Buy are the best-selling mobile accessories brands. Video games are the next best-performing category.
10. eBay has over 1.7 billion live listings.
eBay sales report indicates there are between 1.5 and 1.8 billion active listings on eBay at any given moment. That is hardly surprising, with over 19 million sellers on the platform worldwide. It presents a wide variety of opportunities for the 185 million active buyers looking to purchase goods through the site.
11. Sales of gardening essentials on eBay increased by 163% during the pandemic.
The COVID-19 lockdown measures had a huge effect on ecommerce. eBay trends fueled by the pandemic included gardening and home improvement supplies, exercise equipment like strength training weights and cardio equipment, and hobby items such as puzzles, Legos, painting sets, and VR headsets.
12. Around 80% of items sold on eBay are classified as “new.”
Although it started out as a used-goods site, competitors like Amazon and Walmart forced eBay to expand its offerings. In the last couple of decades, it has included new items, which now make up the bulk of its listed products.
eBay has been a significant player in the ecommerce field since its inception. Currently, the platform faces more competition than ever, but it remains an attractive option for many consumers worldwide. Let’s take a look at eBay’s performance on the market.
13. eBay’s US ecommerce market share is 4.7%.
eBay controls the third largest portion of the US online retailer market space. It is only surpassed by Walmart with 5.3% and Amazon with 38.7%. Furthermore, research indicates that eBay’s market share in 2022 will remain steady.
14. eBay’s number of active buyers decreased by 2% in the second quarter of 2021.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, eBay’s active buyers steadily increased by a high single-digit percent each quarter. However, the second quarter of 2021 saw a 2% active buyer decline. That likely has more to do with the pandemic’s effect on ecommerce overall than with eBay specifically.
15. eBay’s annual revenue in 2020 was over $100 billion.
eBay takes a small percentage of every transaction that happens on the platform. With over 2 billion daily transactions, those fees make up a large portion of the company’s revenue. eBay also earns money from its investment in and sale of smaller companies.
According to other ecommerce statistics, online sales are projected to make up 95% of all purchases by 2040, so eBay’s numbers in this area will likely increase in the coming years.
16. eBay had over $19.9 billion of Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) in the third quarter of 2021.
eBay changed its definition of GMV in December of 2021 to include only transactions that the buyer and seller consummated. Previously it encompassed all completed transactions, regardless of the outcome. That happened after implementing its own managed payments platform that brought greater insight into the transactions.
17. Over 50% of eBay revenue in 2021 came from international operations.
Although over 30% of eBay sellers are in the US, and 15% are in California, its users are scattered across 190 international markets. The company’s foreign operations generate over half its revenue—25% of eBay sellers live in the UK, 15% in Germany, and 12% in China. These four markets bring most of the company’s income.
Other Interesting eBay Stats and Facts
eBay tries its best to keep up with trends and popular practices to satisfy its customers’ demands and attract new audiences. Keep reading to learn more about it.
18. eBay customer satisfaction in 2021 was 77 out of 100 index points.
Customer satisfaction with online retail overall in 2021 was 78 out of 100 index points, signifying a 3.7% decrease from the previous year. Similarly, eBay statistics show its score in 2021 is a 2.5% drop from the satisfaction levels of 2020, which was consistent with other online retailers.
19. Auction sales make up about 12% of all eBay’s sales.
eBay has been able to remain competitive in the ecommerce space, but it has come at the cost of the company’s original business model. Auctions no longer drive revenue on the site—currently, most of the eBay transactions per day are fixed-price items, similar to how you would pay on Amazon.
20. About 40% of items sell on eBay.
Less than half of items listed on eBay actually sell. However, this is consistent with the number of items expected to sell on any ecommerce platform. New products perform better than old goods on eBay, purchased at a higher rate overall.
eBay Information: The Takeaway
eBay is still a relevant player in the ecommerce world. Despite the boom in online shopping sites and Amazon’s market domination, eBay is still among the most prominent companies in the US based on market value, number of monthly active users, and reach.
The company also demonstrates that it is looking to the future by exploring NFTs and cryptocurrency. As more and more online marketplaces shift in this direction in 2022, eBay will ensure its relevance by jumping on these trends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is eBay still popular in 2022?
Yes, eBay is still popular in 2022. It connects sellers and buyers in over 190 markets around the world, and it’s the second most visited online marketplace.
The decline in the company’s active buyers and revenue in the last half of 2021 likely indicates a market shift linked to the COVID-19 pandemic rather than a problem with eBay’s business model.
In short, eBay is still a vibrant player in the ecommerce space and will likely remain so with the adoption of modern technologies and popular trends like cryptocurrency and NFT.
How many sellers are there on eBay in 2022?
In 2021, there were over 19 million sellers on eBay, and this number is expected to increase in 2022. Over half of the merchants are in the US and UK, followed by Germany and China.
The UK comes second, with 25% of all sellers. Meanwhile, these four countries host 86% of eBay merchants. The US is on top of the list, with 31%. What’s more, 15% are located in California.
How many sellers are there on UK eBay?
After the US, the UK is the second-largest eBay market for sellers. Namely, about 25% of all platform merchants live in the UK. What’s more, the platform has 22 million active users in the country and over 164 registered profiles.
The vast majority of sold items in the UK (80%) are categorized as “new.” Also, only 14% are purchased on auction, while the rest have fixed prices.
How much does the average eBay seller make?
The average annual salary for an eBay seller is listed as $34,004, but there is no reliable way to calculate the income. A few sellers make as much as a million dollars a year. However, over 34% of eBay merchants earn less than $10,000 a year.
The majority of sellers on eBay, about 35%, make between $10,000 and $100,000 a year, but success depends on a number of factors, including personal skills and choice of niche. Amazon statistics indicate that sellers may find more success on Amazon than eBay.
What percent does eBay take?
The amount that eBay takes from each transaction ranges from 1.5% to 15% and depends on several things: whether you use eBay’s new in-house managed payments, the category you sell in, and whether or not you have an eBay store.
For example, if you don’t have an eBay store and sell watches and use managed payments, eBay will take 15% of your final earnings. If you don’t use managed payments, eBay stats from 2021 shows it takes 12.5%, but PayPal charges an additional fee on top.
For managed payments, many categories are tiered, meaning that if you sell over a certain dollar amount, the transaction fee will drop. On non-managed payments, there is usually a fee cap of around $750. Note that in 2022, all sellers must move to eBay’s managed payment system.
Sources:
Bigcommerce, Business of Apps, Ced Business, eBay Ads, eBay Inc, eCommerceBytes, Fundera, Marketplace Pulse, Oberlo, Statista, Statista, Statista, Wall Street Journal, Wall Street Zen, Web Interpret, Web Interpret