eBay Motors will launch a 1-year pilot program that will give private sellers who list their vehicles on the website an additional way to move their used car or truck.
Under the program to be rolled out in the third quarter, eBay is opening up its car classifieds to vehicle-reseller Vroom, which will be able to make direct offers for vehicles posted by private sellers. Vroom is an Internet-based service that allows consumers to purchase and finance vehicles online and then delivers the car or truck to the buyer.
Terms for the tie-up have not been disclosed. eBay says only ’00 models or newer with less than 100,000 miles (161,000 km) on them and with clean titles will be eligible to receive a Vroom bid. They will have seven days to accept the offer and will receive the cash payment within three days.
Offers will be made directly by Vroom only after sellers fail to receive or accept a bid for their vehicle during the listing period.
eBay says it is launching the program to help its customers increase their chances of selling.
The venture “provides an additional trusted channel through which to receive a cash offer and conduct a safe and fast transaction,” says Tony Hoang, head of vehicles for eBay Motors North America.
For Vroom, the deal represents a way to build inventory.
“Many of the cars we sell are purchased from consumers before we fully refurbish them and sell them to Vroom customers, we’re looking forward to adding cars from eBay Motors users to our inventory,” says Scott Chesrown, Vroom’s chief revenue officer.
