eBay launches Workshop Service

Parking bumps leave a damaged taillight behind, the warning light indicates worn brake pads, the next oil change is due: Repairs on the vehicle are often associated with high time and cost efforts.

eBay now offers a convenient and cost-transparent solution: Buyers of vehicle parts can now book the workshop service at a nearby specialized workshop online. Users can compare prices for parts and services with just a few clicks.

Transparency provides security

This transparency provides security: Before booking, the total amount for the selected item and its installation in the desired workshop is displayed, and payment for both items is also processed on the platform. Additionally, users can see at a glance when the next service appointment is available. The offer includes numerous parts categories, from headlights and brakes to engine parts and suspension elements.

This is how the eBay Workshop Service works:

1. Enter vehicle data: Register the vehicle details in the parts finder or via the manufacturer key number and type key number. Or select a pre-saved vehicle from "My Garage".
2. Find matching parts securely: With the parts finder, only items that fit the selected vehicle are displayed. Confirmation is provided by a green checkmark and the note "Fits your vehicle".
3. Order with peace of mind thanks to the eBay Auto Parts Promise: If a part unexpectedly does not fit, even though eBay showed it as fitting, return shipping is free within 30 days and the money will be refunded.
4. Select a nearby workshop: eBay offers the workshop service during the ordering process, provided it is available for the selected vehicle part. A map and list of nearby partner businesses, including distance and installation costs, will appear.
5. Choose the desired appointment: The available appointments are displayed, and the appropriate appointment can be selected immediately. Users are not bound to opening hours or reliant on a telephone appointment setup. Booking can be done around the clock. Once the desired appointment is booked, the order just needs to be completed. Payment for the replacement part and workshop service is done in one step. The replacement part is then delivered directly to the workshop on time. Buyers only need to come to the workshop at the agreed time and have the service carried out.

Workshop Service in Response to Demand

eBay is responding to a growing demand among its users with the new offer.

"Many customers find workshop prices too high or lack trust in the invoice," says Andreas Wielgoss, Senior Director at eBay Motors. "With the new service, eBay offers absolute price transparency, allowing for forward-looking cost planning without compromise. Therefore, the majority of eBay customers have also reacted positively to the idea of being able to book workshop services directly on eBay, as we observed in preliminary tests. Additionally, it is becoming increasingly difficult to repair newer vehicles on one’s own. As technologies become more complex, some tasks that experienced DIY enthusiasts used to handle themselves now need to be taken over by a professional workshop. This is another reason why more and more drivers are using our affordable and convenient access to spare parts and their installation. Moreover, the noticeably rising cost of living and increasingly longer retention times for vehicles lead people to seek cost-effective options for repairs and maintenance more intensively," Wielgoss continues.

As a partner, eBay could win the renowned workshop portal repareo. Here, independent businesses are as active as well-known repair chains, brand workshops, and car dealerships. The goal is to offer 80 percent of users in Germany a workshop within less than ten kilometers—a short distance is thus another plus point. With the claim "We only refer workshops where we would also send our best friends without hesitation," eBay customers are given everything they need to make the right workshop decision. To this end, the independent portal offers its customers the opportunity to learn in detail about the upcoming work scope and, after the clear price calculation on eBay, directly book a desired appointment with the selected workshop online.

Conveniently Book Parts and Service Without Leaving the Website

Customers can purchase the part and book the installation in a single transaction without leaving the website. The ordered parts are delivered directly to the selected workshop. Currently, the selection includes new parts, including complete repair kits (for example, for brakes).

To ensure that the parts fit securely, the search is conducted via the vehicle part finder: Here, the user enters their individual vehicle data, such as make, model, and year of manufacture. It is even more precise with the alternative entry of the HSN and TSN numbers (manufacturer key number/type key number), which are on the vehicle registration certificate. Afterward, the eBay search only lists parts that fit the entered vehicle.

Added to this is the eBay Vehicle Part Promise: If a part should not fit, contrary to expectations, although eBay displayed it as fitting, the return shipping is free within 30 days of receipt, and customers get their money back.

Currently, the eBay Vehicle Part Promise covers a broad portfolio from brake pads to wiper blades to spark plugs. Tires and complete wheels are currently still excluded from the eBay Vehicle Part Promise, but the green checkmark still lets users know that the desired products are compatible with their vehicle.