EBay overhauls its look; embracing Pinterest-like style

E-commerce giant updated its homepage and logo, added new features and launched a new app

Big changes are afoot for eBay!

After looking relatively the same for the last 17 years or so, eBay has made a major overhaul of both its logo and its homepage, in addition to launching a bunch of new features, the e-commerce giant announced Wednesday.

The new homepage, which many have noted has a very similar feel to Pinterest, allows users to curate items and put them into a personalized homepage feed.

Below is a screencap of the new eBay homepage on the left, with the Pinterest homepage on the right:

"We're delivering a cleaner, contemporary look and feel; a more intuitive, convenient way to browse, decide and buy -- both globally and locally; and a new personal way to curate your own shopping experience and discover items perfect for you," eBay President David Wenig said in a letter on the new eBay homepage.

Other new features that eBay is rolling out today include changes to its search, checkout and seller pages.

It is launching easy-to-scan search results, which eBay says will now include “more inviting pictures that make it fun and easy to spot just what you want.” In addition, when a user clicks an item, they will see a stand-out picture up front, with details about the item.

Ebay is also revamping checkout, now allowing users to link their eBay and PayPal accounts, so they can checkout an item in just two clicks. This option will be available to all eBay users by the end of the month.

As for sellers, they will be given the option to link their Facebook fan or profile pages, and embed YouTube videos. 

Most of these new features will be rolled out in the next few weeks in the U.S., followed by a global launch in the coming months, Wenig said.

Along with its new homepage, eBay also changed its logo today for the first time in his history.

And, if that was not enough news for one day, eBay also debuted a new same day delivery app called eBay Now.

The app, which is currently only available in San Francisco, though an eBay spokesperson told me that new markets are being assessed, allows users to order items from retailers  in their area, including Finish Line, GNC, Home Depot, Macy's, Office Depot, RadioShack, Target, Toys R Us, and Walgreens. They will have their packages delivered to their door, typically within an hour.

The first three deliveries are free, and eBay takes $15 off the first order, too. After the first three order, each delivery during the beta period costs $5.  

"At this point in time, we are focusing our efforts on product enhancement and user adoption," eBay tells Vatornews.

What's behind the new eBay

The future of commerce is personal, global and mobile, Wenig said, and that is what eBay is trying to deliver with these new features.

“Technology is revolutionizing the way people shop, and eBay is shaping the future of commerce. In the next few years, the $10 trillion global retail market will be transformed. And consumers will enjoy unprecedented access and convenience. eBay will be at the center of this revolution for consumers. Blending the best of offline and online shopping, we will deliver products and experiences that surprise and delight, defining a new way to shop,” he said.

With its purchase of Svpply last month (a service I called “like Pinterest for clothes”) eBay was already showing that it was getting ready to make the shopping experience on its site more personal.

“With Svpply.com, eBay gains access to technology talent to further improve the shopping and selling experience for its customers. Svpply.com assets – including a talented team of six designers and developers – are well-suited to help eBay advance more personalized experiences and merchandising options on eBay.com,” eBay wrote at the time.  

(Image source: https://www.ebay.com/new)