eBay Adds Local Channels

eBay Inc. Wednesday brought its popular auction content to the local level with the launch of its “Go Local” area.

As of Wednesday buyers and sellers can find auctions in 20 metropolitan areas around the country. The local content is designed so eBay (EBAY) community members can easily find items located near them and browse through items of local interest. The site also provides a convenient venue for trading items that are difficult to ship long distances, due to either size or fragility, the company said.

The Go Local channel features local auctions in
Atlanta, Baltimore/D.C., Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nashville, Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Philadelphia, Providence, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis and Tamp/St. Petersburg. It also features a search for specific items within each of the cities and a “Local Flavor” area that highlights selected auctions for the region.

Reed Maltzman, director of eBay regional, said the launch of the local sites was made in time to accommodate the upcoming holiday season as an alternative to local offline shopping.

“Launching our new local site in time for the holiday buying rush gives people a fun, convenient and
friendly alternative to the mall,” said Reed Maltzman, director of eBay regional. “eBay’s local sites deliver a distinctive regional flavor, providing a new marketplace where anyone can find great holiday gifts for family and friends.”

Local content has grown in popularity on the Web. Recently, a rise in usage of America Online’s (AOL) Digital City local guides prompted the company to expand its content to more than 200 metro areas.

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