eBay Adds UPS Center

United Parcel Service said it has signed a deal to integrate its
online shipping services into the online marketplace at eBay .

The agreement “represents the first time a transportation company has
established a shipping center in an e-marketplace,” UPS said. Financial
arrangements were not disclosed.

eBay does, however, have an existing agreement with Mail Boxes Etc, which
offers an integrated area on the eBay site and provides “Internet rates” to
eBay users. That service offers delivery via UPS as well as FedEx, DHL and
the U.S. Postal Service.

Those services will remain available, said eBay spokesman Kevin Pursglove.
“The agreement with UPS will offer different services and appeal to different
categories of users,” he said.

UPS said that from their “My eBay” accounts, eBay members will have full
access to UPS shipping tools and services, so they can calculate UPS rates,
arrange for package pick-up, locate the nearest UPS drop off location,
determine time-in-transit, print a shipping label, track a package and even
open a UPS account.

UPS shipping tools can also be accessed in other areas of the eBay site such
as the seller services page, the shipping/postage page and through a link to
the UPS Service Center.

“Making UPS Online tools readily available to eBay members helps reduce the
transactional friction,” said Jeff Jordan, senior vice president of eBay U.S.
“Quite simply, the UPS Service Center will make it easier and faster for eBay
members to complete their eBay transactions.”

In a separate announcement, CAM Commerce Solutions said today
it has entered into an agreement with eBay to provide small- to medium-size
retailers and businesses with a total auction management software solution
that allows retailers to place, track, manage and fulfill listings on eBay
through its CAM POS and inventory management system. Financial arrangements
were not disclosed.

The auction management software includes inventory management, point of sale,
sales order processing, purchasing, receiving, customer management, accounts
receivable, accounts payable, general ledger, e-commerce Web storefront and
online payment processing for credit cards.