Microsoft Classifieds May Open Windows for eBay & Online Sellers
Microsoft’s recently launched Windows Live Expo (http://expo.live.com) bills itself as “a dynamic social listing service.” It is a free classifieds-style site with categories including Autos, Events, Housing, Jobs, Merchandise, People, Pets and Services.
The two categories of particular interest to eBay and online sellers are Merchandise and Services. eBay Trading Assistants can place a listing in the Commercial Services sub-category, while online auction sellers will find 24 sub-categories to sell their items in the Merchandise category.
Windows Live Expo allows buyers to search for items by distance from their location, or browse listings by category. The user can specify the search radius and, if no results show, national listings are offered in a section below the local results area. Search results can show the item locations on a map using Microsoft Virtual Earth (think Google Earth zoomed all the way in). It shows the area and each listing flagged on the map. Users can switch between a street map and aerial satellite map.
An advantage of the distance search is that users are not required to search on a webpage specific to their nearest city (which may be 70+ miles away) to find possible local listings. Such formats can deter both buyers and sellers in less centralized locations.
Users must register before listing items. If you already have an MSN Passport log in (such as a hotmail or MSN email account), you can sign in with that username and password and go straight to creating your screen name and confirming your address and account options. The profile allows you to upload a photograph, but they recommend you choose a picture that represents who you are rather than an actual photo of yourself (for safety reasons).
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