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Chapter 1 Introduction to digital business and e‑commerce

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Part 1  Introduction

calculated such that it does not affect overall sales. In 

their 2012 SEC filing eBay note:

We regularly announce changes to our Marketplaces 

business intended to drive more sales and improve 

seller efficiency and buyer experiences and trust. 

Some of the changes that we have announced to 

date have been controversial with, and led to dissat‑

isfaction among, our sellers, and additional changes 

that we announce in the future may also be negatively 

received by some of our sellers. This may not only 

impact the supply of items listed on our websites, but 

because many sellers also buy from our sites, it may 

adversely impact demand as well.

In common with other global platforms like Amazon, 

Facebook and Google, eBay note the potential threat 

of the shift to tablet and smartphone platforms, stating 

that one risk factor is: ‘Our ability to manage the rapid 

shift from online commerce and payments to mobile 

and multichannel commerce and payments.’

There is also the common risk factors for online pure‑

plays of retaining an active user base, attracting new 

users and encouraging existing users to list items for 

sale, especially when consumer spending is weak.