eBay enters group buying with the launch of Social Shopping@eBay

eBay India, the e-commerce portal, has ventured into the group buying by introducing social shopping for Mumbai and Delhi residents, and sers get discounts as long as a minimum number of consumers opt or the deal.

The move positions eBay alongside US-based group buying website Groupon, which had recently announced its entry into India with the acquisition of Kolkata-based daily deal website SoSasta. (See: Groupon buys daily deal site SoSasta, enters India)

Social Shopping@eBay will offer tempting discounts on popular restaurants, spas, beauty parlours, retail discount vouchers, holiday packages and experiences, the company said in a statement.

''Social shopping builds on eBay's USP of safe, easy deals and provides a local experience to metro residents,'' said Ashish Shah, head – social commerce, eBay India.

Inherently social as consumers needs to spread the word for the deal to reach tipping point, eBay said that shoppers will get great deals on social shopping along with the flexibility to make a purchase as the deals have 30-day validity.

eBay India is India's biggest online trading community where anyone can sell or buy almost anything. The trading platform offers auctions, fixed price and classifieds modes of person-to-person trading on a wide range of product categories including technology, lifestyle, collectibles and media.