Internet History Podcast 66. (Ch. 7.3) The Founding of eBay
15 snips
May 25, 2015 Discover the fascinating journey of eBay's origins as AuctionWeb, born from Pierre Omidyar's side project. Hear about the skepticism surrounding online commerce and how eBay shifted perceptions on trading goods. Uncover how trust and community fueled its rapid success, transforming a simple platform into a marketplace giant. The anecdotes provide an entertaining glimpse into the challenges faced by early entrepreneurs, reminding us of the grit behind innovation.
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Accidental Entrepreneur
- Brian McCullough relates to the accidental entrepreneurial journey of eBay's founder.
- His own first company evolved from a side project, mirroring this unplanned success.
E-commerce Evolution
- E-commerce, initially met with skepticism, proved to be a logical extension of existing commerce.
- It offered a new platform for various transactions, mirroring catalog commerce like Sears.
Online Classifieds
- Despite skepticism, eBay's concept was simply bringing classifieds online.
- This mirrored existing practices of selling items through classified ads, even expensive ones like cars and houses.
