eBay launches industrial automation category

San Jose, CA— eBay , the Web site known worldwide as the place to buy and sell everything from clothes, sporting goods, and musical instruments to real estate, cars, and jewelry, has launched an Industrial Automation and Control category within the eBay site that can be directly accessed at www.ebay.com/mro .

Automation and control products have been available in eBay’s Business and Industrial category since its launch in January 2003. The company launched the Industrial Automation and Control category due to increasing demand for the products. According to Laurence Toney, eBay’s senior category manager, businesses purchase $1 billion of business and industrial items annually on eBay. More than 144 million users are registered with the site.

The new Industrial Automation and Control site offers goods ranging from surplus (new) and used PLCs, drives, motor controls, sensors, valves, and robotics from leading manufacturers, including Rockwell Automation’s Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schneider Electric/Square D, GE Fanuc, Honeywell, and Emerson Process Management.

“eBay’s industrial marketplace typically has more than 5,200 industrial automation items listed for sale,” says Toney. “Automation equipment typically sells on eBay for more than 50% less than retail prices. Many items are new, in their original packaging, and frequently the seller offers a one-year warranty.”

In addition, some sellers are offering items with a financing option. Equipment financing for eBay, provided by Direct Capital, enables buyers to secure funds needed to purchase industrial equipment.

If you have goods you’d like to sell on eBay, but are concerned about the auction format, Toney says a growing percentage of items are listed and sold on eBay at a fixed price.

Control Engineering now features links to eBay’s Industrial Automation and Control site on its home page at www.controleng.com .

Also, at this week’s ISA Expo 2004, Oct. 5-7, at the Reliant Center

Control Engineering Daily News Desk
David Greenfield, editorial director
dgreenfield@reedbusiness.com

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