How you buy things on Facebook is changing in a big way - and eBay sellers are part of it

eBay and Facebook are teaming up in a surprise move that will affect how people buy and sell on both platforms.

Out of the blue, Meta announced on Wednesday that eBay listings will now appear on Facebook Marketplace.

Buyers would then click through to complete their purchase on eBay. The move should incease the quality and quantity of items for sale, as well as the quality. 

The feature is being tested in the US, Germany, and France. 

It is an effort to appease European regulators who say Facebook has too much power.

'This could benefit people using both platforms,' Meta explained.

'eBay sellers will gain exposure to Facebook's audience while people using Marketplace will be able to discover a broader array of listings from the eBay community.'

In recent years eBay has struggled to compete with its ecommerce rivals like Amazon, Walmart and Temu. It has since focussed on niche markets such as vintage luxury goods and collectibles. 

Users are returning to the site looking for used and refurbished goods in a strained economic environment, CEO Jamie Iannone told CNBC in October. 

Meta made the adjustment after the European Commission fined the company $825 million in November for tying its Marketplace product to the main Facebook app in an anti-trust case. 

The EU regulator argued that the bundling was anti-competitive given Facebook's reach of three billion global users.   

'While we disagree with and continue to appeal the European Commission's decision on Facebook Marketplace, we are working quickly and constructively to build a solution which addresses the points raised,' the company said. 

eBay said the integration will give the site a chance to 'increase exposure to our sellers' listings, on and off eBay, as part of our strategy to engage buyers and deepen customer loyalty.'

It is not the first time that Facebook has made such a deal, having announced a similar partnership with Amazon back in 2023. 

It is the latest user change to eBay since the resale site introduced a one-click cancellation option in August. 

'Buyers now have the option to request an order cancellation using the Cancel order button before the item is marked as shipped,' eBay said in the announcement. 

'You retain full control to either accept or decline cancellation requests,' it continued.

'You’re protected from neutral or negative feedback for any cancellation requests made through our updated process, regardless of whether you accept or decline.'