Boxing Weekend: eBay’s Answer To Undesired Gifts

While Santa has been making his list and checking it twice, there are bound to be presents under the tree that are more gaudy than nice. But not to fear, for Boxing Weekend will be here, and eBay has expanded its support for the consumers who it holds dear.

This Boxing Weekend (Dec. 26-Dec. 27), eBay will partner with select Westfield shopping centers in states across the country, including California, New Jersey, Florida and Illinois to repurpose Boxing Day. This year, consumers can return their unwanted gifts — or duplicate gifts, as is highlighted in eBay’s video, made in collaboration with The Onion — at pop-up selling stations at these locations. eBay is also touting its eBay Valet service as a convenient way to turn unwanted gifts into cash.

Last year, eBay witnessed a spike in both new sellers and new listings in the days after Christmas, peaking the first Sunday in January. This year, the retail giant is prepared to streamline the process across multiple channels.

“We have a unique opportunity to extend the season by helping holiday wishes come true even after Christmas,” said Vincent Payen, Head of Consumer Selling at eBay. “We’ve made it easy to sell in-person, online, on the eBay app or with the eBay Valet service over Boxing Weekend. Whether it was a designer sweater that didn’t fit, or an older tablet that has been replaced by a new one, there is always a buyer among our global community of 159 million for whom it will be perfect.”

Customers will be able to list items themselves or enlist professional sellers through the eBay Valet service, a service which intends to make the sale easier. Valet sellers will estimate the price, take pictures of the item(s), list the item and safely ship it to a new buyer. eBay will also waive Valet fees this Boxing Day weekend. Customers who print an eBay Valet label will also get to keep 100 percent of the profits after their items are sold.

Lastly, those who live in select cities such as New York, Chicago, Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles are also able to tap into eBay’s pilot program with Shyp, which will offer free pick up and packaging for eBay shipments through Jan. 31, 2016.

“Partnering with Shyp is another way eBay is making the online selling process easier; the on-demand shipping service will pick up items you’ve sold, professionally pack them and mail them for you to the buyer,” Payen said.