eBay and Twitter Join Forces -- But Is That a Good Thing?

Last month Twitter announced the launch of its new @anywhere service -- and eBay is going to be one of the first participating sites.

The service allows sites to integrate Twitter right into their interface, so Twitter users can easily tweet directly from that site without having to leave the site and log in to their Twitter account.

This means that eBay users can tweet about the products they see on eBay directly from eBay itself.

They will also be able to connect directly with any sellers or buyers with Twitter accounts, making it easy for them to exchange information quickly.



When you come across another eBay user with a Twitter account, you'll see a Twitter hyperlink. When you mouse over the hyperlink, a box will appear that includes that person's Twitter info and most recent Tweet. If you click on the link, you'll be taken directly to their Twitter profile.

eBayInk blogger Richard Brewer Hay calls the news very promising for buyers and sellers and says "it represents a growing trend we’ve been seeing over the past year that eBay is willing to knock down what had been until recently, indestructible barriers of entry."

However, some sellers believe Twitter's @anywhere service could become a nightmare for eBay sellers. They worry that it will create unrealistic expectations on the part of the buyers, who will then think that sellers should provide instant responses to their queries -- and will penalize those who don't by giving them lower feedback ratings.

Are you an eBayer who also uses Twitter? If so, drop us a line telling us how useful you think this new service is going to be for your business.