EBAY

Why Does Ebay Have Problems In Its Asian Market?

Why Does Ebay Have Problems In Its Asian Market?

There are several reasons why EBay failed trying to enter and get a foothold into the Asian Markets. American companies as a whole have had difficulties trying to get into the Asian Global market beginning in the year 2000. The biggest reason is our cultural differences(Kandiuk, 2007). EBay was an outsider and did not understand the cultural market there. By understanding our cultural differences we will understand why EBay was unable to successfully enter the Asian market.

The main concept is a word, Guanxi . Guanxi describes the basic dynamic in personalized networks of influence, and is a central concept in Chinese society. At its most basic, Guanxi describes a personal connection between two people in which one is able to prevail upon another to perform a favor or service, or be prevailed upon. (Ansfield, 20047) Chinese companies are winning because they understand the market better and the power of Guanxi. A foreign company will never have the Guanxi of a Chinese one. Period.

Guanxi also goes hand in hand with corruption. China is the most corrupt place (next to Africa) in the world. Ebay just does not know how to use Guanxi or bribe the correct officials to get into the game. No other place in the world can you observe Government officials driving around with their mistresses in expensive cars next to peasant farmers pulling donkey carts on the 4th ring road of Beijing. If you want to get into anything in China, pay out enough bribes to officials to get the market share you need to lead. It's very short term, but it may give you the advantage.

E-bay has taken a 49 % stake in the venture with Tom Online Inc. Tom Online ...