Online marketplace Ebay is seeking to cement its position as a top destination for buying and selling luxury products with the introduction of a professional authentication service for new and pre-owned handbags sold on the platform for more than $500.
The service covers handbags from 16 top global luxury brands, including Saint Laurent, Gucci, Celine and Balenciaga, among others.
The announcement signals the latest expansion of Ebay’s authentication program, which launched with luxury watches sold for over $2,000, before adding sneakers sold for over $100 at the end of 2020.
The inclusion of luxury handbags means that Ebay’s authentication program now covers three of its top-performing categories. According to the marketplace, there are an average of 1.41 million handbag listings on Ebay every day, with five handbags being sold on the website every minute. Ebay sold more than 2 million handbags in North America in 2020.
The category has also seen strong growth recently, with purchases of luxury handbags from designer brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Prada, having risen 31% year over year, while sales of mini purses and clutches have increased 72% and 30%, respectively, since February.
