The updated Half.com mobile app for iPhone is now available for download in the iTunes store.

The new app has the following updated features – including selling functionality:
- List items for sale
- Sort items when browsing to purchase
- Manage inventory (active sales)

Check out this video demo of the new app in action…

Key Features:

• Search or browse: Search or browse for millions of titles in books, textbooks, music, movies, games and game systems
• Barcode: Use the barcode scanner to search for the item you are looking to purchase or sell.
• Checkout and Payment: Use your Speedy Checkout setting with Half.com to checkout on the go. It is safe, simple and fast! 

• Manage your active listings – edit or delete your current items for sale.
• Gift Cards and Coupons: Enter your gift card and coupon codes when checking out to save even more

• Share: Found a great deal? Share via email or your favorite social network

Cheers,
RBH

Check out the following demo video to learn more:

Key features:
+ Popular item search by category available on the home screen – see what others are buying.
+ Speedy Checkout has payment and shipping information saved to complete the transaction quickly. Add a gift card or coupon code when checking out to save even more.
+ Social Media Sharing function enables users to share favorite deals via Facebook, Twitter, and ema

Half.com also introduced the “Buying Wizard”. Based on the user’s criteria for item condition and seller feedback, the Buying Wizard (currently in Beta) identifies the lowest cost items and shipping discounts (if applicable) to help shoppers get the best deals on Half.com.

With three easy steps the Buying Wizard will match users with the best deal:
+ Add Products – Users select the minimum criteria for item condition and seller feedback.
+ Find Deal Button – Buying Wizard will display the best deal for you, based on the criteria you selected.
+ Add to Cart – Move the items from Buying Wizard into your shopping cart to purchase.

UPDATE:
This is exactly the app I’ve been looking for. The integration of the barcode scanning technology into this and our existing Selling App could be the most significant to date for eBay’s mobile application efforts. It was why I was so fired up about the acquisition of Red Laser back in June. In addition to the Half.com and Selling Apps, I’m interested to see how long it takes to be included as a future upgrade to other existing eBay mobile applications. It could end up being a huge hit with both buyers and sellers on eBay too. Walking through a retail store and seeing an item you want – or want to sell – and being able to scan the barcode to see how much the item is being sold for online and elsewhere. Total price comparison shopping at your fingertips.

Bottom line, mobile applications have changed how people buy and sell online in just a matter of months and this latest development only adds to that evolution. Today: students… tomorrow: everyone. Looking forward to trying it out myself.

Cheers,
RBH

1) We are testing a product-based experience in the media (books, music, movies, and video games) categories. For buyers, a product-based experience will make it faster and easier for them to find what they are looking for. For our sellers, a product-based experience will save them time and make it easier to list an item. Given these benefits, Our hope is to move this experience across the site for categories with a significant number of listings utilizing product details. Before doing so, we have to understand how our buyers will interact with this type of experience. To properly test this experience, we need to ensure significant SKU breadth and depth. A positive reaction to this test from our buyers would be a big step towards eliminating insertion fees in certain categories.

2) Great values in Media are a tremendous traffic driver for the entire site. Increasing our selection with the great values available on Half.com benefits all sellers regardless of category.

Importantly, while Half.com inventory will be discoverable, individual listings will not be searchable. In contrast, existing eBay.com media sellers will find that their individual listings remain searchable. For all media sellers on Half.com and eBay.com this presents a choice: sell your items through eBay.com, pay a $.05 insertion fee and receive exposure in both the product-based experience and through searchable individual listings; or sell through Half.com, pay no insertion fee and receive more limited visibility behind our product-based experience.

Cheers,
RBH

The above AB post yesterday previewed some changes coming soon to the Media and Jewelry categories on eBay.

In the media category: Condition values “Brand New”, “Like New”, “Very Good”, “Good” and “Acceptable” will take the place of the current values “New” and “Used”.

In the Jewelry category: eBay Item Specifics will be attached to the upcoming new Fine Jewelry categories: “Fine Bracelets”, “Fine Earrings”, “Fine Necklaces & Pendants”, and “Fine Rings”. Jewelry Condition will add “Used” to the existing “New” value.

Seems fairly straight forward when one reads through the AB post but Randy Smythe has taken a stab at going a few steps further and is predicting what this will mean for folks starting this Fall. I’ll be interested to see – over the next few weeks – how much he has right.

More details regarding the changes can be found over at the Seller Central.

Cheers,
RBH