When you buy a second-hand item, doubts are never lacking. Can the seller be trusted? Does the photo of that bicycle, that bag or that iPhone reflect reality? To answer these questions, they met in person and completed the transaction. But the development of e-commerce and the Covid-19 pandemic have changed people’s habits, even pushing them to go shopping with a few clicks on their smartphone. The Subito.it advertising platform, which specializes in the sale of second-hand items, has grasped these transformations and introduced a new service that allows the seller and buyer to manage and finalize the purchase process remotely. It’s called TuttoSubito: it comes and buys online, and the product arrives comfortably at home.
A method that guarantees the convenience offered by online commerce without sacrificing the security and quality required even when buying second-hand goods. “The amount paid is withheld by Subito. Only when the goods are delivered in the conditions described in the announcement, the payment is successful”, explains Fausto Dassenno, Chief Product Officer of Subito and InfoJobs. A service that tries to change the way users have used so far to buy with the platform: that is to say, you organize a meeting so you can see what you are buying. “With the ‘purchase protection’ function, the buyer’s money is withheld until there is confirmation of receipt of the goods”, adds the manager, specifying that “if the object does not correspond to the one seen in the photo in the advertisement or something had gone differently from what was agreed, the amount will be refunded “.
For the moment, only the collection of the goods to be sold and the delivery of those purchased at home are foreseen. But in the future the company plans to develop other ways to enable the exchange, perhaps in the office or at agreed collection points. These are considerations that depend on user requests and market standards. The same ones that prompted Subito to launch this new initiative: “E-commerce has been cleared of customs for some time, now everyone uses it. So we were already doing a strategic reasoning, when then the pandemic arrived that accelerated our plans” continues Fausto Dasseno.
With this service, the company aims to conquer new slices of the market populated by fierce competitors. In fact, at the moment, the platform has 13 million unique users per month. Furthermore, the value of transactions carried out via the internet represents an important share of the second-hand market. According to BVA Doxa data, in 2020 the exchange of used items generated 23 billion euros, equal to 1.4 percent of the Italian GDP: online accounted for 10.8 billion euros, or 46% of the total. “For now Subito has 2.3 million daily users, but we estimate to close 2021 at 2.8 million. In addition, we aim to attract above all Generation Z, for which integrated payment is a must have”, let us know from ‘agency.
How Tutto Immediately works
The seller takes the photo of the product, uploads it to the portal, entering the price and description, and sets the TuttoSubito shipping method. At that point, the interested user can choose whether to buy the item at the indicated price or to propose a different price, starting a negotiation. “Our editorial and interaction rules between the parties are rigorous, allowing us to identify those products that do not comply with the safety and quality standards set out in our policy. In addition, a moderation system is active on the chat and filters personal data”, he underlines Fausto Dassenno, specifying that email addresses, telephone numbers and other data are immediately intercepted: “Providing personal data and completing the transaction off the platform can involve the risk of cyber attacks”. Furthermore, in the event of disputes, the customer service is always active, which can intervene to reach an agreement between the parties. “Finally, there is the possibility of returns or any reductions, such as the purchase at a discounted price”, continues the manager of Subito.
Once the conditions of sale have been defined, the buyer can proceed with the payment: his money will be held by the platform until the order is processed and the package is received. Meanwhile, the seller receives a shipping label: he puts the product in a box and awaits collection. At that point you just have to wait for the delivery of the goods: if it is successful, the money will be released and transferred to the seller’s account. The purchase protection service is free for those who sell, while for those who buy it has a cost equal to 4% of the value of the object, in line with the market costs of this type of service, with a maximum ceiling of € 20.
For now, TuttoSubito is available in the entire Subito Market category (Electronics, Musical instruments, Music and Film, Books and Magazines, Garden and DIY, Collectibles, Sports and Hobbies, Everything for children, Clothing and Accessories, Furniture, Bicycles. ..) and Car and Motorcycle Accessories.
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