eBay searching for more loyalty program ties
EBay Inc.`s eBay.com has an ambitious plan to connect through loyalty programs with a large number of companies offering consumer products and services that will let members spend their points at eBay, eBay tells InternetRetailer.com.
EBay expects to soon announce loyalty ties with several more partners, following its announcement earlier this week of its Anything Points program connections with American Airlines, Hilton Hotels and Sprint. EBay is accepting loyalty points from these partners for exchange into Anything Points that can be spent for anything sold through eBay, as long as the purchase transaction is conducted through its PayPal online payment service. For now, eBay only accepts points earned through other companies` loyalty programs, but it will consider letting its shoppers begin to earn loyalty points for purchases made through eBay.com, a spokesman says.
It connects directly with Hilton and Sprint, but connects with American Airlines through Points.com, an exchange service that also lets consumers exchange loyalty points among companies including J.C. Penney Co. Inc., American Eagle Outfitters and dozens of others. Points.com also connects indirectly with more than 600 companies through GiftCertificates.com and GiftCertificates.ca.
EBay hopes to connect with as many Points.com members as it can, a spokesman says. It will also use points exchange technology provided by Points.com to connect directly with companies outside of the Points.com exchange service, eBay says.
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