Experiential Value in Group Browsing of Curios on eBay and In-Person: Implications for Future Platform Design

Abstract

eBay is the world's largest auction site, with a variety of antique, vintage and one-off items listed. In-person shopping for these frequently takes place within markets and antiques fairs, underpinned by a rich set of co-browsing practices. However, these collective shopping experiences are poorly supported online, with platforms predominantly designed to accommodate and support an individual user experience. Using collective autoethnography (CAE) over a period of 15 months we engaged in a series of (16) online co-browsing sessions using a configuration of video-mediated communication to co-browse eBay together, augmenting the interface to introduce sociality. This was supplemented by 8hrs of field studies split over two in-person co-browsing sessions within physical retail locations. From these studies we draw together insights on the experiential nature and practices of co-browsing on and offline, presenting recommendations to inform the design of future online retail spaces, with an aim to support better collaboration and sociality.