eBay Korea Introduces 'SellerFlex' for Immediate Delivery of Refrigerated and Frozen Foods

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] eBay Korea announced on the 13th that it has introduced the 'Seller Flex' method, the first in the open market to deliver directly from the seller's logistics center to the customer, strengthening the delivery of refrigerated and frozen foods.

Seller Flex ships products directly from the logistics centers of sellers participating in Smile Delivery as soon as customers place orders. Products ordered by 6 p.m. can be delivered the next day.

eBay Korea has not owned its own cold chain, making fresh food delivery difficult until now. Previously, sellers moved their product inventory to the Smile Delivery logistics center located in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, to participate in Smile Delivery.

Going forward, sellers with dedicated fresh food centers can utilize their existing centers without needing to move products when using Seller Flex. Categories with diverse small-quantity production such as fashion, beauty, and books can also significantly reduce inefficiencies caused by moving inventory, making the Seller Flex model suitable.

eBay Korea explained that while reducing the enormous costs involved in building a cold chain, the range of product choices available to Smile Delivery customers can be greatly expanded.

Seafood handling companies such as 'Bibi Susan', 'Suncheonman Susan', imported meat company 'Nuri Food', and live crab supplier 'Eunha Susan' have already started selling through Smile Delivery using the Seller Flex model.

Sellers using Seller Flex are exposed on the Smile Delivery tab within Gmarket and Auction, and benefit from separately contracted shipping rates. Fast dispatch and next-day delivery essential for fresh foods, as well as dedicated Smile Delivery customer service outsourcing, are also major advantages.

Song Seung-hwan, head of Smile Delivery Business at eBay Korea, said, "Seller Flex is the industry's first logistics model capable of handling fresh foods without a cold chain," adding, "We will strive to enhance the service so that Seller Flex can become an important pillar of Smile Delivery's growth in the future."