Soon after Google released its Google Maps application Paul Rademacher hacked through its code and created HousingMaps, a website that integrates Craigslist with Google Maps. Google liked Paul's work so they hired him and released a public API to enable other people to create similarly useful mashups. The move unleashed a ton load of creative work most of which is documented on the blog Google Maps Mania. Today this same blog highlighted a new Google Base service that lets users search for apartments with the help of maps. The site is very similar to Paul's original HousingMaps with the only difference that it incorporates a multitude of small housing databases including sites like Citi Habitats, Postlets, and GothamMarket -- but not bigger databases like eBay or Craigslist.
Should eBay make its listings available on Google Base?
One argument says that everyone should opt in to Base because the move would generate leads and drive traffic to one's site. A small company like Postlets would get the extra exposure that it needs to get off the ground and gain a following. A big league company like eBay is already spending a considerable budget on paid placement ads and would also benefit from some free exposure.
But let's look at the issue through a different lens. In European and Asian countries it's common to hear people say "MSN me". In that part of the world MSN Messenger is synonymous with instant messaging. Here in North America people say "Google it". Google is synonynous with search. Similarly, people also say "I got it on eBay". eBay is for many the first thing that comes to mind when someone wants to sell or buy online. It's sort of like a Pavlov reflex at the level of society.
Now take this scenario. eBay particiaptes in the Google Base program. eBay listings start to appear on Base. Consequently potential buyers would start to realize that it might make more sense to look for items on Google Base because the service gives access to ebay as well as other smaller marketplaces. In other words the eBay offering would become a subset of Google's. All other factors being equal, I would prefer to go shopping in the supermarket that offers more products from more suppliers. Three or four years into the game people's attitude toward eBay would change. And Google would replace eBay as the first place that people go to to buy things.
There is also another reason why eBay would want to say no to the search company. As a rule of thumb cobranding benefits the lesser known brand. Google is a top global brand but when it comes to listings eBay by far dominates. An association between the two companies would benefit the newcomer to the listings industry and not the world's online marketplace.
