News

Anyone wishing to buy or sell items on eBay Canada can now do so in either French or English, or bilingually, the on-line auction house announced today.

At the top of each Web page, eBay has placed a toggle that will allow the buyer to search for items in either English or French. Sellers have the option of listing their wares wherever they want.

Francophone sellers, however, are encouraged to post their wares in both languages to maximize sales, said eBay Canada general manager Jordan Banks today. He called the French listings "enhanced access."

The "Français" toggle allows sellers to add a subtitle for free in a second language. Buyers can search in English, French or both languages at once. The site will be immediately populated with all items available to Canada and listed on eBay sites in the United States, Britain, Australia, France, Belgium and English Canada.

Registered eBay users who wish to receive their communications from eBay in French can go to "My eBay" and select French as their language preference.

Mr. Banks said that ever since eBay began business, francophones in Quebec have been enthusiastic users of the auction services, placing more than 12 million bids, Mr. Banks said. There are 5 million Canadians who are registered users of eBay, and 775,000 people in Quebec buy and sell on the site. Last year, Canadians spent more than $1-billion (U.S.) on eBay.

Mr. Banks said that more than 30,000 small businesses in Quebec use eBay as a primary or secondary source of income.

"With the French service," he said, "they can list locally and transact globally."

The new service is being kicked off with a charity auction by Montreal Canadiens goaltender Cristobal Huet, who posted a ceremonial first listing in French. The winner of the bidding will meet the hockey star, get airfare and accommodation in Montreal as well as two tickets to a March 17 game between Montreal and Toronto. The winner will also get $500 spending money, and memorabilia signed by Mr. Huet.

Mr. Banks said eBay will match the final selling price of the auction, and all proceeds will go to the children of the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Centre in Montreal. The auction (www.ebay.ca/huet) is open to all eBay users and closes on Nov. 2.

"I'm delighted that eBay Canada has opened up a new world for francophone Canadians who can now navigate the site in French," Mr. Huet said in a statement. "Bidding and winning will be all the more exciting."