Posters began appearing in post offices yesterday promoting eBay's “Dream big, save big” contest and postal products and services.
The contest and the U.S. Postal Service products and services target small-business owners.
To enter the contest, small-business owners go to a special eBay Web site (www.ebaybusiness.com) and sign in with their eBay User ID and password or become a member of the community. They must answer a two-part question in the space provided: “If I won $50,000, what would I buy on eBay to help my small business and how would it make my business dreams come true?”
The winner of the essay contest gets $50,000 worth of eBay Anything Points, which can be used to buy computers and other business equipment on the eBay site, and a consultation from a small-business expert. The prize also includes a three-day trip for one person to eBay headquarters in San Jose, CA.
The contest began yesterday. Entries must be received by April 15.
The posters also promote the postal service's online shipping solutions and the new Carrier Pickup program in which carriers pick up product returns and other shipments from residences and businesses during their daily deliveries.
A postal Web site, www.usps.com/ebay, explains that eBay shippers can print and pay for Express Mail and Priority Mail labels with postage using their PayPal account or credit card. It also said that these shippers can have packages picked up through Carrier Pickup.
The posters are displayed in eBay's top 10 U.S. markets: New York; Los Angeles; San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose; Chicago; Philadelphia; Boston/Manchester; Washington, DC; Dallas/Fort Worth; Seattle/Tacoma and Atlanta.
