Customer-to-customer (C2C) definition

What is Customer to Customer (C2C)?

Customer to Customer (C2C) is a business model in which customers can interact with each other, usually in an online environment. Two implementations of C2C marketplaces are auctions and classifieds. C2C marketing has grown in popularity with the advent of the internet and companies such as eBay, Etsy, and Craigslist.

How Client-to-Client (C2C) Works

C2C represents a market environment where a customer purchases goods from another customer using a third-party company or platform to facilitate the transaction. C2C companies are a type of business model that emerged with e-commerce technology and the sharing economy.

Customers take advantage of competition for products and often find items that are hard to find elsewhere. Additionally, margins can be higher than traditional pricing methods for sellers because costs are minimal due to the absence of retailers or wholesalers. C2C sites are convenient because there is no need to go to a physical store. Sellers list their products online and buyers come to see them.

Types of Customer-to-Customer (C2C) Businesses

Craigslist is an e-commerce platform that connects people advertising products, services, or situations. Craigslist not only provides a platform to buy, sell, and trade products, but posts monthly classified ads, such as job opportunities and property listings. This platform forces the seller to deliver the items directly to the buyer in person.

Etsy allows business owners to create their personalized website on which to market their products to consumers. The C2C site offers advice and tools to develop a business whose price varies according to the stage of development of the company. There’s also a “Sell on Etsy” app that helps manage orders, listings, and customer queries efficiently.

eBay offers two types of product listings: fixed price items and auction items. Fixed price items can be purchased quickly by selecting the Buy Now button. Auction items have a Place Bid button to enter bids and display a current bid price. These items are open for auction for a predetermined time and are declared “sold” to the highest bidder.

C2C market revenue and growth

C2C websites and similar platforms make money from fees charged to sellers for listing items, adding promotional features, and facilitating credit card transactions. These C2C transactions typically involve used products sold through a classified ad or auction system.

The C2C market is expected to grow in the future due to its profitability. The cost of using third parties is decreasing and the number of products put up for sale by consumers continues to increase. Retailers consider this a core business model due to the popularity of social media and other online channels. These channels showcase specific products already held by consumers and increase demand, leading to increased online traffic to C2C platforms.

However, C2C has issues such as a lack of quality control or payment guarantees. In some cases, credit card transactions are poorly supported, although the emergence of PayPal and other similar payment systems over the years has helped simplify payments on C2C platforms.

Special Considerations

The C2C market has grown over time as more companies have entered the space to facilitate C2C transactions. Many companies target niche markets and list specific products to appeal to unique consumers.

The C2C marketplace is growing in popularity among sellers looking to maximize their sales potential by connecting with customers they wouldn’t otherwise reach using traditional sales methods.

Online platforms such as Etsy, eBay and Craigslist attract customers who can locate most products or services at a price they are willing to pay.