RefreshClassifieds

Cozybug.com has launched a Facebook Application to promote its advertising services inside Facebook.  The Facebook Application platform allows third-party applications to extend Facebook’s base functionality.  The CozyBug.com Facebook Application connects the users listings between CozyBug.com and Facebook.  Unfortunately the application does require a Cozybug.com user name and account so users have to leave Facebook to create an account.  Once they setup an account their classified ads can appear inside Facebook, including their profile page.

Facebook has already created a Marketplace Classified application and its not clear how the Cozybug.com application hopes to differentiate.  The Facebook Marketplace application is installed by default for all users but the Cozybug.com application needs to be found and installed.  Currently there are 9 active users of the CozyBug.com application and several million of the Marketplace application.  In addition Facebook has recently launched a new book sharing component showing that it still intends to evolve the Marketplace application.

Buy.com has launched a Facebook application to promote it classified sales service.  Buy.com generally competes with ebay for both auction and classified sales but offers a flat rate comission regardless of the size of the purchase.   The new application aims to connect buyer and sell inside the Facebook community.  The Garage Sale application lets users display items they have for sale on their profile pages and promote that they have items for sale to friends they think might be interested.

Facebook already has a classified application called Market Place, that is installed by default for all users.  The Buy.com Garage Sale will need to be installed by users to use the service but aims to differentiate from the Market Place application by providing a payment system inside of the Facebook environment.  Buyers will be able to purchase immediately through the system and the seller will his proceeds minus a 5% cut from Buy.com.

Its an interesting business model but its not clear how necessary or relevant a payment system will be for Facebook based classified sales.  In most cases its expected that Facebook classified sales will be local and with goods being exchanged for cash.   Buy.com is probably not the last service to enter into the extremely popular Facebook platform.