eBay Wants to Take Garage Sales Online

eBay has already disrupted local and person-to-person commerce, now it wants to literally bring garage sales online. The e-commerce company was recently granted a patent for "On-Line Garage Sale." "This application relates generally to garage sales, and more specifically to systems and methods for online listings of items in a garage sale. The application also relates generally to the creation and presentation of garage sale listings using a portable electronic device." eBay filed the patent in 2012. eBay explains that sellers can enjoy "parallel publicity" and additional exposure to potential buyers by including garage sale items in mainstream online offerings.