These costs can be attributed to a need for high product quality, material handling complexity, uncertain and fluctuating production volumes, and an unpredictable breadth of product variants.
"They've been very successful at getting early-adopter shoppers to buy, but the majority of U.S. shoppers don't understand the breadth of product available on eBay, or that they can buy things for fixed prices".
Bwin's chairman, Philip Yea, added: "Bringing our two groups together will generate substantial financial synergies for the benefit of both sets of shareholders and create a strong player with the breadth of product, brands and geographic coverage to grow faster than either business would be able to achieve standalone".
"I think in terms of breadth of product, obviously, no one will ever beat them.
"But the leading paradigm of what an e-commerce experience gives you is one of efficiency, and one of breadth of product.
Since entering the market in 1991, Hitachi has led innovations in the 2.5 inch segment across every measurable category: areal density, performance, power management, acoustics, shock tolerance, reliability and breadth of product options.
