From the Editor – August 9, 2020

August 8, 2020 4:34 pm

The USPS continues to come under fire for delaying mail using the rationale of increasing operational efficiency. It’s a concern for many reasons, but particularly for small businesses who rely …
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Google Ups Its Ecommerce Game with Help of ‘Buy on Google’

August 8, 2020 4:33 pm

Google launched several new features recently that show how focused it is on providing services for brands, retailers, and online merchants, and how it is going beyond the advertising services …
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Online Sellers Group Beats Back Kentucky in Price-Gouging Lawsuit

August 8, 2020 4:32 pm

A federal judge has ruled that Kentucky’s attorney general violated the U.S. Constitution when he launched a wave of investigations of third-party sellers over alleged price gouging of essential supplies …
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Collectors Corner: Identifying Your Stuff, Part II: Silver and Silver-plate

August 8, 2020 4:31 pm

If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably spent many pleasant Saturdays combing yard, rummage, and estate sales for items to add to your collections or for resale. Until this year …
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EcommerceBytes Soundoff: Letters to the Editor – August 9, 2020

August 8, 2020 4:30 pm

In every issue, readers soundoff about issues important to them. From shipping issues to payment processing, from fees to online marketplace policies, EcommerceBytes Soundoff gives you a chance to air …
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PayPal Says Back to School Spending Up Despite Uncertainty

August 7, 2020 9:49 am

PayPal said back to school (BTS) spending is up despite the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic – and shopping lists now include safety supplies and remote-learning tech products. PayPal …
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eBay Credits Seller Account for End of Month Glitch

August 6, 2020 9:36 pm

eBay acknowledged a July billing glitch in a message to a seller who had filed a report, but will eBay credit all sellers impacted? eBay credited a seller for a …
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eBay Holds 25-Year Anniversary Party Virtually

August 6, 2020 9:15 am

eBay is holding a virtual event on September 25 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its founding. eBay will send swag and collectibles to sellers who register for the event …
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eBay Wants a Piece of Merchant Loans with LendingPoint Deal

August 5, 2020 9:43 am

eBay partnered with LendingPoint to provide loans to sellers, and presumably it will benefit financially from the deal. PayPal had been one of the go-to companies for eBay sellers looking …
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Walmart Gives Fashion-Selling Tips to Marketplace Sellers

August 4, 2020 9:54 pm

Walmart is offering advice to fashion sellers on a special landing page designed to help them succeed on its marketplace. The retailer says it anticipates a very different holiday shopping …
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Amazon Opens in Sweden

August 4, 2020 10:12 am

Amazon announced today it is preparing to launch the Swedish Amazon.se store “to delight local customers and give sellers the opportunity to expand their European business even further.” According to …
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Amazon Sellers Will Pay 2% Higher Fees in UK

August 4, 2020 10:03 am

Amazon is raising fees in the UK to cover the country’s new Digital Services Tax. Amazon told sellers it had entered into discussions with the government to take an approach …
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Etsy Eggs on Shoppers with Mastercard Sweepstakes

August 3, 2020 8:13 pm

Etsy is kicking off the month of August with a weekly sweepstakes to encourage shoppers to buy and pay for their purchases with Mastercard. In addition to giving away $5,000 …
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Etsy Expands Payments to Seven New Markets

August 3, 2020 9:54 am

Etsy announced it has rolled out its payments platform in seven new markets. Sellers in Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa, Turkey and the Philippines can now enroll. In the …
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Bye Buy, Rakuten Marketplace

August 2, 2020 8:46 pm

Rakuten is closing its marketplace, according to TechCrunch, and will wind down its operations over the next two months. The Japanese marketplace had acquired Buy.com in 2010 for $250 million …
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Amazon Gives Sellers Prime Day Pointers

August 1, 2020 11:53 am

Amazon is hosting a webinar for UK sellers who wish to learn more about Prime Day selling. In the session, Amazon will explain how sellers can use Prime Member Vouchers …
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USPS Says Treasury Is Not the Boss of Me

July 30, 2020 4:05 pm

Just because the United States Treasury is requiring the USPS to provide information about confidential negotiated contracts with its top customers doesn’t mean the USPS is ceding control, the Postal …
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USPS Agrees to Treasury Loans with Stunning Strings Attached

July 29, 2020 9:10 pm

Congress authorized the USPS to borrow $10 billion from the US Treasury Department as part of the CARES Act (the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act). But in negotiating …
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Amazon Wants to Help Sellers on Walmart and Elsewhere

July 29, 2020 5:01 pm

On April 1st, Amazon lowered its fulfillment fees for non-Amazon orders through its FBA service, known as MCF (multi-channel fulfillment). Now it’s offering select sellers the ability to send their …
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New eBay CEO Prioritizes Consumer Sellers, Gen-Y Buyers

July 28, 2020 11:27 pm

eBay CEO Jamie Iannone revealed his strategy on Tuesday for a “technology-led reimagination of eBay.” Unlike recent predecessors, the new CEO is placing importance on “consumer sellers” – those who …
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Amazon to Open Seventh Fulfillment Center in Tennessee

July 28, 2020 10:19 am

Amazon will open a new fulfillment center in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee next year. The facility joins others in the state, including fulfillment and sortation centers in Charleston, Chattanooga, Lebanon, Murfreesboro, …
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eBay Offers ‘Witnessed Authentication’ Service for Sports Memorabilia

July 28, 2020 9:40 am

eBay is offering a “witnessed authentication” service for sports memorabilia on its marketplace thanks to a partnership with PROVA Group. “Starting today, sellers can use PROVA Group’s services to verify …
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eBay Launches Brand Marketing Campaign in Germany

July 27, 2020 2:42 pm

eBay launched a new ad campaign in Germany. “Buy. To sell. eBay” is the slogan of the brand campaign. eBay is running the ads on all major digital channels and …
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Amazon FBA Sellers: Clean Out or Pay Up by August 15

July 25, 2020 3:51 pm

Amazon issued a reminder to sellers who use its FBA fullfillment service: clean out or pay up. FBA’s next long-term storage fee inventory cleanup date is August 15th. Sellers who …
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Online Selling Fraud with a Side of Tax Evasion

July 24, 2020 3:02 pm

Selling ill-gotten goods online is never a wise decision, and attempting to hide the proceeds from the IRS only compounds matters. The government says a company executive assistant bought unauthorized …
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Walmart Marketplace Warns Sellers to Expect More Returns

July 24, 2020 12:47 am

Walmart Marketplace warned sellers to expect higher return volume throughout the year related to COVID, and it made some adjustments to its policies as a result. “eCommerce volumes have seen …
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eBay Helps Advertisers Reach Back-to-School Shoppers

July 24, 2020 12:07 am

eBay wants brands that are trying to reach back-to-school shoppers to think of its marketplace when planning their advertising campaigns. In a recent post, it said there were 74 million …
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Amazon Announces First Fulfillment Center in El Paso

July 23, 2020 11:22 pm

Amazon will open a new fulfillment center in El Paso, Texas. The first in the city, it is expected to open next year. “We’re excited to be growing our operations …
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eBay UK Rolls Out New Buyer-Cancellation Requirement

July 23, 2020 10:59 pm

eBay changed the rules around buyer cancellations in the UK to conform with the policy for US sellers. As of last week, sellers may no longer simply cancel an order …
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eBay Bans Sale of Certain Pet Meds Citing COVID Policy

July 21, 2020 4:24 pm

eBay has banned the sale of certain pet medication citing its policy around potential cures for COVID-19. The ban applies to products containing Ivermectin on all eBay sites, according to …
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