Walmart Gives a Boost to Marketplace Sellers

October 23, 2018 10:19 am

Walmart is giving a boost to marketplace sellers beginning in November. Scott Hilton, Chief Revenue Officer for Walmart eCommerce US, announced the news on the Walmart blog this morning. “We’re …
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Etsy Makes Category and Attribute Changes

October 22, 2018 10:46 pm

Etsy makes periodic updates to its category and attribute structure, and on Monday it announced its latest changes. This is no academic exercise, since it’s crucial in helping items get …
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eBay to Turn Off Some Terapeak Research Features

October 22, 2018 4:51 pm

eBay is turning off some research features in Terapeak next month, which it acquired in December 2017, as it integrates certain features into Seller Hub. In addition, eBay is unifying …
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eBay free listing promotion October 22 2018

eBay Runs Free Listing Promo as Holiday Shopping Ramps

October 22, 2018 12:49 pm

eBay is running a free-listing promotion to get more inventory on its site as holiday shopping ramps up. The invitation-only promo gives eligible sellers up to 500 free listings in …
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eBay, Obsessed with Smartphones, Launches Instant Selling

October 22, 2018 11:00 am

eBay launched yet another program to lure consumers into selling their smartphones. eBay “Instant Selling” allows people to sell certain smartphone models and get paid instantly with an eBay voucher, …
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PayPal Implies eBay Managed Payments Is Flawed

October 21, 2018 12:18 pm

PayPal implied eBay’s launch of managed payments is flawed because it doesn’t include PayPal as a payment option in its initial incarnation. It was no coincidence that two days before …
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USPS and Worker Union Extend Contract Negotiations

October 21, 2018 10:25 am

The USPS and the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) have agreed to extend contract negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement. The contract covers the wages, hours, and working conditions …
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eBay UK Caps Selling Fees in 4-Day Promotion

October 19, 2018 9:06 pm

eBay UK is capping selling fees in a promotion for private sellers (business sellers are excluded from participating). eBay advertised the promo on its UK homepage even though the terms …
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Fixing China Postage Could Have Unintended Consequences

October 19, 2018 3:24 pm

The US withdrawal from the Universal Postal Union could harm US exporters and have other consequences, according to the International Mailers Advisory Group (IMAG). The organization released a statement in …
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Be Advised of Possible Disruption to Mail in Canada

October 19, 2018 11:54 am

eBay and Etsy warned sellers they could be impacted by shipping disruptions for mail travelling within, into, or from Canada. Canadian sellers are more likely to be aware of the …
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Amazon Expands R&D in UK

October 19, 2018 11:14 am

Amazon is growing its R&D departments in the UK, announcing this week it will be hiring more highly-skilled roles in England and Scotland. As part of the investment, it will …
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eBay Acquires UK Classifieds Site

October 19, 2018 10:07 am

eBay will acquire Motors.co.uk, a “leading UK-based classifieds site that makes the car buying and selling process intuitive and simple.” The site, owned by Cox Automotive, will become part of …
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PayPal Reports Third Quarter 2018 Results

October 18, 2018 4:45 pm

PayPal saw healthy volume growth in the third quarter ended September 30, 2018. It’s too early to see any impact eBay’s managed payments may have on its business, as eBay …
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SEC Charges Former eBay Employee with Insider Trading

October 18, 2018 9:56 am

The SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) charged eBay Inc.’s former Director of SEC Reporting with insider trading ahead of Xoom Corporation’s acquisition by PayPal Holdings, which, at the time, was …
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Amazon Plans to Hire 100,000 Workers for Holiday Season 2018

October 18, 2018 9:43 am

Amazon is hiring 100,000 seasonal workers in the US across its network of customer fulfillment and delivery facilities, it announced this week. Last year at this time Amazon announced it …
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Trump May Axe China Postal Rates, Would Small Sellers Win?

October 17, 2018 11:37 am

eBay was first to exploit terminal dues to create special postal rates for Chinese companies selling into the US and Europe known as ePacket, and now President Trump may upend …
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eBay Launches Calculator to Show Managed Payments Savings

October 17, 2018 1:23 am

eBay launched a calculator to help sellers determine how much they could save using managed payments. While eBay chooses to focus on cost savings – which can be significant – …
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Mail in Canada Could Be Disrupted Next Week

October 16, 2018 11:49 pm

Canadian postal workers may disrupt service as early as Monday if deals cannot be reached over the weekend, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) announced on Tuesday. Canada Post …
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Walmart Goes after Auto Parts and Collectibles; Acquires Fashion Brands

October 16, 2018 10:32 pm

Walmart is expanding its selection online and off through partnerships and through acquisitions. It is creating an automotive specialty store on Walmart.com in partnership with Advance Auto Parts; it’s introducing a …
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PayPal Raises Fast-Transfer Fees for Personal Accounts

October 15, 2018 4:10 pm

PayPal is raising one of its withdrawal fees for personal accounts. It costs nothing to withdraw funds to a linked bank account, and that won’t change. But PayPal also offers …
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Amazon Shows It Can Swim with the Sharks

October 15, 2018 11:06 am

Amazon has become an official retail partner for “Shark Tank,” a popular television program that features entrepreneurs pitching venture capitalists for funding. Select startups and entrepreneurs that “Sharks” have invested …
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eBay Plus offers video streaming promotion

Can Video Streaming Bolster eBay Membership Program?

October 15, 2018 10:21 am

eBay is offering video streaming as an incentive for signing up to its Plus shopping membership program in Australia. The deal indicates eBay and Stan Entertainment Pty Limited are feeling …
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Amazon Tells Sellers about Third-Party Ad Tools

October 15, 2018 10:07 am

Amazon has grown more comfortable telling sellers about tools available from third-parties. On Thursday, it published a post on its Amazon Advertising blog announcing two directories where sellers could find …
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From the Editor – October 14, 2018

October 13, 2018 8:26 pm

It’s been a busy month in ecommerce. In the last week alone, sellers praised eBay’s decision to lift restrictions on Markdown sales, while they remained skeptical over eBay’s claims about …
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The Online Seller’s Guide to USPS Shipping Rates for 2019

October 13, 2018 8:25 pm

The USPS filed its shipping rates for 2019, and it’s making some drastic changes that will impact online sellers. It’s not an across-the-board rate change, so some sellers will be …
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Branding and Social Media Help Seller Expand Beyond Etsy

October 13, 2018 8:24 pm

Miss Design Berry is a memorable name, and if you type it into Google, you’ll find Ms. Berry’s website and marketplace shops and social media pages prominently displayed. She appears …
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Postal Connections ISold It drop off stores

eBay Drop-Off Stores Adapt to Changing Times

October 13, 2018 8:23 pm

By adding the iSold It service for eBay sales, the Postal Connections business model now provides a single point for listing and fulfilling items through eBay. “We believe our new …
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Collectors Corner: Black Cats

October 13, 2018 8:22 pm

What do you do if a black cat crosses the sidewalk in front of you? Why, you pick up the poor thing (actually, it’s safer to use a trap), take …
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EcommerceBytes Soundoff: Letters to the Editor – October 14, 2018

October 13, 2018 8:21 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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Amazon Sells Clothes on the Streets of London

October 12, 2018 9:34 pm

Amazon is opening a pop-up store in London to showcase fashion brands, but it will only be open for 5 days. The Amazon Fashion pop-up will be located on Baker …
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eBay Sellers in Canada Rely on US but Face Shipping Barriers

October 11, 2018 9:26 pm

eBay published a report showing sellers in Canada are highly reliant on US exports. While optimistic, they face challenges in selling into the US market. eBay said nearly half (47%) …
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Etsy Adds Search Analytics to Improve Listings

October 11, 2018 8:11 pm

Etsy has begun rolling out a new search analytics tool for sellers to provide them with insight into how their listings perform in search; note that Etsy is keeping the …
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eBay Interviews HoneVille on Managed Payments Experience

October 11, 2018 2:26 pm

eBay published an interview with eBay seller Danny Hone of HoneVille about his experience using its new managed payments (MP). eBay has received some pushback from sellers about the lack …
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PayPal Users Can Cash In and Cash Out at Walmart Stores

October 11, 2018 1:39 pm

PayPal announced a collaboration with retail giant Walmart that gives “cash in, cash out” capabilities to PayPal customers. Beginning in November, people will be able to move money in and …
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eBay Sets New Limitations for UK Click & Collect Program

October 9, 2018 9:32 pm

eBay UK sellers should be aware that the marketplace is changing the terms of its Click & Collect service, which lets shoppers purchase from eBay UK sellers and pick up …
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Bonanza Promotes Its Partner Program for Sellers

October 9, 2018 9:00 pm

Online marketplace Bonanza reminded sellers of the tools available to them through third-party partners. In a blog post on Tuesday, the company said it wanted to help sellers end the …
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eBay Lifts Markdown Manager Restriction for the Holidays

October 9, 2018 5:17 pm

eBay rolled back a new policy that had restricted sellers from running markdown sales in certain circumstances. eBay had imposed the restriction in June, though it exempted some sellers from …
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eBay Motors Raises Fee with Duration Change

October 8, 2018 9:17 pm

eBay Motors is raising fees as it makes changes to duration options for vehicles. Note that eBay charges different fees for vehicles than it does for eBay Motors Parts & …
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eBay Promises Protection to Sellers Facing Hurricane Michael

October 8, 2018 8:48 pm

eBay said it would extend protection to sellers impacted by the hurricane that’s headed to the Gulf Coast. Hurricane Michael is expected to hit the Gulf Coast as a major …
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Voice Activation Could Be a Game Changer for Online Sellers

October 8, 2018 9:43 am

ShippingEasy wants to liberate sellers from their shipping stations, announcing today an integration with Amazon’s Alexa voice technology. It’s the first cloud-based shipping platform to use “conversational user interface.” In …
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No Mail on Monday, But Postal Workers Won’t Be Idle

October 7, 2018 9:24 pm

There’s no mail service on Monday due to the Columbus Day holiday, but postal workers will be showing up at postal facilities and at local Congressional offices around the country …
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PayPal Shows Off Abilities with Sports Team Deal

October 7, 2018 8:56 pm

PayPal has expanded beyond the traditional ecommerce payments transaction, and nowhere is that more evident than with a new deal in entered into with the Phoenix Suns basketball team. Fans …
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eBay Canada Points Out Changes Under New Trade Deal

October 7, 2018 5:35 pm

eBay Canada’s General Manager released a statement about Canada’s trade deal with the US and Mexico on October 1st, and on Friday, the company notified its sellers in a post …
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Facebook Marketplace Adds Online Merchant Deals

October 7, 2018 5:15 pm

Facebook Marketplace is adding “shopping and deals from e-commerce merchants” and “exclusive deals from retailers.” Over 33% of Facebook members use its classifieds-style platform every month according to the company, …
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Etsy Launches Integrations Toolbox Featuring Third-Party Apps

October 4, 2018 8:00 pm

Etsy announced a new Integrations “toolbox” featuring third-party tools available in sellers’ Shop Manager. Many of the apps are the same as on the Etsy apps gallery page, which it …
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eBay Looking for Canadian Sellers to Test Shipping Rate Tables

October 3, 2018 8:05 pm

eBay is looking for sellers in Canada to help it test its new shipping rate tables that will allow them to set shipping rates for 21 shipping zones across the …
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eBay Updates Sellers on Launch of Managed Payments

October 3, 2018 4:57 pm

eBay updated sellers on managed payments that began rolling out to a small percentage of sellers on September 24th. There’s been some pushback as sellers learned of major limitations of …
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Amazon Will Open Third Fulfillment Center in British Columbia

October 1, 2018 4:42 pm

Amazon will open a third fulfillment center in British Columbia, its tenth in Canada. Amazon operates a tech hub in Vancouver and also has fulfillment centers in Alberta and Ontario …
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Accenture Spots Holiday Shopping Trends

October 1, 2018 11:17 am

Consumers will spend more on holiday shopping this year, according to a new survey of 1,500 US consumers. They also appear to be less concerned with the economy and their …
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Halloween Represents Scary Amount of Online Sales

September 30, 2018 7:54 pm

Break out the candy corn, Halloween spending is expected to reach $9 billion online and offline, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). And when it comes to buying costumes …
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eBay Continues Investment in Visual Shopping and Image Search

September 29, 2018 10:00 am

eBay will continue working on improving its Visual Shopping feature and will expand it to additional platforms, according to a post on the eBay Tech Blog written by software engineer …
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eBay Lures Bargain Hunters with Coupon for Under-$10 Goods

September 29, 2018 8:26 am

As if $10 weren’t low enough, eBay is luring bargain hunters with a $5 coupon good for products listed in its Under $10 portal. It’s another sign that eBay believes …
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Amazon Shipping Is Back Up for Sellers after Outage

September 28, 2018 4:42 pm

Sellers desperately trying to get orders out the door on Friday ran into problems when Amazon Buy Shipping went down for about 2 hours. Sellers trying to print shipping labels …
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eBay Runs Another Sitewide Sale, This One in the UK

September 28, 2018 12:05 pm

One day after running a sitewide sale in the US, eBay is running another, this one in the UK. eBay UK is offering a 10% discount on Friday, September 28th …
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Understanding Etsy’s ‘Use’ Attribute in Listings

September 27, 2018 9:45 pm

Etsy has a field in certain categories that auto-populates based on the type of item a seller is listing. As a recent discussion on the Etsy boards indicated, it can …
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eBay Runs End-of-Quarter Sitewide Sale on Thursday

September 26, 2018 1:44 pm

Get ready for a sitewide sale on eBay on Thursday, another sale subsidized by the company. The 1-day sale takes place on September 27th and runs until 6 pm PT …
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How to Tell If Your Listings Offer eBay Managed Payments

September 25, 2018 2:11 pm

Sellers unsure whether their listings go through the new eBay Managed Payments (MP) program can check.* eBay notified sellers today through an announcement board post: “Sellers who have been invited …
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eBay Begins Payments Journey in US, Will Go International in 2019

September 25, 2018 9:51 am

eBay CEO Devin Wenig tweeted yesterday that the company had begun rolling out managed payments (MP) on Monday to the “thousands of sellers” who had opted in, and today, eBay …
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Etsy Runs Test Highlighting Recent 5-Star Reviews

September 24, 2018 8:17 pm

Etsy launched another test, this one highlighting recent positive reviews left by a seller’s customers. A new badge appears in the review section on sellers’ listing pages if they received …
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Amazon Introduces New Voice of the Customer Metrics for Sellers

September 23, 2018 9:20 pm

Amazon sellers are buzzing about a new metric called Customer Experience (CX) found in a dashboard called “Voice of the Customer.” It’s an interesting label, as Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos …
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eBay Holds Summit at Advertising Week NY 2018

September 23, 2018 8:36 pm

eBay Chief Marketing Officer Suzy Deering will speak at the Advertising Week New York conference in New York next month where eBay will also hold a half-day summit as part …
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Amazon FBA Offers Customers Free Replacements for Returns

September 23, 2018 8:29 pm

Amazon is now allowing customers who are returning an FBA item to choose to receive a free replacement rather than a refund, with “no cost” to sellers. Of course, the …
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eBay Security Concerns Extend to Employees

September 21, 2018 11:28 pm

eBay wants to move quickly to build a fence around its headquarters in California for the safety and security of employees, according to the San Jose Mercury News. eBay told …
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Etsy Tests New Timetable for Leaving Reviews

September 20, 2018 5:23 pm

Etsy is testing a new timetable for leaving reviews. Buyers use Etsy’s five-star review system (one being the lowest and five being the highest) to review their purchases. Currently, a …
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eBay’s Answer to Customer Service: Have Reps Work from Home

September 20, 2018 12:01 pm

eBay is hiring customer service representatives who can work from home, including 120 positions in the US. eBay launched the program, called eBay@Home, in Ireland in 2017 and also has …
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Etsy to Launch Search Analytics Tool for Sellers

September 19, 2018 1:17 pm

Etsy is readying a search analytics tool for sellers along with other resources it will launch in the coming months to support sellers. It also released today a new guide …
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eBay Celebrates Vinyl and Launches Authorized Reseller Hub

September 19, 2018 10:16 am

In 2015, a Record Store Day co-founder called advance eBay listings “fraudulent,” according to the LA Times. Three years later, eBay is collaborating with the organizers of what the Times …
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Amazon Launches in Turkey and Expands Saudi Arabian Trade

September 19, 2018 9:43 am

Amazon launched in Turkey and added a Global Storefront in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as it continues to expand internationally and grow cross-border trade. Amazon.com.tr offers millions of products, …
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Amazon Notifies Sellers It Will Collect Minnesota Sales Tax

September 18, 2018 11:55 pm

Amazon notified sellers it will begin collecting sales tax for orders shipped to Minnesota beginning October 1, 2018, which passed what’s come to be known as a Marketplace Facilitator law …
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eBay Bucks Promo Pushes Mobile App Use

September 18, 2018 10:42 pm

eBay is pushing its mobile app with the latest eBay Bucks loyalty promotion that kicked off today. The invitation-only promotion offers sellers 8% in eBay Bucks on every qualifying item …
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Hope for eBay Sellers Looking for Immediate Funds

September 18, 2018 3:17 pm

Right now, most eBay sellers receive payments immediately into their PayPal accounts. But as eBay transitions to take over payments itself, sellers will have to wait for disbursements from the …
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Amazon Builds Another Fulfillment Center in California

September 17, 2018 4:43 pm

Amazon is building a second fulfillment center in Stockton, California, the company announced today. It has created over 39,000 full-time jobs in California and invested over $19 billion in the …
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Etsy Monday Morning Performance Issues Now Deemed Resolved

September 17, 2018 2:01 pm

Etsy users had problems access the site this morning, as reported on Ecommerce EKG. Users also reported problems via DownDetector. Etsy kept users up to date on its Status board …
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eBay Postpones Penalty Fees in UK

September 17, 2018 9:41 am

eBay is postponing penalty fees in the UK, it told sellers there this morning. Sellers who accrue a certain percentage of claims for item not as described or item not …
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Amazon Launches Storefront Featuring Items from US Sellers

September 17, 2018 9:29 am

Amazon launched a new storefront featuring items from US sellers. With the public relations tactic, Amazon no doubt hopes to attract buyers who wish to support small US-based sellers while …
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Lawmaker Sticks Up for Amazon Sellers

September 15, 2018 11:32 am

A lawmaker is sticking up for Amazon sellers. Senator Warren told the New York Times that Amazon should be scrutinized for potential anti-competitive behavior. The problem, as she sees it, …
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Lawmakers Float a Bill to Freeze Sales Tax “Chaos” for Small Biz

September 14, 2018 11:55 pm

Republican and democratic lawmakers in Congress have introduced a bill that would be a huge relief to small businesses worried about online sales tax obligations in the wake of the …
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Jeff Bezos to Apply Amazon Principles to Nonprofit Preschools

September 13, 2018 5:48 pm

What if you took the principles of running an ecommerce marketplace and applied them to a nonprofit educational operation, with the child as “customer”? Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, …
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Etsy Eliminates Position of Chief Operating Officer

September 13, 2018 11:43 am

Etsy is eliminating the position of Chief Operating Officer. Current COO Linda Kozlowski will leave the company at the end of the year to pursue other opportunities. In announcing the …
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FedEx Ground Moves to Permanent Six-Day Delivery Citing Ecommerce Demand

September 13, 2018 10:26 am

FedEx Ground will now deliver packages 6 days a week in the US on a permanent basis thanks to ecommerce and the “dramatic and consistent” rise in demand for the …
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Etsy Moved Its Site to Google Cloud Last Month

September 12, 2018 8:26 pm

Etsy successfully moved its website to the cloud, it announced on Wednesday, along with its mobile apps. Etsy said it was done “with minimal disruption to our buyers and sellers.” …
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Sellers Help Amazon Business Reach $10 Billion in B2B Sales

September 11, 2018 10:41 pm

Amazon Business now reaches over $10 billion in annualized sales and serves “millions” of business customers, the company revealed on Tuesday. Amazon Business is a B2B marketplace – customers purchase …
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PayPal Capitalizes on a Strength Missing from eBay Payments

September 11, 2018 1:25 pm

PayPal launched Funds Now, giving sellers instant access to payments from online sales. The timing is interesting as it comes as eBay begins rolling out managed payments, where sellers will …
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eBay Intern Shows Practical Application of Gee-Whiz Technology

September 11, 2018 12:36 pm

A PhD candidate working as an intern at eBay shows there’s a practical side to investments in gee-whiz technology by companies like eBay. Muratcan Cicek published a blog post on …
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PayPal CEO Dan Schulman Joins Verizon Board

September 10, 2018 2:52 pm

Verizon added PayPal CEO Dan Schulman to its Board of Directors effective September 6, 2018. It’s worth noting that Verizon operates Yahoo Small Business through its Oath subsidiary, though we …
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Alibaba Founder Is Ready to Return to Education

September 9, 2018 11:29 pm

Jack Ma was a teacher in China before turning entrepreneur, but he succeeded in growing Alibaba into a global ecommerce powerhouse because he paid attention to the needs of small …
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eBay Repeats Coupon Promo – and Redemption Issues

September 9, 2018 4:46 pm

eBay is offering a $5 coupon this month as part of an invitation-only promotion. It kicked off on September 5th and runs through September 27th. Some buyers who received the …
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From the Editor – September 9, 2018

September 8, 2018 7:59 pm

In an unusual occurrence, Amazon’s search engine went haywire on Wednesday, and according to CNBC, it was followed by outages impacting the back-end system for tracking sellers’ orders and sales …
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More Info for Sellers as eBay Kicks Off New Managed Payments

September 8, 2018 7:58 pm

In the two months since eBay invited some sellers to participate in its initial launch of “managed payments” that is scheduled to begin this month, eBay has provided additional information …
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Online Sellers Stumped over Sales Tax Collection

September 8, 2018 7:57 pm

We’re getting questions from sellers about their obligations to collect sales tax after the Supreme Court overturned Quill with its ruling in June. Unfortunately there are no simple, one-size-fits-all answers, frustrating …
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