Tornado Highlights Vulnerabilities in Amazon Logistics

November 16, 2018 9:10 pm

Some Amazon customers in the Washington DC and Baltimore areas are experiencing delays in delivery estimates due to the tornado that struck a Baltimore Sortation Center on November 2, according …
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Postal Workers Run Ad against Privatizing the US Postal Service

November 16, 2018 10:39 am

The American Postal Workers Union and the National Association of Letter Carriers are running an ad in opposition to the White House’s proposal to privatize the United States Postal Service …
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How Mercari Selling App Is Tackling Shipping

November 15, 2018 11:44 pm

Mercari announced a new pack-and-ship service for sellers through a deal with the UPS Store. Mercari is like Craigslist only it’s a mobile app, and without the meetups – everything …
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eBay Urges End to Postal Disruption in Canada

November 14, 2018 10:50 pm

eBay has gotten involved in the postal strike in Canada a day after Canada Post suspended its service delivery guarantees due to delays it blamed on escalating rotating strikes by …
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PRC Approves USPS 2019 Postage Rates

November 13, 2018 4:50 pm

The Postal Regulatory Commission approved USPS postage rate changes for next year which are set to take effect on January 27, 2019. A first class Forever stamp will rise from …
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Etsy Feature Helps Sellers Who Offer Personalized Gifts

November 13, 2018 1:16 pm

Etsy launched a new feature to help sellers who offer personalized gifts so buyers can provide details before they complete the checkout process. The Etsy marketplace is known for handmade …
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Seattle-Based Amazon Does East Coast Split

November 13, 2018 11:31 am

The hunt for Amazon’s second headquarters, dubbed HQ2, is over, and the Seattle-based powerhouse has selected two East Coast locations: New York City and Arlington, Virginia (across the Potomac River …
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Gobble Up the Latest Amazon Prime Perk

November 13, 2018 12:33 am

Did you ever in your wildest dreams imagine a day when Amazon would be offering deals on organic turkey for Thanksgiving Day meals through its own brick-and-mortar grocery chain? It’s …
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Amazon FBA Launches Holiday Guide for Sellers

November 12, 2018 9:31 pm

Amazon FBA launched a holiday guide for sellers which it posted publicly today: “Shoppers are on their way! Get ready for peak gift-giving time with our 2018 Holiday Guide, and …
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eBay Kicks Off Black Friday Promo on Its Deals Site

November 12, 2018 10:39 am

eBay launched “Better than Black Friday” deals today in which it promises to match or beat the deals advertised in retailers’ Black Friday circulars that have already been made public, …
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Amazon Cuts Marketplace Sellers from Deal with Apple

November 11, 2018 5:19 pm

Amazon cut marketplace sellers from a new deal with Apple, according to Cnet. The deal allows Amazon to expand the selection of Apple products on its sites worldwide – but …
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eBay Offers Protection to Sellers Impacted by California Wildfires

November 11, 2018 4:06 pm

eBay offered protection to sellers impacted by California wildfires. It posted an announcement on Friday and provided a telephone number for sellers who wished to request that eBay protect their …
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From the Editor – November 11, 2018

November 10, 2018 10:04 pm

eBay hired a new head of Seller Experience last month but surprisingly made no announcement of the fact. Harry Temkin has a background in financial information and technology and is …
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How Sellers Feel about eBay Feedback and Why

November 10, 2018 10:03 pm

Is the eBay feedback system still relevant? We surveyed readers this month to find out. Seller feedback is an important consideration when making purchasing decisions on eBay, according to a …
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Tips on Optimizing Your Shipping and Return Policies

November 10, 2018 10:02 pm

How do you offer generous shipping and returns policies on your website to help first-time visitors feel more at ease about buying from an unknown brand, and do so without …
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Collectors Corner: Terry Kovel on Antiques and Collectibles Trends

November 10, 2018 10:01 pm

It’s no secret we’re big fans of the Kovels – their guides helped us immeasurably in our early days of online selling when we scoured yard sales and auctions for …
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EcommerceBytes Soundoff: Letters to the Editor – November 11, 2018

November 10, 2018 10:00 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 Lets International Customers Pay with Western Union

November 9, 2018 8:52 am

Shoppers in certain countries will be able to shop on Amazon and pay in person in their local currency through Western Union thanks to a new agreement. Customers in those …
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eBay Launches Seller Initiated Offers and Other Features

November 9, 2018 12:18 am

eBay launched new capabilities for sellers, including the ability to make offers to shoppers who are “watching” their listings, but is only making them available to a limited number of …
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Etsy Invites Sellers to Sales Event over Thanksgiving Week

November 7, 2018 3:14 pm

Etsy is inviting sellers to participate in a “Cyber Week” sales event on the week of Thanksgiving. Etsy will kick off the event on November 20 on its shopping app …
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eBay Deal with Russian Post Eases Selling to US and Elsewhere

November 7, 2018 3:03 pm

eBay is further helping sellers in Russia export to the US and elsewhere through a deal with the Russian Post. Russian sellers can process documents and pay for international shipping …
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PayPal Brings Merchant Financing Program to Germany

November 7, 2018 9:47 am

PayPal will help merchants in Germany with financing by expanding its Working Capital program, already available in the US, UK, and Australia. PayPal Businesskredit allows businesses to get a working …
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Etsy Grows GMS 20% in Third Quarter 2018

November 6, 2018 4:38 pm

Etsy grew sales 20.4% in the third quarter of 2018 (July, August, September), it announced on Tuesday. It grew revenue 41.3%, and raised its full year 2018 guidance. The much …
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Booksellers Boycott Amazon’s AbeBooks Marketplace

November 5, 2018 11:14 pm

Antiquarian booksellers are boycotting Amazon’s AbeBooks marketplace after it reportedly planned to close its site to sellers from Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia, and South Korea. Eureka Booksellers reports that hundreds …
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Amazon UK Turns Black Friday into 10 Days of Deals

November 5, 2018 4:09 pm

Amazon UK is turning Black Friday into 10 days of deals. Kicking off on November 16th and running through November 25, 2018, The Amazon.co.uk Black Friday sale will offer thousands …
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FedEx Announces Annual Rate Hike for 2019

November 5, 2018 2:55 pm

FedEx announced its annual rate hike for 2019, with the popular Express and Ground service set to rise an average of nearly 5%. FedEx SmartPost shipping rates will also increase …
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eBay Applies Tech Resources to Identifying Brands in Photos

November 5, 2018 2:05 pm

eBay is devoting tech resources to using Artificial Intelligence to identify brands in product photos. In a post on the eBay corporate blog, it wrote, “By understanding brand characteristics, we …
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Amazon Offers Free Holiday Shipping, even to Non-Prime Members

November 5, 2018 1:32 pm

Amazon is offering free shipping to all customers during the holiday season, including those who are not paying for Prime membership. The promotion kicked off in the US today, November …
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Tragedy Strikes Amazon BWI5 Sortation Center in Maryland

November 3, 2018 12:37 pm

A storm struck an Amazon sortation center in Baltimore, Maryland yesterday resulting in two deaths. The facility, known as BWI5, is located at Holabird Ave. Amazon Senior Vice President of …
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eBay Wants to Monetize Pixels on Every Screen

November 2, 2018 3:41 pm

eBay CEO Devin Wenig envisions having an algorithm decide where to place Promoted Listing ads on its site to help eBay monetize pixels on every screen. He made the remarks …
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Amazon to Open Another Fulfillment Center in California

November 2, 2018 1:20 pm

Amazon will open another fulfillment center in California. The 640,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Beaumont will fulfill such items as books, small electronics, school supplies, and home goods. The new facility …
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Etsy to Host Pop-up Markets on Small Business Saturday

November 2, 2018 12:13 am

Etsy will host pop-up markets featuring one-of-a-kind items in four cities on Small Business Saturday, a shopping event created by American Express that each year falls on the day after …
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Etsy Adds Search Analytics to Help with SEO

November 1, 2018 11:40 pm

Etsy’s Search Analytics tool is now available to all sellers, and the company will hold a chat session on November 7 to discuss the new tool and answer questions. Etsy …
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eBay Early Holiday Campaign Focuses on Deals Site Not Marketplace

November 1, 2018 12:07 pm

eBay kicked off its first holiday-shopping campaign today with “eleven days of holiday deals.” The campaign focuses on eBay Deals, a section of its site closed to the majority of …
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Canada Post Says Delivery Delays Are a Reality

October 31, 2018 5:10 pm

Canada Post warned customers that rotating strike action by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers has resulted in backlogs and delays in mail delivery. The two sides have been working …
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eBay Encourages Sellers to Offer Volume Discounts

October 31, 2018 4:57 pm

eBay is running a promotion to encourage sellers to offer volume discounts as a way to boost sales. eBay introduced the ability for sellers to offer such discounts last month …
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eBay Grows Marketplace GMV 5% in Q3 2018

October 30, 2018 7:20 pm

eBay grew Marketplace GMV (sales) 5% in the third quarter. eBay grew active buyers by 4% across its platforms in the quarter; it had boosted its investment in brand marketing …
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Amazon Fashion Brings ‘Try Before You Buy’ to Europe

October 30, 2018 1:39 pm

Amazon Fashion is bringing its “try before you buy” service to Europe. Amazon launched Prime Wardrobe in the US in 2017, available only to Prime members. The program is limited …
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ShippingEasy Releases Holiday Guide for Sellers

October 30, 2018 9:37 am

Christmas is only 8 weeks away, and ShippingEasy is out with its annual Holiday Guide, a free resource for online sellers that provides shipping and selling tips. The 31-page guide …
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Pitney Bowes Steps Up Its Ecommerce Game

October 30, 2018 9:31 am

Pitney Bowes has stepped up its game when it comes to ecommerce. Typically associated with enterprise shippers, it announced new apps available through its open platform SendPro, which launched in …
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Lawyers Sniff Around eBay Disclosure Practices

October 29, 2018 8:12 pm

Lawyers frequently target public companies on behalf of investors when there’s bad news that impacts their stock price, sometimes it seems purely by reflex. That’s what’s happening to eBay after …
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eBay to Begin Collecting Sales Tax for Minnesota

October 29, 2018 7:37 pm

eBay told sellers on Monday it would begin collecting sales tax next year on transactions where the buyer is based in Minnesota. eBay had previously informed sellers of its obligation …
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Etsy Tackles Seller Questions about New Online Sales Tax Laws

October 29, 2018 7:14 pm

Etsy hosted a discussion board chat to answer sellers’ questions about online sales tax. It provided some background, explaining that since the Supreme Court ruling this year in South Dakota …
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‘eBay Authenticate’ Runs Promotion to Encourage Consignment Sales

October 26, 2018 2:50 pm

eBay is running a promotion to encourage people to use its eBay Authenticate consignment service to sell their luxury handbags. “Sellers” (consignors) can receive a 50% discount on seller fees …
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New Shopify Feature Lets Sellers Track Costs and Margins

October 25, 2018 11:06 pm

Ecommerce platform Shopify added a new way for sellers to track costs and profit margins on the items they sell. In a blog post today, Shopify announced the addition of …
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Amazon Grows Sales 29% in Third Quarter 2018

October 25, 2018 4:32 pm

Amazon grew net sales 29% to $56.6 billion in the third quarter, compared with $43.7 billion in third quarter 2017. Excluding the $260 million unfavorable impact from year-over-year changes in …
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Amazon Launches Auction Marketplace to Liquidate Returns

October 25, 2018 4:13 pm

Amazon has partnered with B-Stock to launch Amazon Liquidation Auctions. The B2B (business-to-business) marketplace will sell bulk quantities of customer returns and overstock merchandise, according to B-Stock’s announcement. The new …
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eBay Holds 24-Hour Sitewide Flash Sale Today

October 25, 2018 1:23 pm

eBay is holding a 24-hour flash sale on most items on its site. Shoppers can receive a 10% discount on orders up to $100. The sale kicked off October 25 …
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Canadian Postal Disruptions Continue, Special Mediator Appointed

October 24, 2018 11:08 am

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) said the government appointed a special mediator today to assist Canada Post and the CUPW in reaching negotiated collective agreements. In the meantime, …
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Letter Carriers Say UPU Pullout Harms USPS, Helps Private Carriers

October 23, 2018 8:14 pm

The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) questions the motive behind the US decision to withdraw from the Universal Postal Union (UPU) over inbound postal rates from China, and it …
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Sears Bankruptcy Impacts Marketplace Sellers

October 23, 2018 2:13 pm

A reader who sells on Sears Marketplace is concerned that the company’s woes has impacted disbursements. Sears filed for bankruptcy on October 15th, but according to Internet Retailer, it sent …
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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

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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