Letters to the Editor
Your emails to EcommerceBytes
For consideration, send your email to ina@auctionbytes.com with "Letters to the Editor Blog" in the subject line! Remember to include your name as you would like it to appear in the blog.

Fri Dec 29 2023 16:06:06

eBay Urges Sellers to Opt in to Paperless 1099-K Tax Forms

By: Reader

Dear Ina,
I don't really know why eBay sent this (email) out if the IRS is delaying reporting till 2024. Probably to match the 1099k they mailed out in error last year.
R.

Last call: Opt-in to paperless access to your Form 1099-K

Hi (name redacted),
Opt-in by January 8 to get your Form 1099-K online. Going paperless is convenient and the quickest way to access your Form 1099-K as soon as it's available for download.

As a reminder, online marketplaces like ours are required to issue a Form 1099-K to sellers that meet certain transaction thresholds during a given year. We issue the form by January 31 of the following year, ... Read More

Comments (14) | Permalink

Wed Dec 27 2023 10:06:52

eBay Seller-Accepted Offers Remain Listed for Sale

By: Reader

Dear Ina,
For the past few days buyers have been sending me offers and when I accept them, the item no longer goes to the "sold awaiting payment" section, it stays active.

I called eBay and they told me it is a new rollout that the item will stay active until the buyer pays and that other buyers can come along in the meantime and make a higher offer or buy it outright. Then the buyer whose offer I accepted will be out of luck.

This is going to cause so much hate from buyers, it is unreal.

Please keep me anonymous if you post this. Thanks and love ... Read More

Comments (41) | Permalink

Fri Dec 22 2023 21:37:28

Disaster after Amazon Switches from UPS to Flex in Rural Town

By: Reader

Dear Ina,
Amazon Flex delivery for Prime orders has recently infected our little mountain town and it's a complete failure. I live in a rural area in the southwestern United States - a small mountain town in New Mexico. Many of us here pay the yearly fee for 2-day Prime delivery because - well, shopping is a challenge in rural areas.

Previously, our Amazon Prime orders would be sent by UPS. We would always receive them in 2-3 days no problem. Until they built an Amazon distribution center in the next-nearest city and it all went to hell. No more UPS, the drivers are all ... Read More

Comments (11) | Permalink

Thu Dec 21 2023 20:30:16

Walmart Seller Loses Appeals of Incomplete-Return Claim

By: Reader

Dear Ina,
I have an issue that I was hoping your readers could give some advice. I sold a new item on Walmart marketplace for $699 and the customer returned the item back to me as no longer needed. When I received the item back, it only included part of the package. It was missing most of the components including the original packaging and parts inside, leaving me an unsellable item.

I immediately contacted Walmart support to report this issue, but they told me I needed to refund the customer first before issuing a dispute. I am on auto returns with Walmart.

After the refund was issued, ... Read More

Comments (13) | Permalink

Tue Dec 19 2023 08:35:50

eBay Inserts Rival Listings Ahead of Item Description

By: Reader

Dear Ina,
I just got exposed to the new eBay listing page. I was much taken back by the positioning of competitive listings between my product pictures and my verbal description.

This is gross overreach by eBay, and will hasten my plan to leave next year sooner than later after 25 years.

If I'm paying for my space, I should be collecting rent.
R.

Comments (29) | Permalink