Author: Ina Steiner

Ina Steiner is co-founder and Editor of EcommerceBytes and has been reporting on ecommerce since 1999. She's a widely cited authority on marketplace selling and is author of "Turn eBay Data Into Dollars" (McGraw-Hill 2006). Her blog was featured in the book, "Blogging Heroes" (Wiley 2008). She is a member of the Online News Association (Sep 2005 - present) and Investigative Reporters and Editors (Mar 2006 - present). Follow her on Twitter at @ecommercebytes and send news tips to ina@ecommercebytes.com. See disclosure at EcommerceBytes.com/disclosure/.

Escrow Part of eBay’s New Vertical Strategy

July 10, 2020July 10, 2020 Ina Steiner

eBay will make escrow services available on eBay Motors and in the eBay Motors App through a new partnership with Escrow.com, part of a new “vertical” strategy it revealed in January. In Wednesday’s announcement, eBay said of the partnership, “As Read more

eBay Australia Goes All in on Prime-Like Program

July 9, 2020July 9, 2020 Ina Steiner

eBay is retiring its “Premium Service” badge on seller listings as it goes all in on its eBay Plus program that offers paying members free shipping on eligible items. eBay told sellers this week, “The eBay Premium Service (ePS) badge Read more

Etsy Updates Pandemic-Related Product Attributes

July 8, 2020July 8, 2020 Ina Steiner

Etsy began allowing sellers to list face coverings in early April due to the demand from people concerned about COVID-19. It created a new category for handmade face masks called “Face Masks & Coverings,” as well as a new category Read more

eBay Advises Sellers on USPS International Tracking Changes

July 7, 2020July 7, 2020 Ina Steiner

eBay alerted sellers about changes to the US Postal Service’s international delivery confirmation that took effect last week (July 1), and it touted its own Global Shipping Program as an alternative to using USPS. eBay’s July 6th post said the Read more

Amazon to Open Fulfillment Center in Walmart Territory

July 7, 2020July 7, 2020 Ina Steiner

Amazon announced Tuesday it will open a new fulfillment center in Little Rock, Arkansas, only a few hours away from Walmart’s hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas. The news came the same day reports surfaced that Walmart is planning to launch an Read more

eBay to Expand New Local-Pickup Feature Internationally

July 6, 2020July 7, 2020 Ina Steiner

eBay will expand its new local-pickup feature internationally, the company announced on Monday. This spring, it introduced QR codes in the eBay mobile app that serve as proof of delivery for Local Pickup orders for US users. Some sellers who Read more

5 Weeks and $2 Million Get eBay Seller 4 Years

July 5, 2020July 5, 2020 Ina Steiner

In a 5-week period, a single online seller defrauded hundreds of customers out of nearly $2 million using eBay and PayPal, according to allegations by the Department of Justice. The government said the seller listed and sold gold bullion and Read more

Amazon Seeks Ways to Reduce Fraud and Fee Avoidance

July 5, 2020July 5, 2020 Ina Steiner

Amazon wants to sniff out shady messages between buyers and sellers, a patent filing reveals. Two big reasons for concern: fraud and fee avoidance. Amazon’s patent cited examples of how unscrupulous buyers might attempt to engage in various types of Read more

eBay Encourages UK Shoppers to Buy from Small Sellers

July 5, 2020July 5, 2020 Ina Steiner

eBay UK is running a promotion encouraging shoppers to buy from small businesses. Shoppers can save 20% on eligible items using the coupon code “PICKSMALLBIZ.” Unfortunately eBay doesn’t explain how it determines which items from which sellers are eligible for Read more

How People Are Celebrating Independence Day

July 3, 2020July 5, 2020 Ina Steiner

What’s the Fourth of July without a parade, barbecue, and fireworks? This year, those traditional Independence Day activities are in jeopardy, at least in some locales and for some people, due to the global pandemic. The National Retail Federation (NRF) Read more