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/.

eBay Expands Retail Revival to Canada

January 25, 2019January 25, 2019 Ina Steiner

eBay expanded its “Retail Revival” initiative to Canada on Thursday. The program helps local retailers sell online nationally and internationally. eBay said all three levels of Canadian government support the program launch in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This week’s announcement follows Read more

Amazon, Retailers Send First Class Message to Lawmakers

January 25, 2019January 27, 2019 Ina Steiner

Amazon, the National Retail Federation, and other representatives from the Package Coalition were in Washington, DC on Thursday advocating the importance of keeping 6-day and rural delivery affordable through the US Postal Service. “Our members who engage in ecommerce rely Read more

Free-Shipping Report: Surprise, People Want Free Things

January 25, 2019January 25, 2019 Ina Steiner

The National Retail Federation (NRF) said a study it conducted found “more online shoppers want free shipping.” While the headline above is facetious, it’s true that online sellers are frustrated over the expectations large retailers and marketplaces are setting when Read more

Bonanza Cofounder Quietly Departs

January 23, 2019January 23, 2019 Ina Steiner

Bonanza co-founder Mark Dorsey quietly left the company 2 weeks ago and is selling his shares in the company. He declined to provide details about the circumstances surrounding his departure, and Bonanza founder and CEO Bill Harding did not respond Read more

Etsy Reopens Discussion Boards after 2-Week Hiatus

January 22, 2019January 22, 2019 Ina Steiner

Etsy reopened its discussion boards after a nearly 2-week hiatus, along with Etsy “Teams,” the company’s version of groups. Etsy expanded the new forum topic sections, including adding a new shop critique section. Etsy said the new platform makes it Read more

eBay Once Again in Crosshairs of Activist Investor

January 22, 2019May 9, 2021 Ina Steiner

eBay is once again in the crosshairs of an activist investor, this time Elliott Management, which said it “beneficially owns” over 4% of eBay, making it one of the company’s largest investors. The last time an activist investor took aim Read more

eBay Frowns on Orders Wrapped in Amazon Smiles

January 21, 2019January 21, 2019 Ina Steiner

For a decade or more, eBay tolerated a selling practice known as “Amazon drop-shipping” that left some buyers confused or upset when their orders arrived in Amazon boxes. In 2017, eBay even told sellers it allowed the practice. But with Read more

Amazon Fights Image as Retail Goliath

January 21, 2019January 21, 2019 Ina Steiner

Amazon wants to change its image as a retail goliath and have people think of it as a platform for supporting small businesses. On Friday, it issued a press release to support that notion. Amazon particularly wants to be seen Read more

Sellers with Subscription Models: PayPal Is Making Changes

January 21, 2019January 21, 2019 Ina Steiner

PayPal is making a change to its subscription feature that allows sellers to offer recurring payments, subscriptions, automatic billing, and installment plans to their customers. PayPal announced that starting February 1st, 2019, it will be making a change to the Read more

eBay Raises Fees for eBay Motors in 2 Weeks

January 18, 2019January 18, 2019 Ina Steiner

Sellers will have to pay more to make their listings stand out on eBay Motors. The company announced a fee hike for two optional features – Picture Pack and Subtitle, which takes effect 2 weeks from today. According to the Read more