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/.

Amazon Appeals to Low Income Shoppers with Discounted Prime

March 8, 2018March 8, 2018 Ina Steiner

Amazon is offering a special Prime membership rate to recipients of Medicaid, it announced on its blog. Medicaid recipients are now eligible for Prime for $5.99 per month. To qualify for a $5.99 monthly Prime membership, customers must have a Read more

Unintended Consequences of Amazon Automated Returns

March 7, 2018 Ina Steiner

Amazon made a change to its returns policy for apparel sellers, and according to one seller, it’s having an unintended consequence: she’s no longer offering exchanges as a result of the new system. Zu Adams sells apparel on Amazon and Read more

Missouri Gets Its First Amazon Fulfillment Center

March 7, 2018 Ina Steiner

Amazon will build its first fulfillment center located in the state of Missouri, it announced on Wednesday. The 800,000 square-foot fulfillment center will pick, pack and ship small items such as books, electronics and toys. Amazon currently operates a sortation Read more

Etsy Showcases Sellers as Part of International Women’s Day

March 6, 2018March 7, 2018 Ina Steiner

Etsy is celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8th by showcasing sellers in a global integrated marketing campaign. Etsy has 1.65 million women sellers – that’s 87% of its sellers – so it’s not surprising to see it embrace the Read more

Amazon Bans CBD in Germany?

March 6, 2018 Ina Steiner

Amazon has banned CBD products (cannabis compound) in Germany, according to Wortfilter. We’ve sent an inquiry to Amazon asking about the report. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound found in the cannabis plant (marijuana), and you can find many products listed Read more

Amazon Acquires GameSparks

March 6, 2018 Ina Steiner

Amazon acquired GameSparks, a technology company used by game-makers. TechCrunch had reported the acquisition in July, but confirmation of the deal only came this week. A page on the GameSparks site showcases how a popular gaming powerhouse uses its services: Read more

Two New Features Coming to eBay?

March 5, 2018March 5, 2018 Ina Steiner

Sellers have spotted two new features that may be coming to eBay – one provides shoppers with an estimate of the time it takes sellers to respond to offers (called Best Offers). The other is an unusual move to entice Read more

Pitney Bowes Gets Secret Weapon by Hiring Top USPS Executive

March 5, 2018March 5, 2018 Ina Steiner

Pitney Bowes made a strategic hiring when it plucked a longtime USPS executive for its own. If anyone understands the ins and outs of the US Postal Service and the needs of its business customers here and abroad, it’s Cliff Read more

Amazon Reportedly Eyes Consumer Banking Service

March 5, 2018 Ina Steiner

Amazon is in talks with banks to work on a customized branded service for its customers, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing “people familiar with the matter.” “The talks with financial firms are focused on creating a product that Read more

Sales Tax Chaos Has Been Unleashed on Sellers

March 4, 2018 Ina Steiner

Amazon and Etsy began collecting Washington state sales tax on behalf of third-party merchants this year in a move that caught many sellers by surprise. Next up, Pennsylvania. All thanks to “Marketplace Facilitators” laws. Sellers are dealing with regulation on Read more