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/.

Sellers Should Heed Regulatory Actions against Amazon

September 27, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

Amazon is in trouble again for shipping dangerous goods, this time in the UK, and there’s a lesson there for all sellers, even if they aren’t shipping lithium batteries. Amazon was fined this month 65,000 pounds for breaching dangerous goods Read more

Another Scam Online Sellers Must Worry About

September 26, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

This story from the Delaware State News is cause for concern – hopefully it’s not the beginning of a trend. A woman noticed her mail stopped arriving – turns out someone filed a change of address from her home in Read more

Yahoo Reveals Breach – Does It Impact Yahoo Stores?

September 23, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

Yahoo announced on Thursday that certain user account information was stolen from the company’s network in late 2014 “by what we believe is a state-sponsored actor.” “Based on the ongoing investigation, Yahoo believes that information associated with at least 500 Read more

Amazon Continues to Broaden Its Retail Offerings

September 23, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

Amazon is expanding its Handmade marketplace to Europe and launched a new service last week that became public on Wednesday: photo printing. Shoppers can now turn to Amazon not only for books, electronics, toys, clothes, wine, art, and even some Read more

Etsy Tinkers with Search, Retires Treasury

September 22, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

Etsy told sellers on Wednesday it is conducting some tests of its search engine with the goal of making search more intuitive in time for the busy shopping season. The series of tests will “slightly” affect search on Etsy, the Read more

eBay Gets Hip on College Campuses

September 22, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

eBay is trying to reshape its image among the younger generation, and it toured college campuses to generate buzz. One student newspaper described the event held on its campus. Reporter Shelby Whitehead of the University of Tennessee – Knoxville’s Daily Beacon wrote: Read more

Online Sellers: Beware Vaping Crackdown

September 21, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

The FDA is cracking down on those who sell vaping-related products to minors, including online sellers. It began enforcing new federal regulations that make it illegal nationwide to sell e-cigarettes, cigars, hookah tobacco, and other newly regulated tobacco products to Read more

Etsy Adds Features to Pattern Stores

September 21, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

Etsy has added features to Pattern, which is a service that lets sellers set up a very basic website using the existing content, listings and tools from their Etsy shop. The new features are designed to help sellers with branding. Read more

Postal Systems Debate whether Amazon Is Friend or Foe

September 21, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

It may come as a surprise to learn that postal services from around the world are openly wondering if Amazon is friend or foe. It’s normal for online merchants to have mixed feelings about Amazon – it can be a Read more

eBay Runs Promotion to Boost Auction Listings

September 20, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

eBay is running a promotion to encourage sellers to list more auction listings, however, the promotion is by invitation only. Sellers can list up to 500 auction listings and pay no insertion fee. Invited sellers must first activate the offer, Read more