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, Apple, and PayPal Go After Smaller Merchants

September 20, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

A series of announcements by online payment providers show the opportunity smaller merchants represent. Amazon, Apple, and PayPal all announced integrations with ecommerce platforms that provide store-hosting solutions for small and medium sized businesses. Ecommerce platforms and shopping carts are Read more

Etsy Beats out eBay for Search-Technology Firm

September 20, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

The same day Bloomberg revealed eBay was on the hunt for companies that make spell-correcting algorithms to improve search, Etsy revealed it had acquired one such company. Blackbird Technologies is a Silicon Valley-based company that uses advanced machine learning techniques and artificial intelligence Read more

eBay UK Holds Sale on Selling Fees

September 19, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

eBay is holding a sale on selling fees in the UK. Sellers can list up to 100 listings and pay no insertion fees; and if any of those items sell, sellers pay a maximum of 1 pound in commission fees Read more

Why Amazon Changes Won’t Benefit eBay in the Long Run

September 16, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

Marketing expert Scott Smigler of Exclusive Concepts believes Amazon rivals may initially get a small boost thanks to the crackdown on Amazon 3P merchants, but he doesn’t believe it will have a net positive effect on sites like eBay. Smigler Read more

Amazon Still Wins if Sellers Flee to eBay

September 16, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

Even if Amazon’s crackdown on third-party merchants means some will flee to other marketplaces such as eBay, Amazon could still benefit from those off-market sales, according to Sam St Leger of Feedvisor, who had been a member of Amazon’s Seller Services Read more

eBay Considers Expanding Promoted Listing Ads

September 16, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

eBay said Wednesday it is considering expanding its Stores Promoted Listings ad program in which sellers can bid for boosted placement in search results and pay only when there is a sale. Currently eBay Store owners can advertise only multi-quantity Read more

eBay Partners with Tool that Supports Amazon and Etsy

September 15, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

eBay is partnering with Sellbrite, a tool that helps sellers manage their inventory on multiple venues, including Amazon and Etsy. In an announcement about the deal, eBay VP of B2C Bob Kupbens said, “Sellbrite offers a powerful and intuitive multi-channel Read more

Etsy Puts Out Casting Call to Sellers

September 15, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

Etsy launched a global ad campaign on Wednesday featuring videos of vignettes that highlight products found on Etsy. Now the company is inviting sellers to submit their own videos for a chance to be featured in the marketing campaign. The Read more

Bonanza Adds Shipping Program in Bid to Go Global

September 15, 2016July 18, 2017 Ina Steiner

Bonanza is adding a new feature that is similar to eBay’s Global Shipping Program as the company looks to attract a greater number of global shoppers. Bonanza’s forthcoming Global Shipping Service (GSS) will be powered by Pitney Bowes through its Read more