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 Redesigns Seller Central – Unnecessarily?

September 30, 2015August 4, 2017 Ina Steiner

Amazon sellers got a surprise this week when they went to the section called Seller Central where they manage their orders. Amazon rolled out a new design, and like any event that impacts a seller’s daily routine, not everyone enjoyed Read more

Regular Folk to Deliver Amazon Packages

September 30, 2015August 4, 2017 Ina Steiner

Amazon Fulfillment wants regular folk to deliver its packages – a car and smartphone is all that’s required. The new Amazon Flex platform explains it is looking for drivers who are at least 21 years old and have a valid driver’s license. Read more

Plotting the Timing of Holiday Shopping Sales

September 29, 2015August 4, 2017 Ina Steiner

November and December account for over 20% of total annual revenue for retailers. And on average, these holiday shopping months bring in 30% more revenue than non-holiday months. But that’s part of a downward trend, research firm RJMetrics reminded merchants. Holiday revenue Read more

eBay Looks to Become Go-To Marketplace for Tech Purchases

September 29, 2015August 4, 2017 Ina Steiner

eBay launched a new research project in Australia called the eBay Innovation Lab to help it explore emerging technologies. The lab set up shop in Darling Harbour in Sydney, Australia over the weekend and invited people to interact with emerging Read more

No Plans to Close 11 Main after Alibaba Sale

September 29, 2015August 4, 2017 Ina Steiner

The new owner of 11Main.com has no plans to close the site, according to John Caplan, founder and CEO of OpenSky, which acquired the marketplace from Alibaba Group Holding in June. That may come as news to some merchants on Read more

eBay Holds Sale on Commission Fees for Invited UK Sellers

September 28, 2015August 4, 2017 Ina Steiner

eBay is holding a 2-day promotion to encourage sellers in the UK to list more items for sale, but it’s for private sellers only. Those invited to participate can list up to 30 auction or fixed-price listings and pay no Read more

eBay Head Lobbyist Moves to StubHub

September 28, 2015August 4, 2017 Ina Steiner

eBay’s chief lobbyist Tod Cohen is leaving his position to become General Counsel at StubHub, an eBay subsidiary. Cohen joined eBay in 2000 and had built the company’s Government Relations and Global Asset Protection teams. eBay General Counsel Marie Oh Read more

Shopify Offers Its Merchants Discounted Postage

September 28, 2015August 4, 2017 Ina Steiner

Endicia will power a new shipping feature from ecommerce platform Shopify that will help merchants print USPS shipping labels at discounted rates. With the new Shopify Shipping functionality, merchants who host their stores on the platform will have the ability Read more

Why eBay Pulled Shopping Cart from Longtime Category

September 28, 2015August 4, 2017 Ina Steiner

Buyers began complaining in July that eBay pulled the shopping cart feature from the adult category, leading to higher shipping costs for them as well as complications for sellers. We reported on the issue on the EcommerceBytes Blog last month. “When you Read more

eBay Runs Spooky Seller Promotion with Coupon Incentive

September 25, 2015August 4, 2017 Ina Steiner

eBay sent an invitation to some users to participate in an auction promotion with a Halloween theme to encourage them to list costumes and props for the spooky October holiday. Eligible sellers who activate the offer can list up to Read more