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 Resurrects Cashback to Keep Shoppers Coming Back

September 30, 2014August 29, 2017 Ina Steiner

eBay suspended cashback campaigns in 2011 in order to evaluate the program. This year they’re back on a limited basis. Interestingly eBay scaled back its own eBay Bucks loyalty program as of January 1, 2014. We checked in with eBay to find Read more

eBay UK Runs Seller Promotion through Tuesday

September 29, 2014August 29, 2017 Ina Steiner

eBay is running a promotion for UK sellers through Tuesday. eBay.co.uk registered private sellers who have been invited to participate can list up to 200 auction or fixed-price listings in eligible categories and pay no listing fees. Participation is linked Read more

Is USPS Adequately Overseeing Its Approved Shippers Program?

September 29, 2014August 29, 2017 Ina Steiner

You don’t have to visit your local post office to buy postage stamps or mail a package thanks to a program launched in 2005 called the Approved Shipper program. As USPS expands access to postal services outside of post offices, Read more

Abracadabra, Amazon Wish Lists Do Disappearing Act

September 29, 2014August 29, 2017 Ina Steiner

Two days after announcing it was extending its wish list feature to Twitter, Amazon reportedly experienced a glitch that caused customers’ wish lists to disappear. On Wednesday, Amazon explained that customers who see a Tweet that includes an Amazon.com product link could Read more

Is eBay Really the Best Place to Sell Your Used Smartphone?

September 29, 2014August 29, 2017 Ina Steiner

eBay is running a new marketing campaign called “Flip your phone for the win” coinciding with Apple’s launch of the latest iPhone. It seems everywhere you look, eBay is promoting its marketplace as a site to sell one’s used smart Read more

Users Unable to Cancel Transactions on eBay UK

September 26, 2014August 29, 2017 Ina Steiner

eBay UK informed users of a glitch that won’t let users cancel transactions – a pretty major issue for a retail site. “We’re aware of an issue when trying to cancel a transaction on eBay.co.uk. We’re working to solve this Read more

The Impact of USPS Mail Processing Center Closures

September 26, 2014August 29, 2017 Ina Steiner

The US Postal Service wants to resume consolidation of its operations. This is worrying to online sellers and other mailers, and now comes data on how many jobs might be lost as a result of plant closures. The USPS plans to close Read more

Sellers Protest Etsy’s Move Away from Curation

September 26, 2014August 29, 2017 Ina Steiner

Etsy sellers says crowdsourcing is what makes the site special and have launched a petition protesting the decision to reduce curation in favor of algorithms on the homepage. 700 sellers “signed” the online petition on Change.org, where Etsy has also Read more

eBay Encourages Sellers to Sign Up for Store

September 25, 2014August 29, 2017 Ina Steiner

eBay is running another promotion involving eBay Stores, this one encouraging users to sign up for a Store. It is also running a promotion encouraging current Store owners to upgrade their Store. “Subscribe and enjoy 500 extra free listings,” eBay advised sellers without a current Store Read more