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/.

Etsy to Change Certain Practices Following Report by BBC

August 1, 2023 Ina Steiner

Etsy issued a special statement on Tuesday outlining a number of changes to how it holds seller funds in reserve, a practice that helps it manage risk. The announcement came after a BBC article on Monday reported on how limited Read more

Walmart Marketplace Sellers Can Apply to Sell In-Store

August 1, 2023August 1, 2023 Ina Steiner

Walmart invited Marketplace sellers to apply for a chance to sell their items in Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs through its 10th annual Open Call event. Sellers can pitch their products through the program for a chance to be featured Read more

Etsy Holds Seller Funds in Reserve, then Introduces Cash Advance Lending Service

August 1, 2023August 1, 2023 Ina Steiner

Etsy has been coming under fire for its practice of holding sellers’ funds in reserve – the story blew up in the UK when the BBC wrote about the hardship sellers are facing as the result of the financial squeeze. Read more

Etsy Sellers Spot Yet Another Test They Worry Will Drive Shoppers Away

July 31, 2023July 31, 2023 Ina Steiner

Some sellers are worried that Etsy is testing yet another feature that could drive shoppers away from their listings. A seller published the following post about the issue on the Etsy discussion boards on Monday, titled, “First line of title Read more

Amazon Says Regionalization of Fulfillment Centers Is Working

July 31, 2023July 31, 2023 Ina Steiner

Amazon’s new approach to its fulfillment centers is working, according to an announcement on Monday where it boasted it is delivering its largest selection of products to US Prime members at the fastest speeds ever. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy revealed Read more

New Amazon Emerald Program Offers 3P Notifications on Seller Central

July 28, 2023July 28, 2023 Ina Steiner

Amazon is allowing a select number of third-party services to send notifications to sellers directly on Amazon Seller Central, helping sellers get important information from service providers faster. The news was shared with developers at this week’s Amazon Selling Partner Read more

eBay Confirms Intermittent Bug with Search in Store

July 28, 2023July 28, 2023 Ina Steiner

Sellers who pay extra for an eBay Store to show off their listings have been battling an intermittent bug impacting search. An eBay moderator confirmed a ticket had been opened (ALERT14841). A seller reported the bug in a thread on Read more

eBay to Overhaul Site and Make it ‘Magically Easy’ to List

July 27, 2023July 28, 2023 Ina Steiner

eBay CEO Jamie Iannone wants to “reinvent the future of ecommerce for enthusiasts – only at eBay,” he told Wall Street analysts during Wednesday’s 2nd-quarter earnings conference call. The slogan, which doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, was featured in Read more

eBay Runs New ‘Unlock the World’ Marketing Campaign

July 27, 2023 Ina Steiner

eBay Chief Financial Officer Steve Priest told Wall Street analysts on Wednesday that its International Shipping program was strategically important. The same day, eBay uploaded marketing videos to YouTube urging sellers to use the program, telling them, “Reach millions of Read more

UPS Strike Averted to the Relief of Online Sellers

July 26, 2023July 26, 2023 Ina Steiner

Online sellers were sweating it out as the potential for a UPS strike drew near, but crisis averted – UPS announced on Tuesday it had reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the union representing Read more