EcommerceBytes https://www.ecommercebytes.com/ Ecommerce Industry News Wed, 15 May 2024 23:33:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://www.ecommercebytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/EB_site_icon-150x150.gif EcommerceBytes https://www.ecommercebytes.com/ 32 32 Mercari Rolls Back ‘Rent-a-Center’ Returns Policy https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/15/mercari-rolls-back-rent-a-center-returns-policy/ https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/15/mercari-rolls-back-rent-a-center-returns-policy/#respond Wed, 15 May 2024 23:30:55 +0000 https://www.ecommercebytes.com/?p=230786 Mercari launched a returns policy at the end of March that was so favorable to buyers that one reseller dubbed it a “Rent-A-Center” policy. He, like many sellers, believed buyers would abuse the policy by purchasing an item, using it, and returning it – in effect “renting” it. The policy was to soften the blow […]]]> https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/15/mercari-rolls-back-rent-a-center-returns-policy/feed/ 0 Avalara Enables Global Tax Compliance for Shopify Merchants https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/13/avalara-enables-global-tax-compliance-for-shopify-merchants/ https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/13/avalara-enables-global-tax-compliance-for-shopify-merchants/#respond Tue, 14 May 2024 02:44:29 +0000 https://www.ecommercebytes.com/?p=230782 Sellers of all sizes who host their shops on Shopify can now use Avalara’s services to manage and automate global tax compliance seamlessly. Avalara has been providing tax calculation services for Shopify Plus customers since 2015 and has now joined the Shopify Tax Partner Platform. Shopify CRO Bobby Morrison said, “With Avalara joining as a […]]]> https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/13/avalara-enables-global-tax-compliance-for-shopify-merchants/feed/ 0 USPS Suspends DFA Consolidation Plans until January 2025 https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/13/usps-suspends-dfa-consolidation-plans-until-january-2025/ https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/13/usps-suspends-dfa-consolidation-plans-until-january-2025/#comments Mon, 13 May 2024 18:59:37 +0000 https://www.ecommercebytes.com/?p=230778 Reuters reported today that USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy agreed to pause the consolidation of Postal Service’s processing network after mounting pressure from lawmakers. There have been a few areas around the country where consolidation efforts have led to massive delivery delays, including areas in Texas (Houston), Georgia (Atlanta), and Virginia (Richmond). In mid-December, the […]]]> https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/13/usps-suspends-dfa-consolidation-plans-until-january-2025/feed/ 1 Senator Compares Amazon Dynamic Pricing Algorithms to Price Gouging https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/12/senator-compares-amazon-dynamic-pricing-algorithms-to-price-gouging/ https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/12/senator-compares-amazon-dynamic-pricing-algorithms-to-price-gouging/#respond Sun, 12 May 2024 20:15:42 +0000 https://www.ecommercebytes.com/?p=230771 Amazon and Walmart’s dynamic pricing algorithms were compared to price gouging during a Senate Committee hearing on May 2nd, “Higher Prices: How Shrinkflation and Technology Can Impact Consumers’ Finances.” One week later, the chairperson of the committee Senator Brown sent a letter to the CEOs of the two retailers pressing them for answers on how […]]]> https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/12/senator-compares-amazon-dynamic-pricing-algorithms-to-price-gouging/feed/ 0 Online Sellers Catch a Rare Break on USPS July Rate Hike https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/10/online-sellers-catch-a-rare-break-on-usps-july-rate-hike/ https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/10/online-sellers-catch-a-rare-break-on-usps-july-rate-hike/#comments Sat, 11 May 2024 03:54:32 +0000 https://www.ecommercebytes.com/?p=230767 It’s hard to call the Postal Service’s decision to keep many package shipping rates unchanged “good news” in July, since it’s only in recent years that sellers have had to deal with two rate hikes a year. The USPS had already raised the cost of shipping a package via USPS Priority Mail and Ground Advantage […]]]> https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/10/online-sellers-catch-a-rare-break-on-usps-july-rate-hike/feed/ 3 Rakuten’s Japanese App Rakuma to Sell on eBay.com https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/08/rakutens-japanese-app-rakuma-to-sell-on-ebay-com/ https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/08/rakutens-japanese-app-rakuma-to-sell-on-ebay-com/#respond Wed, 08 May 2024 17:38:42 +0000 https://www.ecommercebytes.com/?p=230765 eBay will give US shoppers the ability to purchase items listed by Japanese sellers through an agreement with Rakuten’s Rakuma marketplace app. The companies will test the program by listing products on eBay.com primarily in the fashion category. eBay and Rakuten will provide Rakuma Official Shop merchants with support in areas such as international shipping […]]]> https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/08/rakutens-japanese-app-rakuma-to-sell-on-ebay-com/feed/ 0 eBay Launches ‘Ask Me About’ Series to Replace Monthly Chats https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/08/ebay-launches-ask-me-about-series-to-replace-monthly-chats/ https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/08/ebay-launches-ask-me-about-series-to-replace-monthly-chats/#comments Wed, 08 May 2024 16:00:28 +0000 https://www.ecommercebytes.com/?p=230763 eBay has launched a replacement to its monthly chat sessions where sellers could chat with employees and ask questions, which it ended with the last chat taking place in January of 2024. The new “Ask Me About” series will kick off next week with eBay’s new Product Research tool as the topic. (See EcommerceBytes’ May […]]]> https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/08/ebay-launches-ask-me-about-series-to-replace-monthly-chats/feed/ 1 eBay Sellers Can Now Check 3 Years of Sold Prices on Mobile https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/07/ebay-sellers-can-now-check-3-years-of-sold-prices-on-mobile/ https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/07/ebay-sellers-can-now-check-3-years-of-sold-prices-on-mobile/#comments Wed, 08 May 2024 01:49:54 +0000 https://www.ecommercebytes.com/?p=230761 eBay’s Product Research tool is now available on the eBay app for iOS and Android, giving sellers 3 years of pricing data for sold listings. The tool is based on Terapeak, which had been around since the mid-2000s and was acquired by eBay in 2017. In March, eBay Senior Product Manager of Seller Experience – […]]]> https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/07/ebay-sellers-can-now-check-3-years-of-sold-prices-on-mobile/feed/ 3 Can Students Help eBay Solve Auto Parts Compatibility Challenge? https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/07/can-students-help-ebay-solve-auto-parts-compatibility-challenge/ https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/07/can-students-help-ebay-solve-auto-parts-compatibility-challenge/#comments Tue, 07 May 2024 04:16:39 +0000 https://www.ecommercebytes.com/?p=230759 eBay is holding its annual Machine Learning competition, and the theme of this year’s contest is auto parts compatibility. Students who enter have a chance at an internship at eBay next summer (2025), but they must showcase their skills by building a model that can identify which vehicles are compatible with specific parts and accessories. […]]]> https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/07/can-students-help-ebay-solve-auto-parts-compatibility-challenge/feed/ 3 Give Feedback on USPS Scans and Postal Theft https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/05/give-feedback-on-usps-scans-and-postal-theft/ https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/05/give-feedback-on-usps-scans-and-postal-theft/#comments Mon, 06 May 2024 00:53:02 +0000 https://www.ecommercebytes.com/?p=230757 You can leave feedback about USPS package scans and postal theft through the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG), which is in the process of auditing those two areas of the US Postal Service. Accurate package scanning is vital to maintaining trust between online sellers and buyers who keep a close eye on the progress […]]]> https://www.ecommercebytes.com/2024/05/05/give-feedback-on-usps-scans-and-postal-theft/feed/ 1