Value Added Resource Week In Review 4-2-23

Liz Morton
Liz Morton


Comments

Welcome to the Value Added Resource ecommerce news week in review!

eBay News

The 2019 eBay cyberstalking scandal is receiving renewed attention after being featured on 60 Minutes this week.

The segment raised troubling questions about the free speech implications of the case, details of which Deputy US Attorney Seth Kosto has called "abhorrent to First Amendment values."

eBay Cyberstalking: A Threat To Free Speech & First Amendment Values
eBay cyberstalking scandal see renewed interest on free speech & First Amendment implications of the case.

eBay's Chief Accounting Officer stepped down on Friday with little fanfare amidst growing concerns about TCGPlayer acquisition due diligence and union activity.

eBay Chief Accounting Officer Exit Amplifies TCGPlayer Due Diligence Concerns
eBay Chief Accounting Officer steps down amidst growing concerns about TCGPlayer due diligence.

Small business owners Vince and Magnolia Kisala are searching for answers after their account was suddenly banned in January, but eBay refuses to offer any assistance or guidance about what caused the suspension or how to get reinstated.

eBay Shuts Down Small Business With No Warning Or Explanation
Owners of auctionbayonline seek answers after account was suspended in January, but eBay refuses to help.

eBay is testing a new "search for visually similar" functionality replicating the window shopping experience using computer vision and machine learning to improve search and browse capability.

eBay Tests Digital “Window Shopping” Feature In Select Categories
eBay’s latest test to improve search & browse aims to replicate window shopping with computer vision & machine learning.

The View Item Page is in for a major facelift and eBay is soliciting buyer feedback to help them improve the buying experience.

Some of these changes could be good news for sellers as well - especially the plans to move item specifics and seller description above any modules that show other items & ads!

eBay Soliciting Buyer Feedback On New Item Page Experience
Changes to eBay’s View Item page are coming soon & it may be good news for buyers & sellers alike!

Nine months after launching eBay Live, auctions have finally been added to the live stream shopping experience in the eBay app, but the user experience still leaves a lot to be desired.

eBay Adds Auctions To Live Shopping Experience
Auctions finally come to eBay Live, but the user experience still needs a lot of work.

Other Ecommerce News

Amazon is testing out a new Frequently Returned Item badge to warn buyers of possible product issues and encourage them to do more research before hitting the "buy button."

Amazon Tags Frequently Returned Items, Encourages Buyers To Do More Research
Amazon Frequently Returned Item tag warns of potential product issues, encourages reading details & reviews.

A ruling by U.S. District Judge Richard Jones means Amazon can't wiggle out of antitrust class action with estimated damages between $55 billion to $172 billion.

Amazon Can’t Get Out Of Fair Pricing Policy Antitrust Suit
U.S. District Judge says Amazon can’t wiggle out of antitrust class action with $55-$172B estimated damages.

Amazon has gone on the offensive to take on black hat bad actors abusing the counterfeit claim process to take down competition.

Amazon Sues Bad Actors For False Counterfeit Claims
Amazon goes on offensive to take on black hat bad actors abusing counterfeit claim process to take down competition.

Kohl's has moved their ecommerce marketplace from pilot program to fully open for business, expanding available categories and inviting more third party sellers to apply to sell on the platform.

Kohl’s Expands Marketplace To More Third Party Sellers
Kohl’s moves marketplace from pilot to open for business, expanding categories & inviting 3rd party sellers to apply.

Updates

Seller concerns about what Etsy's settlement with the Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute could mean have been realized as the marketplace cracks down on listings using the word "cashmere" in titles and descriptions.

Etsy Faces Sec230 Challenge On Counterfeit Cashmere Goods
Lawsuit alleges Etsy falsely advertised & conspired with 3rd party sellers of counterfeit cashmere goods.

eBay's new mystery listing experience for sneakers has been revealed.

eBay Testing New Mystery Listing Experience For Sneakers
eBay testing new listing experience for sneakers - but the exact changes & which shoes qualify are still a mystery.

Last year's test for eBay Offsite Promoted Listings for Google Shopping placement is back - here's what you need to know!

eBay Rolls Out Offsite Ads Beta For Google Ad Placement
eBay rolls out new OffSite Ads Beta Cost Per Click Google Ads product for fixed price listings.

And finally, eBay has expanded Authenticity Guaranteed for jewelry to more categories, catching sellers off guard & raising concerns about the authentication process.

eBay Authenticity Guaranteed For Fine Jewelry
eBay launches authentication program for fine jewelry in collaboration with GIA, the Gemological Institute of America.

Value Added Resource is proudly reader supported - learn more about our commitment to an ad-free user experience or buy me a coffee.

Week In Review

Liz Morton Twitter Facebook LinkedIn

Liz Morton is a seasoned ecommerce pro with 17 years of online marketplace sales experience, providing commentary, analysis & news about eBay, Etsy, Amazon, Shopify & more at Value Added Resource!


Never Miss A Headline!