EBay Announces 3-Week Postage Rate Change
eBay announced a temporary three‑week price update for USPS Ground Advantage labels purchased through its eBay Labels service, effective May 18 to June 7, 2026. The adjustment targets specific weight‑zone combinations, raising costs for a subset of shipments. It aligns with USPS’s broader July rate changes that will increase sub‑pound parcel pricing by roughly 11.8%. Sellers using eBay’s label platform must quickly adjust pricing and shipping strategies to absorb the short‑term hike.
EBay Publishes Directory of Partner Tools and Services
eBay has launched an official directory of approved third‑party providers that offer tools for listings, shipping, advertising, logistics and inventory management. The move arrives as the inkFrog listing tool prepares to shut down, leaving a gap for many sellers. The...
Etsy Runs ‘Extra Perk Promo’ Through Mother’s Day
Etsy is running an "Extra Perk" promotion through May 11, offering shoppers who spend $45 a $5 credit for a future purchase. The offer is automatically applied, requires no coupon code, and expires 90 days after issuance. Targeted at a specific...
EBay Growth Not a Fluke, GMV Grows 18% in Q1 2026
eBay reported first‑quarter 2026 gross merchandise volume of $22.2 billion, an 18% year‑over‑year increase and 14% on an FX‑neutral basis. Revenue rose 19% to $3.1 billion, driven by strong consumer‑to‑consumer sales and a surge in advertising income. The platform logged 136 million active...
Amazon Calls Unit Growth in Q1 the Highest Since Tail End of Lockdowns
Amazon reported Q1 2026 revenue of $181.5 billion, up 17% YoY, with net income soaring 77% to $30.3 billion. North America sales rose 12%, international 19%, and AWS surged 28%, keeping the cloud business at 21% of total revenue. Worldwide paid units grew...
Tools Step up to Help eBay Sellers After Demise of InkFrog
InkFrog, the Wix‑owned eBay listing tool, will shut down in June, leaving thousands of sellers without a bulk‑listing platform. The closure threatens loss of hosted images, draft listings, and automated inventory sync, creating a risk of overselling. Competitors such as...
Amazon Adds AI-Powered Chat to Audio-Shopping Feature
Amazon has upgraded its Hear the Highlights audio‑shopping feature with a new "Join the Chat" capability, allowing shoppers to ask AI‑generated hosts questions via text or voice while listening to product summaries. The AI responds in real time, drawing from...
Etsy Reverts Back to How It Used to Display Prices in UK
Etsy announced it will revert to its original UK pricing display after seller pushback. The platform will again show the item’s list price with a separate line for price‑plus‑shipping, rather than the combined figure introduced in February to meet the...
Amazon Uses X-Ray Scanners to Scrutinize Product Returns
Amazon’s largest European returns center in Slovakia, spanning 60,000 sqm and employing up to 3,000 staff, uses X‑ray scanners, machine‑learning algorithms and drone test rooms to evaluate returned products. The facility’s 3.8 km of conveyor belts automatically classifies items into new‑condition resale,...
Consumers and Small Sellers May Get Tariff Refunds From Shipping Carriers
U.S. Customs and Border Protection launched an online portal on April 20 to process refunds for tariffs imposed under the IEEPA after the Supreme Court struck down the related duties. The portal enables importers of record—or their brokers—to file claims, while...
Etsy Discloses Executive Compensation, Date of Annual Shareholder Meeting
Etsy announced that its annual shareholder meeting will be held virtually on June 9, 2026, where directors including former CEO Josh Silverman will be up for re‑election. The SEC proxy revealed a CEO‑to‑median‑employee pay ratio of roughly 83:1, with Silver’s 2025 total compensation...
New UPS Labels Supplant the Need for Scans
UPS announced that its entire U.S. delivery fleet, sorting facilities and over 5,500 UPS Store locations now use RFID‑enabled shipping labels, eliminating the need for manual barcode scans. The RFID tags automatically confirm pickup and provide continuous, real‑time visibility of...
Japan Post Lifts Suspension of US-Bound Merchandise
Japan Post announced it will resume accepting merchandise destined for the United States starting April 14, 2026, ending an eight‑month suspension triggered by the U.S. de minimis rule change. Under the new protocol, senders must prepay customs duties and related charges through a...
Amazon Upends Discount Pricing with New Reference Price Rule
Amazon announced new reference‑price rules that tighten how List Price and Typical Price are calculated. Effective April 23 2026, List Price must match a recent retailer price or a featured Amazon offer, while from May 18 2026 Typical Price will incorporate promotional sales if...
Etsy Doubles Number of Humans Reviewing Purchase Protection Cases
Etsy is nearly doubling the number of humans reviewing Purchase Protection cases while expanding coverage to up to $250 for any eligible order. The platform also shortens the buyer case‑filing window to 30 days and adds protection for orders arriving...