Value Added Resource Week In Review 10-15-23

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

eBay News

After launching Future of Ecommerce for early stage startups in partnership with eBay Ventures in June, TechStars has announced the inaugural cohort of founders who will take part in this 13-week pre-seed accelerator program.

TechStars & eBay Ventures Reveal Future Of Ecommerce Accelerator’s First Cohort

eBay Ventures & TechStars announce Future of Ecommerce inaugural cohort of founders in 13-week pre-seed accelerator program.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

With the SHOP Safe Act back under consideration by Congress and increasing regulatory scrutiny, will eBay be forced to crack down on reselling of popular brand name items on the platform?

Resellers Worry About Future On eBay Amid Increasing Regulatory Scrutiny

With SHOP Safe back in Congress & increasing regulatory scrutiny, will eBay crack down on reselling of popular brands?

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

As Amazon sends out their holiday toy catalog and launches Prime Fall Big Deal Days and Etsy kicks off the holidays with another sitewide discount promotion, sellers are left wondering once again how eBay plans to help drive sales during Q4.

Sellers In The Dark As eBay’s Holiday Marketing Plans Remain A Mystery

As Amazon launches Prime Fall Big Deal Days & Etsy funds sitewide discounts, sellers wonder how eBay plans to help drive Q4 sales.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

At eBay Open last month, VP Buyer Experience Blair Ethington said eBay has focused on improving search this year to create "magical experiences" for buyers, but many users disagree with that assessment, pointing out how switching from Best Match to Lowest Price First sorting drastically reduces results.

eBay Magically Disappears Search Results When Using Lowest Price Sort Option

eBay users report switching search from Best Match sort to Price + Shipping: Lowest First drastically reduces number of items shown.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

The eBay community monthly chat for October didn't have an "official" topic but if you had to sum it up in three words, the topic would be - Where's The Support?

Several sellers brought issues to the chat that had been raised in the community weeks or months ago with no resolution and some even brought questions about that lack of resolution.

Most were met with the usual "thank you for your feedback" or "we'll pass that on to the appropriate team" non-responses or were provided completely incorrect information by the eBay Community team that was later corrected.

eBay October 2023 Community Chat: Where’s The Support?

The October eBay community chat didn’t have an official topic but for sellers the topic was clear - Where’s The Support?

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

And in tech-led reimagination news this week, eBay users reported a pop up message encouraging them to save searches is blocking their ability to navigate the site on some mobile browsers.

eBay Mobile Web Save Search Pop Up Blocks Buyers From Browsing

eBay users report pop up message prompting them to save searches is blocking ability to navigate the site on mobile browsers.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

Sellers are also struggling with an ongoing glitch that is not showing markdown discount sale strikethrough pricing in search and Stores.

eBay Not Showing Markdown Strikethrough Pricing In Search

eBay sellers report strikethrough pricing for their Markdown discount sales are not consistently showing in search.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

Other Ecommerce News

Stay up to date with the latest marketplace and shipping carrier disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in Israel.

Ecommerce Marketplace & Shipping Disruptions To Israel

Stay up to date with the latest ecommerce marketplace & shipping carrier disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in Israel.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

Q3 2023 earnings calls are just around the corner. Track important ecommerce marketplace earnings dates and stay tuned for updates!

Q3 2023 Ecommerce Earnings Call Roundup

Q3 2023 earnings calls are just around the corner - track important ecommerce marketplace earnings dates here!

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

As 2023 holiday shopping season heats up, USPS & FedEx announce shipping deadlines to receive packages by Christmas.

Holiday 2023 Shipping Deadlines For USPS & FedEx

As 2023 holiday shopping season heats up, USPS & FedEx post deadlines for packages to be delivered before Christmas.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

Etsy funded another coupon promotion this week to kick off Q4 sales and try to increase average order value (AOV).

Is CEO Josh Silverman making same "unhealthy" discounting mistakes that eBay leadership also just can't seem to shake?

Etsy Funds $10 Discount To Kick Of Q4 Holiday Season

Etsy is at it again, offering an even bigger Etsy-funded discount to kick off Q4 sales and increase average order value.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

Sellers in the EU and UK have been left exposed to legal ramifications as Etsy has removed the required seller details from item pages.

Etsy Removes Required Seller Details From UK & EU Stores, Leaving Sellers Legally Exposed

Sellers in EU & UK have been left exposed to legal ramifications as Etsy removes required seller details from item pages.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

Amazon sellers report a recent glitch with their payment method on file has caused disruptions to their payouts, leaving them in the lurch with no answers from support.

Amazon Charge Method Glitch Leaves Sellers In The Lurch

Amazon sellers report a glitch with payment method on file causing disruptions to payouts, limiting account access.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

Poshmark hosted PoshFest 2023 this week, revealing new features like Posh Party LIVE, Multi-Label Shipping, Closet Redesign and Gift Cards coming soon for the holidays!

Poshmark PostFest Hackathon Reveal New Features

Poshmark reveals new features like Posh Party LIVE, Gift Cards, Multi-Label Shipping, Closet Redesign & more at PoshFest 2023!

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

Poshmark also announced AI-powered image based Auto-Listing will be launching in the coming months, allowing sellers to upload images and have listing details "auto-magically" filled in.

Poshmark AI Powered Image-Based Auto-Listing Coming Soon

Poshmark announces AI-powered image based Auto-Listing launching in “the coming months.”

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

UPDATES

Amazon has still not made a public announcement or responded to requests for comment about their extended holiday return plans as both buyers and sellers express frustration with the lack of communication.

When Will Amazon Announce 2023 Extended Holiday Returns?

Will Amazon announce 2023 extended holiday returns before Prime Big Deal Days October 10-11?

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

Vogue and eBay have finally corrected a design issue that obscured required ad disclaimer on eBay "feature" and blurred ethical lines on paid sponsored content promotions.

Does eBay’s Media & Influencer Strategy Blur Ethical, Regulatory Lines With Paid Promotion?

As eBay leans on media & influencers for focus vertical strategy are ethical & regulatory lines blurred by paid promotions?

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

Flexport layoffs have begun with a 20% workforce reduction, according to a company blog post with a note sent to employees by CEO Ryan Petersen.

Flexport Plans To Layoff 30% Of Workforce Amid Ongoing Cost Cutting Measures

Logistics company Flexport is planning to layoff 30% of its workforce amid ongoing cost cutting measures & leadership shakeup.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

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