Value Added Resource Week In Review 12-15-24

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

eBay News

eBay's stock price fell this week on reports analysts at Jefferies downgraded the company to "underperform" from "hold", citing concerns about slowing ad revenue growth and possible headwinds in cross border trade from China.

eBay Pursues China Growth & Ad Revenue Boost As Investors React To Slowing Performance

Jefferies downgrades eBay from “hold” to “underperform”, citing concerns about slowing ad revenue growth & possible headwinds to China business.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

A second named Plaintiff has been added to the labor lawsuit against eBay, with warehouse associate/exceptions clerk Tatiana Luna joining the claim seeking to recover unpaid wages and other sums allegedly owed by the company.

eBay Accused Of Breaking NY, Federal Labor Laws In Sneaker Authentication Workers Class Action Suit

eBay faces class action suit from authentication workers alleging company violated Fair Labor Standards Act & New York Labor Law requiring manual laborers to be paid weekly.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

Plaintiffs Ina and David Steiner have responded to eBay's motion seeking to appeal ruling allowing some claims for punitive damages to move forward in their lawsuit against the company related to 2019 cyberstalking scandal.

The strong response criticizes eBay for what the Steiners' attorneys call duplicity, false statements, and playing the victim, saying if eBay was as committed to reaching a fair settlement as they claim to be, all they need to do is pick up the phone.

eBay Appeals Cyberstalking Punitive Damages Ruling, Seeks To Cut $466M From Potential Payout

eBay appeals punitive damages ruling in cyberstalking suit, seeking to cut $466M from potential $700M payout & ease way for possible settlement.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

eBay has quietly addressed another long-time user pain point, raising the limit for how many items can be combined into one invoice from 40 to 100.

eBay Quietly Updates Invoice Limits, Allowing Sellers To Combine Shipping For Up To 100 Items

eBay quietly addresses another long-time user pain point, raising the limit for how many items can be combined into one invoice from 40 to 100.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

eBay is testing integrating AI and image recognition even further into homepage search and discovery with new press and hold functionality to shop similar items in the app.

Press, Hold, Discover: eBay Unveils Enhanced Access To Visual Search In Mobile App

eBay integrates AI & image recognition further into homepage discovery with new press & hold functionality to shop similar items in the eBay app.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

A new program has launched on eBay UK allowing users to trade in old tech devices for vouchers that can be used to purchase new devices on the site as part of ongoing circular economy and sustainability initiatives.

eBay UK Launches Trade In Program For Old Phones In Partnership with Fonehouse

eBay UK launches program allowing users to trade in old tech for vouchers that can be used to purchase new devices in partnership with Fonehouse.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

eBay sellers experienced multiple technical issues impacting the ability to purchased shipping labels from the platform this week.

First, USPS Ground Advantage labels from eBay were being designated as Hazmat, despite not containing any hazardous items.

eBay USPS Hazmat Snafu Hazard To Seller Mental Health As Holiday Shipping Cutoffs Approach

eBay sellers panic as all USPS labels purchased through platform appear to be designated as Hazmat restricted even for non-hazardous items.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

And the next day, sellers reported QR codes for USPS shipping were not being recognized at the post office when trying to print labels.

eBay QR Codes Fail As Sellers Experience Shipping Glitches For The Second Day In A Row

eBay sellers experience shipping glitches for second day in a row as QR codes are not recognized when taken to the post office to print labels.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

Other Ecommerce News

Walmart has responded to a group of Amazon sellers who filed a class action lawsuit in September alleging the company profited from and failed to prevent a form of organized retail crime perpetrated through the Walmart Marketplace.

Walmart Points Finger At Amazon In Effort To Get Sellers’ Organized Retail Crime Suit Tossed

Walmart alludes to Section 230 protections, deflects blame to Amazon in bid to get sellers’ organized retail crime class action suit dismissed.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

Mercari is finally backtracking on fee changes it made earlier this year, announcing new fee structure that splits fees between buyers and sellers will take effect January 6, 2025.

Mercari US Backtracks On Fee Changes, New Fee Structure Will Be Split Between Buyers & Sellers

Mercari backtracks on fee changes, announcing new fee structure that splits fees between buyers & sellers will take effect January 6, 2025.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

On the heels of that big announcement, Mercari is also hoping for a Q4 GMV bump with 0% buyer service fee promotion to entice last minute holiday shoppers.

Mercari Slashes Buyer Fees, Hopes To Entice Last Minute Holiday Shoppers

Mercari hopes for Q4 GMV bump with 0% buyer service fee promotion to entice last minute holiday shoppers ahead of new fee changes coming in 2025.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

Mercari's attempts at a customer service shortcut for items shipped with UPS Surepost and FedEx Ground Economy have backfired with automated message leading to increased support contacts and user confusion.

Mercari Users Confused By Automated Messages About UPS Surepost, FedEx Ground Economy Shipments

Mercari’s attempt at a customer service shortcut for UPS Surepost problems backfires, causing increased support contacts & user confusion.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

As Poshmark tries to recover from fee update debacle, the pressure is still on to increase revenue - will expansion of Promoted Closets or other seller-funded ads be the solution?

Poshmark Eyes Ads As Revenue Solution In Wake Of Fee Update Debacle

In wake of fee update debacle, pressure is still on for Poshmark to increase revenue - will expansion of seller-funded ads be the solution?

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

UPS has instituted a demand surcharge and pick up restrictions for Canadian shipments as postal strike drags on, leaving online marketplaces scrambling to keep their sellers and buyers in the loop during critical holiday shipping period.

UPS Adds Demand Surcharge, Suspends Pickups For Canada As Postal Strike Continues

UPS adds Canada demand surcharge & pick up restrictions as postal strike drags on & online sellers struggle through critical holiday shipping period.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon is sending the labor dispute between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to look into the possibility of a negotiated settlement by the end of 2024.

If the board determines a deal isn't in reach by the end of the year, it would order the nearly 55,000 workers back to work under their current contract until May 22, 2025, which means Canadians could see service start to be restored sometime next week.

Sellers Warned Of Canada Post Strike, Advised To Look For Alternate Carriers

Online sellers warned of possible Canada Post strike, advised to consider alternate carriers to avoid disruption in critical holiday shopping season.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

The proposed US Postal Service rule to discontinue Dual Labels for hybrid services like UPS Surepost and FedEx Ground Economy has been approved and will go into effect January 1, 2025.

USPS Plans To Discontinue Dual Labels For Private Shippers, Saying They No Longer Serve Postal Service Interests

New USPS rule would discontinue use of dual shipping labels by private shippers, saying they “no longer serve the interests of the Postal Service.”

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

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