Value Added Resource Week In Review 6-4-23

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

eBay News

eBay has unveiled the new View Item page design in a phased rollout.

Despite promise the new design would "bring critical information like Item specifics and seller description higher up on the page before any modules that show other items & ads", there are still two rows of sponsored competitor ads showing above seller provided specifics and description.

eBay Reneges On Ad Placement Promise In New Item Page Design

As eBay unveils new View Item page design, Promoted Listings ads still display above seller’s description & item specifics.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

The INFORM Consumers Act will go into effect June 27, requiring marketplaces to collect seller business information and, in some cases, disclose it to consumers.

If you're an eBay seller with a home-based business, here's what you need to know about important privacy protecting exemptions to these requirements.

eBay INFORM Act: How To Apply For Address Exception For Home Business

Home-based eBay sellers can apply for exception to INFORM Act address requirements - here’s how!

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

eBay's Authenticity Guaranteed program is expanding to include streetwear fashion over $200 from select brands including Aimé Leon Dore, Fear of God, Supreme, Off-White, Palace and Stone Island, Bape, Kith and Vetements.

eBay Authenticity Guaranteed Expands To Streetwear

eBay’s Authenticity Guaranteed program is expanding to include streetwear fashion from select brands.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

eBay Canada is trying to entice sellers to print FedEx labels through the platform with a giveaway contest and prizes including thermal label printers and shipping supply coupons.

eBay Canada Promotes FedEx With Sweepstakes Prizes

eBay Canada entices sellers to use FedEx with contest to win thermal label printers & shipping supply coupons.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

Sellers are frustrated that eBay is placing a Guaranteed Fit promotional video onto their listings in the Motors Parts & Accessories categories, including on some items that don't qualify for the program.

eBay Motors Sellers Object To Guaranteed Fit Video Forced On Listings

eBay sellers object to Guaranteed Fit promo video forced in listings, including some that don’t qualify for program.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

And another major technical malfunction hit the site on Friday with CAPTCHAs gone wild blocking buyers from viewing listings.

eBay Captcha Glitch Blocks Item Descriptions 6-2-23

eBay buyers are frustrated with a Captcha glitch that is blocking them from viewing listings even after solving.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

Other Ecommerce News

Shopify hosted their inaugural Shop Day celebration this week, along with the official launch of Shop Cash rewards program.

Shop Cash gives buyers who make qualifying purchases in the Shop app  1% rewards - a significant step down from the 3% rewards Shopify offered during beta testing of this feature last year.

Shopify Declares June 2 Shop Day, Launches Shop Cash

Shopify hosts inaugural Shop Day celebration along with the official launch of Shop Cash rewards program.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

Perhaps the reduction in Shop Cash rewards is another cost cutting move after the company undertook another round of layoffs in May, for which Shopify is now facing a class action lawsuit alleging they backed out of promised severance agreements.

Shopify Faces Lawsuit Over Severances From Recent Layoffs

Ex-Shopify employees file lawsuit alleging the company backed out of promised severances after recent layoffs.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

Etsy also put out an announcement this week warning sellers to prepare for upcoming INFORM act account verification requirements.

Etsy Prepares For Upcoming INFORM Act Requirements

Etsy tells sellers to prepare for business information requests ahead of impending INFORM Act start date.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

Payment reserve holds have become an escalating point of concern for sellers, forcing Etsy to respond to increasing community complaints.

Etsy Responds To Seller Concerns About Payment Reserves

Etsy responds as sellers voice increasing concerns about payment reserves & account holds.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

Would you like to own a piece of one of the largest online resources for researching, valuing, and buying/selling antiques, art and vintage collectibles?

Worthpoint has launched an equity crowdfunding campaign to raise capital for future product expansion.

Worthpoint Launches Equity Crowdfunding Campaign

Worthpoint pitches equity crowdfunding to raise capital to expand antiques, art & collectibles research tool.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

StockX has revamped their seller program and will be introducing lower base fees and other updates effective July 1, 2023.

StockX Lowers Base Fees, Updates Seller Program

StockX revamps seller program, introduces lower base fees and other updates effective July 1, 2023.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

Payment processing company Adyen has an exciting new feature that may help speed up payouts for its marketplace clients like eBay and Etsy.

Will Adyen Update Speed Up Payouts for eBay, Etsy & More?

Payment processor Adyen’s new feature may speed up payouts for marketplace clients like eBay & Etsy.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

Updates

We finally have an explanation for why eBay removed the ChatGPT powered AI description generator just days after launch.

Apparently, it was a premature launch using an old version that did not have an "undo" button, but an updated version will be made available to sellers "in the coming months."

eBay ChatGPT AI Feature Fails, Removed Days After Launch

eBay’s ChatGPT AI description generator not ready for prime time & pulled from production just days after launch.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

eBay has confirmed sellers who were impacted by Memorial Day Weekend quantity glitch will receive protections for negative feedback and service metrics as well as refunds of the $0.30 per order fee for out of stock orders that had to be cancelled.

eBay Glitch Increases Quantities & Relists Sold Items 5-27-23

Sellers report eBay’s systems have gone berserk, randomly increasing inventory quantities & relisting sold items.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

And finally, we now have three reports of items in the jewelry category on eBay selling for a significantly lower price than listed.

At this point it is not clear if this is the result of a glitch or if unscrupulous buyers are exploiting a possible vulnerability in the checkout process.

eBay Seller Shocked By Price Dropping Glitch

eBay seller shocked when fine jewelry sold for $229.49 instead of the $637.49 price that should have been charged.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton ~ Founder

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