The Online Seller

May 16, 2012 · 11 Comments

Marketplace Focus: Beyond eBay, Part 1

With new stringent policies taking effect on eBay, hundreds of eBay sellers told The Online Seller they were looking for alternative venues on which to sell their items. Some readers said they would try their luck...

May 15, 2012 · No comments

5 Keys to Creating Customer Loyalty

For decades, research has proven the cost benefit of selling to repeat customers who have pledged their loyalty to you and your business. You've provided them a product, service and experience that met and exceeded their...

May 14, 2012 · No comments

How to Write an Effective ‘About’ Page

When you're running a small online business, you may think your product pages are the most important pages on the site. While listing an effective product page is certainly a priority, it's also significant to pay...

May 11, 2012 · No comments

Books for Children to Treasure

Pam Knuutila taught kindergarten through second grade in New York and North Carolina for more than 20 years. It was a profession she loved, and one she expected to be in for eight to 10 more...

Etsy’s April Sales Spring Up 68%

Year-over-year totals reflect the site's surge in popularity.

Posted 3 days ago

Etsy reports that $63.6 million worth of goods were sold on the site in April, a 67.9-percent increase from April 2011. Month-to-month sales growth was not as impressive—up just 1.1 percent from March—but measured against a ...

USPS Bans Lithium Shipments Outside US

Fire, explosion hazard sparked the unexpected policy change.

Posted 4 days ago

U.S. sellers will not be able to use the U.S. Postal Service to ship lithium batteries—or items that contain these—to places outside the country, starting on Wednesday. The USPS unexpectedly enacted a ban on international shipment ...

eBay Survey Sparks Immediate Payment Debate

Sellers sound off on pros and cons of requiring buyers to pay instantly.

Posted 5 days ago

eBay is gauging sellers' attitudes toward making immediate payment a requirement for some fixed-price and auction listings. According a survey it recently sent to customers, eBay is considering whether to require immediate payment on all fixed-price ...

eBay Campaign Honors America’s Heroes

Site will credit up to 100% of fees when sellers donate through Giving Works.

Posted 5 days ago

In recognition of the upcoming Memorial Day holiday in the U.S., eBay.com is encouraging sellers to donate to nonprofits that support America's veterans, military service people and their families through its Giving Works campaign, "Honoring ...

Online Sales Grow 17% in First Quarter

Buyers flock to free shipping deals, comScore says.

Posted 10 days ago

Shoppers were busy browsing online stores and marketplaces, and clicking the buy button earlier this year, according to researcher comScore. It reports that online sales grew 17 percent, year over year, during this year's first quarter, ...