Online retailers were visited by nine out of 10 U.S. Web users in December, according to comScore, which lists Amazon, Apple and eBay as the top ecommerce destinations during the month. comScore reports that holiday shoppers “bombarded the Web” in December, looking for deals on Christmas gifts and shipping. Read More

Merchants selling on Amazon Canada now have the option of having someone else store, pack and ship their products for them when they make a sale. The retailer announced on Monday it opened Fulfillment by Amazon, a service it already offers in the U.S. Read More

Merchants who are looking for last-minute items to sell this holiday season have one more resource, as Amazon opened a discount store for electronics, toys, clothing and other products. The retailer announced the opening of its Black Friday Deals Store Thursday, adding that the shop features daily deals and limited-time sales on a variety of items from now through Black Friday weekend, the weekend after Thanksgiving. Read More

Though Amazon’s net sales grew by double digits during its third quarter, the retail giant posted a significant loss. On Thursday, Amazon officials reported net sales for the company reached $13.81 billion during the third quarter—a 27-percent increase compared to last year’s third quarter when sales reached $10.88 billion. Read More

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas on Amazon, as the retailer makes preparations for the busy holiday season. Amazon announced its 2012 hot toy list on Thursday, and reports it will hire thousands of temporary employees to work its fulfillment centers in the U.S. Read More

Amazon will hire more than 10,000 temporary employees in the U.K. to keep up with the busy holiday season expected this year. The employees will man Amazon’s fulfillment centers, officials announced on Monday. Last year, the retailer shipped more than 2.1 million shipments in one 24-hour period during its busiest shipping day of the holidays. Read More

Companies that provide small-business loans to online sellers, like Kabbage and iwoca, may have a new competitor, as Amazon is getting into the lending business. The new program, called Amazon Lending, is accessible by invitation only. Amazon is telling customers about the lending program through emails to “pre-qualified” sellers, according to news reports. Read More

An appellate court ruled in Amazon’s favor last week in a counterfeits case, dismissing a manufacturer’s request to ban the sale of its products on the marketplace. Tre Milano, the maker of the InStyler Rotating Hot Iron Hair Straightener, filed a suit against Amazon and several of its third-party sellers, seeking damages and an injunction that would prohibit its products from being sold on the marketplace, directly from Amazon or through its third parties. Read More

Amazon shoppers don’t seem to mind paying an upfront, annual fee if they’ll get free shipping on their orders. In fact, Amazon reports today that it now sends out more items with its Prime program—which has a subscription fee of $79 a year—than with its Free Super Saver Shipping option. Read More

Amazon U.K. is now allowing buyers to pick up their orders at local shops instead of having them delivered to their homes. The retailer is working with Collect+, a parcel-delivery service, to allow buyers and sellers to pick up and drop off items in about 4,500 U.K. Read More