Amazon, Booking.com, Expedia Group, Glassdoor, Tripadvisor, and Trustpilot Coalition, Amazon’s Consult-a-Friend Feature and More News
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With October coming to a close, we were hoping for some spooky eCommerce news just in time for Halloween. This week, however, the only scary news we have is the AliExpress Military Controversy… which you should definitely read about. But just before we get into that, make sure to check out last week’s news — Amazon and Walmart definitely had a lot to say.
Today’s news is 1672 words.
Amazon, Booking.com, Expedia Group, Glassdoor, Tripadvisor, and Trustpilot Coalition
Amazon, Booking.com, Expedia Group, Glassdoor, Tripadvisor, and Trustpilot have joined forces to launch the Coalition for Trusted Reviews. The Coalition is a global initiative committed to safeguarding the reliability of consumer reviews online.
In October 2022, these industry giants convened at the inaugural Fake Reviews Conference in San Francisco, hosted by Tripadvisor. The event brought together experts from government, academia, and the business sector to address the challenges posed by fake reviews. The end result, was of course, the Coalition.
What will the Coalition focus on?
The Coalition’s efforts will focus on several key areas. These include:
- defining common standards for identifying fake reviews,
- sharing best practices for hosting online reviews,
- and exchanging information on methods to detect and combat fraudulent activities.
The coalition is unwavering in its commitment to upholding integrity, transparency, and accountability in the online review ecosystem, with the aim of establishing confidence in consumers globally.
Organized by Amazon, the next coalition meeting will take place in Brussels on December 5th and 6th. Further discussion on strategies and actions will take place to verify the legitimacy and reliability of online reviews.
What does it mean for eCommerce sellers?
For eCommerce sellers, the formation of the Coalition for Trusted Reviews represents both challenges and opportunities. Sellers may face heightened scrutiny when it comes to online reviews. With the coalition’s focus on combatting fake reviews, there will likely be stricter measures in place to identify and remove fraudulent or misleading feedback.
On the other hand, sellers who prioritize ethical practices in their review management can build a more sustainable business. Avoiding shortcuts like buying fake reviews can help establish a positive, long-lasting reputation in the marketplace.
Big Retailer News
Amazon’s Consult-a-Friend Feature
Amazon is piloting a new “Consult-a-Friend” feature within its mobile app. The feature allows customers to easily seek and manage feedback from friends on products.
This move comes in response to the growing trend of customers sharing products with others. It seems that billions of shares occurred via the Amazon Shopping app this year alone.
The feature’s initial testing indicates a particular interest in soliciting feedback for apparel, shoes, electronics, and furniture, making it easier for shoppers to make informed purchasing decisions.
Recipients of shared products can enter the Amazon Shopping app, view product details, and provide quick emoji reactions or commentary, creating a collaborative shopping experience.
Where will you find this feature?
Amazon is rolling out Consult-a-Friend to select customers in various countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, and others.
What’s more, Amazon introduced another shopping feature earlier in the year called Inspire. Inspire offers personalized shoppable photos and videos aligned with users’ interests, and allows them to create their own shoppable posts to share favorite Amazon finds with other customers.
These developments underscore Amazon’s dedication to enhancing the online shopping experience and promoting user engagement.
What does it mean for eCommerce sellers?
For eCommerce sellers, this highlights the need to encourage customer reviews and engagement, particularly in product categories like apparel, electronics, and furniture.
To stay competitive and meet evolving consumer expectations, sellers should focus on fostering customer interaction and adapt to emerging eCommerce trends that prioritize social engagement and user recommendations.
MORE: Learn how to sell on Amazon Prime with this amazing guide!
‘From Etsy’ Feature
Etsy is taking action to protect its sellers from fraudulent emails and phishing attempts. In response to an increase in reports from sellers receiving suspicious communications from individuals claiming to be Etsy employees, the platform has introduced a new feature called “From Etsy.”
This feature aims to help sellers easily identify official communications from Etsy and its teams. Sellers should check the “From Etsy” section for messages from Etsy Marketing, Support, Research, and Community teams.
This move by Etsy comes after previous warnings and efforts to educate sellers about the risks of fraudulent emails. Etsy wants to safeguarding its seller community and has issued warnings and provided safety tips in the past to help sellers stay vigilant.
What does it mean for eCommerce sellers?
As Etsy takes proactive measures to protect its sellers, it can foster a sense of trust and confidence within the seller community. When sellers feel that their platform is actively working to safeguard their interests, they are more likely to engage in business activities with peace of mind, knowing they are less vulnerable to cyber threats.
MORE: Are you selling on Etsy? Do you feel confident about all the seller fees you have to pay? If not, then check out our free Etsy Fee Calculator.
Also in the News
- Amazon orders. eCommerce Bytes.
- MK30 delivery drone. Retail Wire.
International Retailer News
Decathlon’s Buyback Service UK
Decathlon is expanding its sustainability efforts by introducing its buyback service to all its UK stores. This service, already available in European locations, allows customers to return products they no longer need in return for store credit.
So what happens to the products?
Decathlon will then refurbish and resell these pre-loved products as part of its second-life offering. Initially, the buyback program will focus on Decathlon’s own-brand bicycles, with plans to expand to include all product categories, such as fitness equipment, kayaks, and rackets next year.
By 2025, Decathlon aims to refurbish 15,000 bikes annually and has already trained 1,500 staff members to support this sustainable initiative, in addition to its existing rental services.
Chris Allen, Decathlon UK’s sustainability leader, emphasized the retailer’s commitment to ensuring that sport and fitness participation in the UK is not hindered by rising living costs.
The buyback program allows customers to easily return their old and unwanted sporting equipment, receiving store credit that they can use to update their sports gear.
This initiative aligns with Decathlon’s broader sustainability goals and underscores its dedication to reducing waste and promoting a circular economy in the sports retail industry.
Decathlon’s expansion of its buyback service is a noteworthy step toward encouraging sustainability and affordability in sports equipment.
By allowing customers to trade in their unused items for store credit, Decathlon not only reduces waste but also promotes ongoing participation in sports and fitness activities, regardless of economic constraints.
This move reflects the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility and making sports accessible to a wider audience.
What does it mean for eCommerce sellers?
Embracing the circular economy concept by refurbishing and reselling pre-owned products can reduce waste and contribute to a more sustainable business model.
eCommerce sellers who adopt such practices may attract environmentally conscious customers who actively seek out sustainable shopping options.
MORE: Five Ecommerce Business Models: Reselling, Private Labelling, Used and More
AliExpress Military Controversy
In a surprising revelation, Ukraine’s Air Force spokesman, Yurii Ihnat, has disclosed that Russia is constructing lethal drones using engines sourced from the Chinese eCommerce giant AliExpress.
This information came to light through the examination of debris from drones used in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ihnat emphasized that Ukraine possesses tangible evidence in the form of drone scraps, enabling them to discern the materials used by the enemy in manufacturing these drones. The engines, purchased from AliExpress, unveiled a novel and unsettling facet of the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
Drones have assumed a pivotal role in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, serving various purposes, including reconnaissance and striking enemy troops and equipment.
Both sides, however, grapple with limitations in procuring an adequate supply of military drones. Ukraine often relies on civilian-grade drones acquired through crowdfunding, while Russia faces constraints stemming from international sanctions.
Despite their improvised nature, these makeshift drones still pose a significant threat, as they can carry substantial explosive payloads. The BBC reports that both countries may struggle to secure drones and parts from China due to export restrictions imposed by the Chinese government, despite their continued financial support to Russia.
Amid these challenges, Russia has sought support from Iran for acquiring drones used in Ukraine and is exploring the mass production of an Iranian-inspired drone within its borders.
Ukraine, on the other hand, is actively investing in domestic drone production projects, with the goal of substantially increasing its drone production capacity.
As the drone warfare landscape continues to evolve, this revelation sheds light on the unexpected sources of technology and innovation in the ongoing conflict, emphasizing the critical role drones play in modern warfare.
AliExpress has not yet provided a response to these claims, leaving many questions unanswered about the complex interplay of technology and conflict in the region.
What does it mean for eCommerce sellers?
For eCommerce sellers, this development underscores the importance of adhering to export regulations and restrictions, especially when dealing with potentially sensitive technologies. It serves as a reminder that eCommerce platforms can inadvertently become sources of technology for military purposes, leading to increased scrutiny and potential restrictions on certain products.
Also in the News
- China’s economic data. SCMP.
- Livestream shopping in India. Restofworld.
Webinars
For everyone
Various dates: Amazon advertising’s global webinar program continues with 20+ webinars scheduled, covering Amazon Prime Day preparation, sponsored products,sponsored brands, reporting, optimization, and other tips. Learn more: Amazon.
For US sellers
November 2: The 15 Minute Breakdown. Learn more: Tinuiti.
For UK sellers
Various dates: Amazon advertising’s global webinar program continues with 20+ webinars scheduled, covering Amazon Prime Day preparation, sponsored products, sponsored brands, reporting, optimization, and other tips. Learn more: Amazon.
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