eBay Main Street

Proving that retailing and recycling can go hand-in-hand, Patagonia and eBay have launched the Patagonia Common Threads Initiative + eBay store. It\'s the first time eBay and a retail clothing brand have partnered to encourage the buying and selling of pre-owned branded clothes and gear. Read more in this Wall Street Journal blog post.

Many lawmakers are using the budget deficits felt by numerous states as a rallying point for levying an Internet sales tax on businesses selling goods online. But one state is standing up and saying \'no.\' West Virginia, which recently reported a $320 million budget surplus, expects that their revenue from sales tax will grow in 2012 without an Internet sales tax. In an editorial piece, the West Virginia Gazette suggests the state walk away from harming small businesses and consumers. Visit the West Virginia Gazette website to read the full op-ed piece.

Choi Si-jung, chairman of the Korea Communications Commission,made a trip to Silicon Valley earlier this month to visit eBay Inc. global headquarters. Choi met with eBay vice president Tod Cohen to discuss recent trends in e-commerce and Internet privacy. Cohen said, “eBay is reinforcing its mobile commerce business based on the prediction that consumer trends of the future will be dependent upon four mega factors: mobile, social, local and digital.” He also stressed, “With world’s best network infrastructure and openness, Korea is integral in eBay’s global strategies.” Read more about the visit here (translator download required).

eBay recently served as a sponsor of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Women and the Economy Summit. Michelle Peacock, Head of PayPal Government Relations, represented the company at this incredible gathering of thought leaders. California elected officials, Members of Congress and other eBay Inc. representatives were witness to the adoption of a declaration — for the first time in APEC’s history — affirming the organization’s and each member economy’s “commitment to improving women’s access to capital and markets, to building women’s capacities and skills, and to supporting the rise of women leaders in both the public and private sectors.” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered the keynote speech, which can be read in its entirety here.

Griff Griffith, known as a celebrity among the eBay community, sat down this week to interview Tod Cohen, the company’s Deputy General Counsel and VP of Government Relations. Griff and Tod covered topics ranging from the recent California Internet Sales Tax victory and how it protects sellers from having to collect out-of-state taxes, to the status of the federal streamlined sales tax battle and how we continue to work with sellers to make sure their voices are heard. Additionally, Griff inquired about the explosive growth of PayPal Mobile and how it could impact public policy. Tod emphasized the importance of having all platforms available to sellers to protect them from being forced into a business model not of their own choosing. Read more.

NetChoice, a coalition of trade associates, e-commerce businesses and online consumers working to increase online convenience and commerce, has posted their September 2011 list of worst Internet laws. Better known by the acronym iAWFUL, the Internet Advocates’ Watchlist For Ugly Laws draws attention to ten items in state or federal legislation that, if passed, can threaten or hurt e-commerce and the Internet. The number one iAWFUL offender on this month’s list is Senators Durbin and Conyers Main Street Fairness Act, which would hurt small businesses that earn money through e-commerce. To read more and see the rest of the list, visit the NetChoice blog.

Proving that retailing and recycling can go hand-in-hand, Patagonia and eBay have launched the Patagonia Common Threads Initiative + eBay store. It\'s the first time eBay and a retail clothing brand have partnered to encourage the buying and selling of pre-owned branded clothes and gear. Read more in this Wall Street Journal blog post.

In the early 1990s, a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Africa led Elizabeth Bennett to change her career as a franchise entrepreneur and management consultant and start selling African crafts. Elizabeth sold only at shows and through wholesale to shops until a customer recommended eBay in 1997. Her business, Africa Direct, is now eBay’s largest seller of African art and trade beads, and also sells ethnic jewelry. In 2009, Elizabeth was honored by Fortune Magazine as one of the ten Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs. Read more.

Following the adoption by the Dutch House of Representatives of the amended Telecommunications Act, eBay, the parent company of Marktplaats.nl, wishes to express its concerns on the nature and adoption process of Article 11.7a relating to the use of so-called \'cookies\'. The implementation of the revised ePrivacy Directive across the EU presents an opportunity to promote practices to achieve a better, user-friendly system that involves improved information to users, without compromising responsible service providers\' use of an important tool. We call upon Dutch decision-makers to re-assess the wording of Article 11.7a and include Recital 66 of the Directive.

eBay Inc. applauds the most recent cosponsors of H.Res. 95, supporting the "Preservation of Internet Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses." Congressman Richard Hanna (NY-24) and Congressman Tim Griffin(AR-2), both freshman Members of the House of Representatives, have joined the bipartisan effort to oppose new tax requirements on small e-tailers. eBay applauds their leadership and their dedication to protecting small online businesses in this economic environment. Read eBay Inc.’s position on the Internet sales tax issue here or read H.Res 95 in its entirety.