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Looming Internet sales tax bill jolts consumers, retailers

Consumers unhappy about the prospect of paying more to shop online aren't alone.

Online retailers are objecting to a proposed federal law to levy sales taxes on Internet shoppers, saying it's unreasonable to expect small businesses to comply with the detailed -- and sometimes conflicting -- regulations of nearly 10,000 government tax collectors.

The U.S. Senate began debate on the tax measure, S.743, Monday afternoon, capping years of lobbying by the National Retail Federation and the Retail Industry Leaders Association, which represent big box stores including including Walmart, Target, AutoZone, Best Buy, Home Depot, OfficeMax, … Read more

Internet tax proposal up for a vote in Senate this week

Internet tax supporters are hoping that a vote in the U.S. Senate as early as today will finally give them enough political leverage to require Americans to pay sales taxes when shopping online.

Sens. Mike Enzi (R-Wy.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) are expected to offer an amendment to a Democratic budget resolution this week that, by allowing states to "collect taxes on remote sales," is intended to usher in the first national Internet sales tax.

"We're working overtime in pushing this, talking to our members, activating our grassroots," says Stephen Schatz, a spokesman for … Read more

eBay lowers seller fees, in bid to swipe business from Amazon

eBay is eliminating listing fees and simplifying rates in hopes of bringing Amazon sellers to its doors.

In addition to a new fee rate system, eBay will let sellers list many items for free, the company announced today. eBay said the changes, which begin rolling out in April, are the online marketplace's first major update in pricing in several years.

"The update is part of eBay's ongoing commitment to be the most competitively priced commerce platform in the U.S. today, offering sellers of all sizes a great deal and being a partner of choice for merchants, … Read more

Silicon Valley execs press D.C. on immigration law fixes

Silicon Valley firms are presenting a rare united front in an effort to end a political logjam that has blocked high-tech immigration reform.

In an unusual show of support that underscores how important the topic has become, executives from Facebook, Google, eBay and other major tech companies sent a letter today to President Obama and congressional leaders asking them to fix immigration law by the end of 2013. The current system is broken, they say, blaming visa shortages, long waits for green cards, and difficulties bringing spouses and children to the United States.

"Because our current immigration system is … Read more

Tech companies: Gay marriage ban is bad for business

Some big-name tech companies are adding their support for same-sex marriage and making the case that banning these unions deters employee recruitment efforts.

Dozens of companies, including Apple, Facebook, eBay, and Intel, will file an amicus brief -- a court document field by an interested group that is not actually a party to the case -- on Thursday to declare their support, Fortune reported today.

Facebook publicly announced its support through a message on its "LGBTQ@Facebook" page.

"This week, Facebook is proudly joining many other businesses in submitting briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court supporting … Read more

Crave Ep. 110: Prevent a hangover with the world's first 'sober pill'?

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Cheers! Scientists have created what may be the world's first pill that can make you sober if you've gone a little too far with the booze. Russian meteorite fragments go up for sale online, as do Milla Jovovich's shorts. And later this year a man will have surgery to attach a bionic hand that can feel touch sensations. … Read more

EBay sales climb 18 percent to $3.9B in fourth quarter

EBay's sales climbed 18% to $3.9 billion in revenue during the fourth fiscal quarter, up from $3.4 billion during the same period a year earlier.

In a prepared statement, management touted double digit user growth across its portfolio as well as strong gains in mobile adoption.

EBay posted net income of $751 million, or 57 cents a share, compared to net income of $1.98 billion, or $1.51 a share, for the same period the previous year. Excluding various expenses -- primarily $1.7 billion related to the sale of eBay's remaining investment in Skype … Read more

eBay launches selling helpers as way to lure new customers

As eBay comes up against more competition from the growing number of online retailers, it has to keep reinventing itself. The newest endeavor for the online auction house means coming offline and helping people sell their goods in person.

eBay has recently launched three new pilot programs that involve company representatives working with sellers and buyers to figure out how to best purchase or get rid of wares, according to All Things D.

"People make their living on eBay and that feels good, but to be the belle of the ball, we have to step it up. We can'… Read more

eBay accused of violating antitrust laws with Intuit accord

eBay violated antitrust laws when it agreed not to poach employees at Intuit, according to a federal lawsuit filed today in federal court in San Jose.

According to the complaint, which was filed by the U.S. Justice Department, eBay and Intuit had an agreement not to raid each other's businesses for talent. eBay, the online marketplace, is headquartered in San Jose; Intuit is based in nearby Mountain View.

"This agreement harmed employees by lowering the salaries and benefits they might otherwise have commanded, and deprived these employees of better job opportunities at the other company," lawyers … Read more

eBay same-day delivery makes a stop in New York City

eBay's same-day delivery service is making a stop in New York, with the e-commerce giant expanding its new program to parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Richelle Parham, chief marketing officer of eBay Marketplaces, noted in a post that the eBay Now mobile app now allows shoppers to receive items from hundreds of retailers in New York, typically within an hour. The service will be available in Manhattan as far north as 125th Street and at the western edge of Brooklyn.

And to attract new users, the company plans to take $15 off shoppers' first order and make the first … Read more