Chinese online retail giant 360buy spreads worldwide, may keep Amazon on its toes

Chinese online retail giant 360buy spreads worldwide, may keep Amazon on its toes

Many of us who live in North America and Europe consider Amazon synonymous with online retail -- yet we forget that the company barely even registers in some parts of the world. That misconception is about to be cleared up now that one of China's largest online retailers, 360buy, is going global. A just-launched English version of the store is initially shipping China-made goods for free to 36 countries that include obvious candidates like Australia, Canada, the UK and the US as well as France, Germany and southeast Asia. You're unlikely to find a Kindle Fire HD equivalent in the selection, but the mix could still make Amazon nervous when the brand-agnostic can already find real bargains. Combined with long-term plans to set up local distribution points, 360buy's international expansion could get more of us comfortable with buying from China and heat up a retail race that some thought had already been won.

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Chinese online retail giant 360buy spreads worldwide, may keep Amazon on its toes originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PConline (translated), ZDNet  |  source360buy  | Email this | Comments

Google Search As You Type gives retailer websites instant search

Google Search As You Type gives retailer websites instant search

Google's search engine and its almighty Omnibox in Chrome have given the public instant search capabilities for some time, and now Google's sharing that same search goodness with its retail partners. Called Google Search As You Type, it's a pilot program providing AdWords advertisers access to Google's predictive and instant search on their own websites. That means customers can find what they're looking for more quickly and sellers can separate said buyers from their money faster than ever. Search As You Type is free for the first 25 million searches each year, so you'll likely be seeing this widespread on retail websites soon. That said, if you simply cant wait to witness your online retailing future, check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Google Search As You Type gives retailer websites instant search

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Google Search As You Type gives retailer websites instant search originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jul 2012 17:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  sourceGoogle Commerce, Google Search As You Type  | Email this | Comments

Google rolls out Trusted Stores verification program for online retailers

Google rolls out Trusted Stores verification program for online retailers

Along with talking up 3D images and other new features for Maps, Google is pushing its new Trusted Stores program this week. The service, which has been in testing for the last nine months, monitors online retailers and awards those with good shipping and service records a "trusted" badge. In addition to giving online shoppers some reassurance that a vendor is, well, trustworthy, Trusted Stores will offer users assistance in resolving issues with sellers, plus up to $1,000 of purchase protection. For the retailers, the company says the value proposition is an increase in sales "by showing you're a great place to shop." Google will be rolling out badges for approved stores in the US starting today, and clicking on those little seals of approval will let you view a merchant's "report card" for shipping and customer service reliability.

Google rolls out Trusted Stores verification program for online retailers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 19:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceGoogle Trusted Stores  | Email this | Comments

Amazon to collect sales tax, create 2,500 jobs in Texas

Amazon to collect sales tax, create 2,500 jobs in Texas

If Amazon's been your internet safe haven from the ravages of sales tax, you may want to sit down. As part of a settlement with the great state of Texas, Bezos' baby will start collecting the state's requisite 6.25-percent sales tax on July 1st. The settlement resolves the online retailer's ongoing dispute with the Lone Star state, which claimed that Amazon owed $269 million in back taxes. In addition to taking up collection, Amazon has agreed to create at least 2,500 jobs and invest a minimum of $200 million in capital investments, though it admits no fault, and believes "the assessment was without merit," according to its latest SEC filing. Grouped in with Kansas, Kentucky, New York, North Dakota and Washington, this agreement makes Texas the sixth state to collect sales tax from Amazon -- and California, Nevada and Arizona will join the collection club in due time. Check out the source links below for the Texas Comptroller's official statement and more reading on Amazon's tax agreements across the nation.

Amazon to collect sales tax, create 2,500 jobs in Texas originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 06:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge, GeekWire  |  sourceTexas Comptroller, SEC  | Email this | Comments