Ecommerce news: Amazon restricts incentivised reviews and Facebook Marketplace

In the last week, Amazon has changed its policy on incentivised reviews, while Facebook has launched a new Marketplace feature for local sales. In our ecommerce news roundup, we’ve got all the important details about these updates, as well as eBay’s new product page ‘report a listing’ function and Royal Mail’s last posting dates for Christmas.

Amazon restricts incentivised reviews

Amazon has updated its community guidelines to prohibit sellers arranging incentivised reviews for products. Previously sellers were allowed to offer free or discounted products in exchange for reviews as long as the reviewer disclosed that they had been incentivised.

Now incentivised reviews will only be allowed if they are done through the Amazon Vine programme, where Amazon, not the seller, invites buyers to review new and pre release products. The new guidelines will apply to all categories apart from books.

Read the full announcement about incentivised reviews here.

Facebook launches Marketplace feature

Facebook is launching a new Marketplace Feature for its iPhone and Android app users. The Marketplace will show items for sale in the local area, with the ability to search by location, category or price.

Each item will have a photo, description, the seller's name and their general location - from there buyers are able to message the seller directly to arrange a price and collection. In a similar way to Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace won’t offer any online payment systems or facilitate delivery. You can post items for sale to the Marketplace and to a specific buy and sell group at the same time.

Initially, Facebook Marketplace will only be available to everyone over 18 in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand. In the next few months, it will become available in more countries and on the desktop version of Facebook.

Find out more about Facebook’s Marketplace here. 

eBay adds report a listing function to product pages

eBay is trying to tidy up its product catalogue by allowing sellers to report listings that are included on the wrong product page. All items on a product page will now have a flag symbol next to them that you can click to report an issue with it. Once you’ve reported an item, eBay will review the listing and remove it from that product page if necessary - the items will still be available for sale, just no longer associated with that product page.

Find out more about eBay’s product page report a seller function.

Royal Mail’s Christmas Last Posting Dates

Royal Mail has published its recommended last posting dates for its domestic and international delivery before Christmas 2016. The last day for sending UK 1st Class and 1st Class Signed For is Wednesday 21, and the latest service that guarantees delivery by Christmas is Special Delivery Saturday Guaranteed on Friday 23, December.

Find out all the Royal Mail last posting dates for Christmas here.